FEIENDS 


SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY, 


CHAKLE8   EVANS,   M.  D. 


'^m  mi  ''^mml  "^iWimu 


PH  I  LA  I)  i:  LI' II  I  A: 

FOR  SALE  AT  FRIENDS'  BOOK-STORE, 

No.  301   ARCH  STREET. 
1H76. 


PREFACE. 


rpHE  motive  that  has  prompted  the  preparation  of  the  present 
-*-  work,  has  been  the  hope  that,  by  thus  bringing  the  substance 
of  the  principal  parts  of  the  narratives  of  other  writers  into  a  more 
condensed  form,  the  members  of  the  religious  Society  of  Friends  — 
especially  the  young  —  may  be  induced  to  make  themselves  familiar 
with  its  rise,  and  the  sevei-e  trials  that  attended  its  early  progress : 
that  thus  they  may  become  better  acquainted  with  the  character 
of  the  instruments  employed  by  the  Head  of  the  Church  to  gather 
Friends  into  a  distinct  body,  the  manner  in  which  He  prepared 
them  for  the  service,  and  the  consistent  system  of  Scriptural  doc- 
trine they  inculcated,  under  the  teaching  and  help  of  his  Holy 
Spirit. 

Want  of  correct  information  on  these  points,  has  led  some 
to  slight  or  undervalue  the  religious  attainments  and  Christian 
standing  of  those  extraordinary  men  and  women,  who,  amid  con- 
tumely and  suffering,  of  which  few  now  have  an  adequate  concep- 
tion, reasserted  the  simplicity  and  spirituality  of  the  Gospel,  pro- 
claimed anew  some  of  its  cardinal  truths,  that  had  been  long 
obscured  or  disregarded,  demonstrated  the  inconsistency  therewitli 
of  the  man-made  ordinances  and  will-worship,  existing  in  the  pro- 
fessing Church,  and  exemplified,  in  life  and  conversation,  the  self- 
denying  requirements  of  tlie  divine  law  written  in  the  heart. 

They  were  bold  and  uncompromising  witnesses  for  the  truth  as 
it  is  in  Jesus;  and  if,  occasionally,  one  rose  up  among  them,  who, 
from  an  untempered  zeal,  and  the  peculiar  spirit  of  (he  time,  was 
betrayed  into  extravagances,  of  which   the  body  did   not  approve. 


IV  PRKFACE. 

it  in  uowisL'  (iei-ogato^  from  the  n'lii:ious  principle?;,  labors,  or  char- 
acter of  the  devoted  band  that,  in  obediLMice  to  the  commands  of 
their  Divine  Leader,  contended  for  tlie  faith  once  delivered  to  the 
saints,  and  for  the  enjoyment  of  the  right  of  liberty  of  conscience. 
By  sutiering  and  constancy,  they  laid  the  foundation  of  the  reli- 
gious freedom  and  privileges  we  now  enjoy,  and  gave  an  impetus 
to  civil  liberty  and  moral  reform,  from  which  the  professed  Chris- 
tian world  has  reaped  no  little  benefit. 

The  literature  approved  by  the  Society  is  extensive  and  instruc- 
tive. No  fear  need  be  entertained  that  it  will  teach  unscriptural 
doctrine,  or  bias  the  reader  towards  evil  or  improper  practices. 
Well  would  it  be  for  the  Society,  were  it  more  generally  studied 
by  its  members.  Should  the  following  pages  prove  a  means  of 
inducing  more  of  them  to  read  and  rightly  estimate  it,  a  principal 
object  in  the  production  of  this  work  will  have  been  attained. 

It  has  not  been  thought  needful  to  specify,  on  all  occasions,  the 
author  from  whom  the  respective  facts  are  taken  ;  but  the  following 
works  have  been  consulted;  and  great  care  has  been  given  to  have 
the  accounts  correct : 

Sewel's  History,  Gough's  History,  Barclay's  Friends  in  Scot- 
land, Rutty's  Friends  in  Ireland,  Bowden's  Friends  in  America, 
Besse's  Sufferings,  The  London  Friends'  Meetings,  The  Fells  of 
Swarthmoor,  The  Penus  and  Peniugtons  of  the  Seventeenth  Cen- 
tury, Proud's  History  of  Pennsylvania,  Neal's  History  of  the 
Puritans,  Bancroft's  History  of  America,  and  the  Journals  or 
Memoirs  of  over  twenty  Friends ;  to  most  of  whom  frequent  ref- 
erence is  made  in  tiie  work. 

C.  E. 

Pjiiladelphia,  1875. 


OOI^TENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Reformation  under  Henry  VIII.— Edward  VI.— Mary  — Elizabeth 

—  Manner  in  which  the  Doctrines,  Organization,  &c.,  of  the  Church 
of  England  were  determined  —  Prerogative  of  the  Crown  to  decide 
in  Spiritual  matters  — No  Liberty  of  Conscience  — Witnesses  to 
Truth —  John  Wycliffe  —  Translation  of  ihe  Bible  —  Proiiress  of 
Inquiry  and  Doctrinal  Differences  — Puritans  —  Intolerance  of  the 
Government  and  the  Church —Presbyterians  — Independents  — 
Baptists  — Xnnierous  Sects —  Development  of  Principles  of  Civil 
Liberty  —  Growth  of  the  Contest  between  the  Church  and  Dis- 
senters—Justice by  Law  defeated  — Origin  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers 

—  They  found  what  was  to  be  an  Asylum  for  the  Opj)ressed  — 
Course  pursued  by  Charles  I.—  Resistance  of  the  Scots  to  Prelacy, 
&c.— The  Long  Parliament- Civil  War  — Cromwell  — Attention 
of  the  People  kept  directed  to  Modes  and  Professions  of  Religion  — 
Claims  of  the  High  Church  Party  — Their  views  of  Dissenters  — 
Opinions  and  Feeling  of  Dissenters  towards  that  Party  — Barbar- 
ous Laws  enacted  by  the  Presbyterians  when  in  Power  —  Sum- 
mary Extinguishment  of  their  Power  by  Cromwell  — General  and 
loud  Profession  of  Religion 9 

CHAPTER  IL 

Review  of  Points  in  the  Preceding  Chapter  — Truths  of  the  Gospel 
lost  Sight  of — Birth  and  Youth  of  George  Fox  —  Early  religious 
Character  — Travels  from  Home  — Deep  Mental  Conflicts  and  Ex- 
ercises-Gospel Truths  opened  to  his  understanding  — Full  belief 
in  the  Divinity  and  Atonement  of  Christ  — Extracts  from  his 
Journal  descriptive  of  his  State  and  the  knowledge  Attained  — 
First  Appearance  as  a  Minister  — Political  and  Reliiiious  State  of 
England  at  that  time  — Continued  inward  exercises  —  Doctrines 
Preached  and  liis  Commission  from  the  Lord — Progress  of  Truth 
--Gospel  Testimonies  Revived,  Promulgated  and  Maintained  by 
G.  Fox  —  Plainness  in  Speech,  Behavior  and  Apparel  —  The  sacred 
Truths  of  the  Scriptures  to  be  understood  by  the  aid  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  — Call  and  qualification  of  a  Gospef Minister— Perfection 

—  Imprisonments  — Attempt  to  induce  G  F.  to  join  the  Army  — 
Origin  of  the  name  Quaker- Prison  Reform— Women's  Preaching..  23 

CHAPTER  III. 

Friends  despised  and  condemned  by  all  Professors  —  Reasons  why 

—  Convincements  — (Jccurrence  at  Beverly- G.  Fox  accused  of 
saying  he  was  Christ— William  Dewsbiiry —Steeple-Houses — 
P'riends  increasing  and  forming  into  a  Society —  Cruel  treatment 
Received — Instances  of  the  al)use  of  G.  F. —  Convincemont  of  two 
Priests— Francis  Howgil— John  Audland  —  Edward  IJurrough- 
Extract  from  a  I^ctter  — Swarthmoor  Jlall  — Judge  Fell  and  Wife 

—  Margaret  Fell's  account  of  (r.  Fox's  services  there  — Priest 
Lampit  —  M.  Fell  joins  witii  Friends 40 

i 


n  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Justification  of  Friouds'  Speaking  in  the  "Churches"  —  Goorffe 
Whitehead  —  Early  Friends'  love  for  the  Sorii)tures  —  FH'ectual 
Preacliing  of  George  Wiiitehead — Wm.  Barl)er  injprisoned  for 
twenty  years  — Imprisonment  of  G.  Whitehead  —  Injustice  of 
Magistrates  encourages  the  violence  of  the  people — I'Vrsecution 
of  Wm.  Dewsbury  at  Tholthrope  —  At  Derby  —  Change  in  Priests 
who  had  become  Friends  —  Some  reasons  wliy  the  Priests  opposed 
Friends  —  Their  cflorts  to  excite  ])rejudice  against  Friends,  and 
their  Inconsistency  —  Cromwell's  ordinances  of  Toleration  —  Not 
observed  towards  Friends  —  Old  Laws  revived,  for  the  j)unishment 
of  Friends  —  Priests  accuse  G.  Fox  of  lUasphemv  —  Cruel  usase  of 
G.  F.  at  Walney  Island  — Trial  of  G.  F.  at  Lancaster  — Cleared  of 
the  Charges,  and  writes  Addresses  to  some  of  the  Justices 55 

CHAPTER  V. 

Stories  respecting  G.  Fox  —  Publications  against  Friends  —  John 
Camm  —  Con vincements  —  Bristol  —  Persecution  —  Charged  with 
being  Catholics  —  Barbara  Blaugdone  —  Cruelly  Whij)i)ed  —  Two 
die  at  Bristol  of  the  Punishment  inflicted  —  Introduction  of  Friends 
into  London  —  Meetings  set  up  there  —  E.  Burrough  and  the 
Wrestler  —  W.  Crouch's  testimony  respecting  E.  "Burrough's 
Preaching  —  Extracts  from  Letters  —  Glimpse  of  the  Work  —  BuU- 
and-Mouth — Advice  of  G.  Fox  about  Meetings  —  Convincement 
in  O.  Cromwell's  Family —  Robert  Widders  — Richard  Hubber- 
thorn  —  Persecution  at  (Oxford — G.  Fox  at  Booties  —  Imprison- 
ment of  G.  F.  at  Carlisle  —  Singing  —  Convincement  of  James 
Parnel  —  Sufferings  and  Death  of  J.  Parnel 70 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Evidence  of  the  Seeking  State  of  the  People  —  Large  Assemblages  to 
hear  G.  Fox  —  G.  F.  visits  his  native  place  — Treatment  bv  the 
Priests  —  Colonel  Hacker  — G.  P^ox  and  Cromwell  —  Visitation  to 
Capt.  Drury  —  G.  P\)X  in  London  —  Alexander  Parker  —  Extracts 
from  Letter — Humphrey  Bache  —  John  Crook  —  Extract  from 
another  Letter — Imprisonment  of  William  Dewsbury  —  Trial 
before  Judge  Hale  —  Same  before  Judge  Atkins— Reflections  on 
the  causes  that  kept  Friends  from  having  justice  done  them  — 
General  views  of  Religion,  and  of  those  of  Friends  —  Miles  Halhead 

—  Interesting  interview  with  a  Justice's  Wife  —  Extraordinary 
incidents  in  M.  Halhead's  course  —  Misrepresentations  of  PViends' 
belief  in  Christ 89 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Introduction  of  Quakerism  into  Scotland  —  Friends  travelling  there 
in  1654  —  Joiin  Stubbs —  William  Caton  —  Dover  —  Luke  Iloward 

—  Samuel  Fisher  —  L.  Howard  convinces  S.  Fisiier  of  the  general 
impropriety  of  Psalm  Singing— J.  Stubbs  and  W.  Caton  at  iMaid- 
stone — Ireland  —  William  Edmnndson  —  Religious  Convincement 
and  Progress  — Travels  with  J.  Tiffin  —  W.  Edmundson  visits  G. 
Fox  — E.  Burrough  and  F.  Howgil  in  Ireland  — Other  Ministers 
in  Ireland  —  A  Bishop  and  his  Wife  — Priests  petition  against 
Friends  —  Order  issued  against  them  —  E.  Burrough  and  F.  How- 


CONTENTS.  iii 

gil  banished  the  Island  — B.  BLaugdone  in  Irehand  — Identity  of '*^*^'^ 
Eeligions  Principles  and  Practices  embraced  bv  Friends  everywhere 

—  Instance  of  trial  of  W.  Edmundson's  taith  in  Pivine  Revelation 

—  W.  E.  takes  up  land  in  order  to  bear  testimony  against  tithes  — 
Suffering  endured  by  Friends  in  Ireland 108 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

E.  Burrough  writes  to  Cromwell  —  Friends  increase  in  London  — 
Anne  Downer  — Gilbert  Latcy  — Rebecca  Travers  and  James 
Naylor  — G.  Fox  arrested  by  order  of  Major  Ceely  — Committed  to 
Jail  tor  not  taking  the  oath  of  Abjuration  — Trial  — False  Charo-e 
brought  by  Major  Ceely  — G.  Fox's  Defence  — A  second  charge 
trom  Ceely— Injustice  on  the  Bench  —  Character  of  the  Prisons 
and  Jailers  — Prisoners  in  "Doomsdale" —Suffering— Friends 
increase  in  Number  — G.  Fox  and  others  kept  shut  up  without 
Trial  — Released  without  Trial— The  cruel  Jailer's  Recompense- 
James  Naylor  —  Convincement  —  An  account  of  his  Preaching  — 
Charged  with  denying  the  Manhood  of  Christ  — Cleared  but  Impris- 
oned—Personal Appearance  and  Eloquence  of  J.  Navlor  — Cir- 
cumstances connected  with  his  Fall  — G.  Fox's  interview  with  J. 
N.— His  trial  and  Punishment  — His  Repentance  — Acknowledg- 
ment— Restoration  —  Death 122 

CHAPTER  IX. 

G.  Fox  and  O.  Cromwell  — E.  Burrough  and  O.  Cromwell  —  Wales 

—  George  Fox  in  Scotland  — Curses  — Persecution  in  Scotland  — 
Visits  to  the  Continent  —  West  Indies  — Mary  P^isher  — First 
instance  of  Whipping  a  Friend  —  Anne  Austin  —  Colony  of  Massa- 
chusetts—Roger  Williams— Anne  Hutchinson  — M.  Fisher  and 
A.  Austin  land  at  Boston— Witches  — Mary  Fisher  and  the  Sultan 

—  Eight  more  Friends  at  Boston —Imprisonment  — Laws  passed 
against  Quakers— Curiosity  Excited  — Nicholas  Upshal  — Mary 
Dyer  and  Ann  Burden  in  Boston  — Enibarcation  of  Eleven  Friends 
for  America  — John  Copeland  and  Christopher  Holder  in  Massa- 
chusetts—Whi]:ipings  —  Misrepresentations  — First  Declaration  of 
Friends'  Faith  published  in  America  —  A  new  law  against  Quakers 

—  Murmurs  of  the  People 145 

CHAPTER  X. 

Connecticut  —  Humphrey  Norton  —  His  Sufferings  at  New  Haven  — 
Unsuccessful  Efforts  of  Massachusetts  to  induce  Rhode  Island  to 
follow  her  example  — Death  of  Oliver  Cromwell  — His  Character 
and  Course — Sufferings  of  Friends  under  the  Commonwealth  — 
Statement  of  G.  Fox  respecting  Friends  — Richard  Cromwell  — 
Increased  Sufferings  —Friends  offer  to  lie  in  Prison  as  Substitutes 
for  those  there — Address  of  E.  Burrough  to  the  Rulers  —  New 
Netherlands  —  Robert  Hodshonc  — His  dreadful  Sufferings  at  New 
Amsterdam  —  His  Release—  Remonstrance  of  Some  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  Long  Island— Their  l^inishment  —  Friends  increase  in 
Number  — Meetings  Settled  — Case  of  John  Bowne  — Sto|)  of  Per- 
secution in  New  Netherlands  — Friends  in  Virginia  — Josiah  Cole 
and  Thomas  Thurston  —  Course  of  Episcopalians  in  Virginia  — 
George  Wilson's  Sufferings  and  Death  —  Other  Ministers  Sent  — 
Whipping  — Maryland  — Persecution  in  that  Colony —Convince- 
ments  —  Disunity 1(54 


IV  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

TAOK 

Dread  in  Now  England  of  tlie  spread  of  Quakori.sin  — Action  of  Court 
of  IMynioiith — Sarali  (JihHons  and  Dorothy  Waugh  —  William 
Leddra — William  Brend's  dreadful  Suflering — Fear  of  Endicott 

—  Excuse  of  the  Minister  —  Cutting  off  Ears  —  State  of  things 
in  New  Plymouth  —  Meetings  —  Sjjread  of  Friends'  principles  — 
Transportation  ordered  —  Banishment  on  ])aiii  of  Death  —  A  few 
frightened  by  it — William  Robinson  and  Marmaduke  Stevenson  — 
Patience  Scott  —  Mary  Dyer  —  Trial  for  Life  —  Execution  of  two 
Friends  —  Reprieve  of  'SI.  Dver  —  Return,  Trial  and  Execution  of 
M.  Dyer  — J.  Nicholson  and"  Wile 176 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Failure  of  R.  Cromwell  —  General  Monk  —  Persecution  of  Friends 
by  the  Soldiers  —  Restoration  — King  Charles'  Promises  —  Friends 
discharged  from  Jail  —  G.  Fox,  Jr.,  and  R.  Grassingham  —  Impris- 
onment of  George  Fox  —  M.  Fell  and  Anne  Curtis  apply  to  the 
King — G.  Fox  sent  up  to  London  —  R.  liubberthorn  and  tlieKing 

—  Anglican  Cluirch  —  Fifth  Monarchy  Men  —  Persecution  re- 
newed—  Eyents  in  London  —  Thousands  of  Friends  imprisoned  — 
Remonstrances  and  Redress  —  Persecution  under  old  Laws  —  Act 
of  Uniformity  —  Act  against  Quakers  for  not  Swearing  —  Friends 
before  Parliament  —  Storm  Lnpending  —  Richard  Brown  and  John 
Robinson 196 

CHAPTER  XIIL 

E.  Burrough  —  John   Burnyeat  —  Scotland  —  A.  JafTray  —  Converts 

—  Patrick    Livingstone  —  Misrepresentation  —  Excommunication 

—  Visits  to  Ireland  —  Wm.  Edmundson's  Account  of  Things  in 
Ireland — Persecution — Friends  on  the  Continent — William  Ames 
in  (Termany  —  E.  Burrough  and  S.  Fisher  at  Dunkirk  —  Friends  at 
Rome  —  John  Perrot — Catharine  Evans  and  Sarali  Cheevers  at 
Malta 219 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Ajiology  of  the  New  England  Persecutors  —  William  Leddra — Wen- 
lock  Christison  —  Edward  Wharton  —  Trouble  of  the  Court  —  Trial 
of  W.  Christison  —  A  new  Law  —  Friends  travel  into  Maine  — 
Severe  Scourging — Mary  Tomkins — Alice  Ambrose  —  Ann  Cole- 
man—  Elizabeth  Hooten  —  Her  Sufferings  in  Massachusetts  — 
King's  Mandamus  —  It  is  taken  to  Boston  —  G.  Fox  and  two  Rep- 
resentatives from  Boston  —  The  Severity  of  Persecution  abates  — 
Last  Instance  of  Woman  Whipping  in  Boston 238 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Friends'  Marriages  declared  Legal — John  Perrot  and  his  Party  — 
Sufferings  under  the  "Conventicle  Act'' — Neal's  Account  —  Duty 
of  Publicly  v^ssembling  for  Divine  Worship  —  Beginning  of  Perse- 
cution in  London  —  Cases  before  Brown,  tlie  Lord  Mayor  —  Trial 
of  J.  Crook  —  Necessity  for  Friends  being  cautious  about  Pleading 
to  Indictments  —  Letters  from  Prisoners 262 


CONTENTS.  V 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Account  of  T.  Ell  wood  — Prison  Life— Deaths  in  Prison  — Death  of'*^^'' 
E.  Hubberthorn  and  E.  Burrough —William  Ames —  Persecution 
at  Colchester— Meetings   kept  up  — Divine  Support —  Testimo- 
nies to  Friends'  Steadfastness — Account  of  Stephen  Crisp 281 

CHAPTER  XVir. 

Account  of  I._  Penington  and  Wife  — Epistles  to  Friends  — Parlia- 
ment restrains  the  King  from  relieving  Non-Conformists  —  George 
Fox  escapes  being  imprisoned  at  Bristol  —  Rumors  of  a  Plot  — 
George  Fox  denies  Friends  having  anything  to  do  with  Plots  — 
Persecution  by  Col.  Kirby  — G.  Fox  iniprisoned  for  not  Swearing 

—  Repeatedly  brought  before  Court  — Margaret  Fell  imprisoned  — 
Flaws  in  G.  Fox's  Indictment —  Sentence  of  Premunire  passed 
without  G.  Fox  being  present  in  Court  — Close  Imprisonment  in  a 
wretched  Room —  Removed  to  Scarborough  Castle  — Cruel  Treat- 
ment wliile  there  — Overcomes  by  Christian  Meekness  and  Patience 

—  Released  by  the  King  — Sentence  passed  on  Margaret  Fell 302 

CHAPTER  XVHI. 

Arrest  and  Trial  of  F.  Howgil —  Imprisonment  and   Death  of  F.  ' 
Howgil  —  John  Audland  — Suffering  on  Account  of  Tithes— Value 
of  the  Testimonies  suffered  for  —  Conventicle  Act  —  Short  Impris- 
onments of  Friends,  in  order  to  transport  them  on  the  third  Oth-nce 

—  Trials  at  Hertford  —  Cruel  Conduct  at  London  —  Trials  at  Lon- 
don—Judge's Charge  — Dead  Bodies  of  two  Friends  seized  and 
secretly  buried  — Grand  Jury  threatened  for  not  finding  a  Bill 
against  Friends  — Hannah  Trigg— False  Witnesses  — Sentence  of 
Banishment  —  Refusal  of  Captains  to  carry  Friends  away  —  Ban- 
ished Friends  put  on  Shore— Embargo  laid  on  all  Vessels  that 
would  not  carry  Quakers  —  Mortality  in  Prisons  — Persecution  in 
the  Isle  of  Man ', 325 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Depravity  of  the  Time  — Marked  Simplicitv  of  Dress  and  Manners 
in  Friends  —Warnings  of  Judgments—  Phigue  in  London  —  Un- 
relenting Persecution  of  Friends  —  Deaths  in  Prisons  —  G.  White- 
head's Testimony  —  Sufferings  of  Fifty-five  Friends  sentenced  to 
Banishment  — Friends'  Love  and  Symi)athy  for  each  other  — 
Death  of  Samuel  Fisher — Introduction  of  Ei)iscopacy  into  Scot- 
land—  Sufferings  of  the  Covenanters  —  Persecution  of  Friends  in 
Scotland  — David  Barclay —  Jolin  Swinton —  Robert  Barclay  — 
No  Change  in  the  King  or  Court  — "Corporation  Act  "  — Unmiti- 
gated Intolerance  — (treat  Fire  in  Lonthm  —  Tiiomas  Ibbitt  — 
George  Fox  in  London  —  Account  of  Meetings  held  for  tlie  Resto- 
ration of  tiie  Followers  of  J.  Perrot 350 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Setting  up  Meetings    for   Discipline  —  Picmarks  on   Geor-i-e   Fox 

Necessity  for  Discipline —( Jeiicra!  Meetings-    Quartcrl.f  Meetings 

—  iMcelings  for  I'.nsiness  in  London  —  Yearly  Meeting  —  M(!etii7g 
for  Suflcrings  — System  of  Cliurch  Government  —  Discii)line .;570 


VI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

PAGK 

Friends  in  Ireland  —  Perseeution  there  —  Cruelty  of  George  Clap- 
liam  — Etlorts  of  William  P^dnmndson  to  resene  Friends  from  his 
Ojipression — Interview  of  W.  E.  with  the  I^ord  lieutenant — ^  W. 
E.'s  Service  at  Londonderry  —  Meetings  for  Diseipline  set  up  in 
Ireland  —  George  Fox  visits  Ireland  —  Admiral  I'enn  —  Account 
of  William  Penn  —  Death  of  R.  Farnsworth  —  Continued  Persecu- 
tion —  Lord  Clarendon  —  Death  of  Thomas  Loe  —  Josiah  Cole  and 
F.  liowgil 382 

CHAPTER  XXn. 


,  njust  buspu 

William  Penn  released  from  the  Tower —  Address  of  Margaret 
Fell  to  King  Charles  II.  —  Her  Release  from  Prison  —  jMarriage  of 
George  Fox  and  Margaret  Fell  —  E|)istle  of  George  Fox- — Visit  of 
J.  Biirnveat  to  America — Defection  of  T.  Thurston — Perrot's  Prin- 
ciples in  America  —  Numerous  Friends  engaged  in  Religious  Visits 
in  West  Iiulies  and  America  —  (Jeorge  Fox  in  America  —  W.  Ed- 
mun-dson  in  America  —  Friends  in  North  and  South  Carolina — 
Friends  obtain  Control  of  New  Jersey  —  Emigration  to  New  Jersey 

—  Settlement  of  Meetings  in  New  Jersey 400 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Purchase  of  Pennsylvania  by  Wm.  Penn  — Form  of  Government 
established  by  Wm.  Penn  —  Rapid  Settlement  by  Friends  —  Meet- 
ings set  up  — Indian  Treaty  — Yearly  IMeeting —  Friends  in  New 
York  and  New  England— -  Visits  oi'  J.  lUirnyeat,  (J.  Fox,  and  W. 
Edmundson  —  Dispute  with  Roger  Williams  —  Further  Check  to 
Persecution  in  New  England  —  Spirit  of  Persecution  still  alive  — 
Wm.  Edmundson  again  in  America  —  At  Hartford 423 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Lull  of  Persecution  in  Great  Britain  —  George  Fox  reported  to  liave 
turned  Presbyterian — Third  "Conventicle  Act" — T.  Ell  wood's 
Criticism  thereon  —  Character  of  Informers  and  Magistrates  — 
George  Fox  and  an  Informer  —  Terril)le  Persecution  —  Church  of 
England  "Service"  Performed  at  Friends'  Meeting -House  — 
Horsleydown  Meeting-House  torn  down  — RatclifT Meeting-House 
wrecked  —  Trial  of  William  Penn  and  William  Mea«l  —  Jury 
fined  —  Defendants  kept  in  Prison  —  Death  of  Admiral  Penn  — 
Trial  and  Sufferings  of  other  Prisoners  beibre  the  same  Court  — 
Ijientenant  of  the  Tower— Wheeler  Street  Meeting-House  and  , 
Gilbert  Latey  —  Constancy  and  Faithfulness  of  Friends  —  Illness 
of  George  Fox  —  Domestic  Trials  of  his  Wife 442 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Imprisonment  of  I.  Penington  and  T.  EUwood  —  I.  P.  and  Earl  of 
Bridgewater  —  Cruel  treatment  by  the  latter  of  the  former — I.  P. 
liberated  by  tlie  Court  in  Loudon  — Testimony  of  a  fellow  Prisoner 

—  Wm.  Dewsbury  —  His  concern  for  J.  Perrot  —  Great  Imprison- 


CONTENTS.  VU 

PAQB 

ment  of  Friends  in  York  —  Long  Imprisonment  of  W.  Dewsbury  — 
Epistle  of  W.  D.  —  Political  Affairs  —  Royal  Proclamation  to  Sus- 
pend the  Penal  Laws  against  Dissenters— Friends  liberated  from 
Prison  —  Eifects  of  their  patient  Suffering  —  Controversy  with  the 
Baptists  —  Dissatisfaction  of  the  People  —  Proclamation  Revoked 

—  Arrest  and  Imprisonment  of  G.  Fox  —  G.  F.'s  persecution  by 
Parker  —  Interviews  with  G.  F.  in  prison  —  Friends  in   Scotland 

—  Alexander  Skene  —  Queries  addressed  by  A.  Skene  —  Efforts  of 
the  Clergy  to  suppress  Friends  —  Judges  in  Scotland  admit  an  Af- 
firmation instead  of  an  Oath 4G2 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Robert  Barclay  —  Death  of  A.  Jaffray  —  Severe  persecution  begun  at 
Aberdeen  —  Dispute  of  R.  Barclay  and  G.  Keith  with  Students  — 
Barclay's  Apology  —  Friends  imprisoned  in  Aberdeen  —  Sympa- 
thized with  by  other  Friends  —  Letter  of  Princess  Elizabeth  —  G. 
Fox  sentenced  to  Premunire  —  Carried  to  London  on  Habeas  Corpus 

—  Discliarged  —  Account  of  Richard  Duvies  —  G.  Fox,  while  too 
feeble  to  travel  much,  writes  Epistles,  &c.  —  Friends  visit  Holland 

—  Great  Spoliation  of  Friends  —  Unjust  constructions  of  the 
"  Conventicle  Act  " — The  King  and  Church  Party  inexorable  — 
Interview  of  G.  Whitehead  and  W.  Crouch  with  the  Bishop  of 
Canterbury 480 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Forerunners  of  a  Change  —  Miserable  End  of  many  Informers  — 
Confession  of  One  —  Notice  of  Wm.  Baily  —  Meetings  in  Hf)lland 

—  Wm.  Penn's  Address  to  the  King  of  Poland  —  Sufferings  of 
Friends  on  the  Continent  —  Embden  —  Visit  to  Elizabeth,  Princess 
Palatine  —  Letter  of  the  Princess  to  G.  Fox —  R.  Barclay's  Efforts 
for  Relief  of  Friends  in  Scotland  —  Restiveness  of  some  under  the 
Discipline  —  Insubordination  of  Wilkinson  and  Story  —  Their  De- 
fection from  the  Principles  of  Friends  —  Efforts  to  Reclaim  them  — 
Separation — Some  Reclaimed  —  Publications  called  forth  by  the 
Ranting  Spirit  —  Jetirey  Bullock '. 502 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Increase  and  Suffering  of  Friends  in  Ireland  —  J.  Banks'  Service  in 
Ireland  —  Disorders  among  some  JMeinbers  —  Catharine  Norton  — 
Wm.  Ednmndson  and  other  Friends  shut  up  in  a  Dungeon  —  W. 
E.  before  the  Bishops'  Court —  Account  of  J.  Banks  —  Account  of 
Benj.  Bangs  —  "Popish  Plot"  —  Friends  persecuted  as  "Popish 
Recusants"  —  G.  Fox  addresses  Parliament — Friends  petition  the 
King  and  Parliament  —  Eflbrts  to  relieve  Friends  frustrated — Fires 
of  Persecution  rekindled  —  Wm.  Dewsbury  in  Jail  — Sufferings  of 
Friends  at  Bristol  —  Prisons  filled  —  Wishes  of  the  ]\[ayor  and 
Citizens  disregarded  by  tlie  Persecutors — Faithfulness  of  the 
Women  and  Children  —  Case  of  Isaac  Dennis,  a  persetuuing  Jailer 
— General  Persecution  and  Faithfulness — Epistles  of  Encourage- 
ment—  Epistle  of  G.  Fox 518 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Triumph  of  the  King  and  Cluircli  Party  —  Death  c)f  (^liarles  II. — 
Accession    of  James   ii. —  Petition  and   Statement  of  Friends  — 


VIII  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Attempt  oftlie  Duke  of  Moiinioulli — Kclcase  of  Friends  from  im- 
jirisonmcnt — Exairiination  into  tlie  Condnet  of  Informers  —  Tlieir 
Iniquity  Exposed — Epistle  of  G.  Fox  —  Deatli  of  D.  Barclay  and 
of  Anne  Whitehead  —  Liberty  of  Conscience  Granted  —  Acivnovvl- 
edj^ment  of  Gratitude  by  Friends  —  R.  Barclay's  efforts  to  relieve 
Friends  in  Scotland  —  End  of  Persecution  in  .Scotland  —  R.  Barclay 
in  Public  AlVairs  —  Attacked  by  a  Highwayman  —  Death  of  R. 
Barclay  —  Testimonials — Defection  towards  King  James  —  Im- 
prisonment of  15ishops  —  William,  Prince  of  Orange,  invited  to 
take  the  Throne  —  William  and  Mary  declared  King  and  Queen 

—  Wm.  Penn  at  the  Court  of  King  James  —  Wm.  Penn  arrested  — 
Death  of  W.  Dewsbury 538 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

Act  of  Toleration —^  Friends  obtain  a  Modification  of  the  Language 

—  Confession  of  Faith  —  S.  Crisp's  Address  to  Friends —  Death  of 
Alex.  Parker — Little  persecution  in  Ireland  —  Warning  by  W. 
Edmundson — W^ar — Raparecs—  Services  of  Wm.  Edmundson  for 
his  Neighbors  —  Cruel  Treatment  of  W.  E. —  Efforts  to  take  the  life 
of  VV'.  E. —  Testimony  relative  to  the  Faithfulness  of  Friends  in 
Ireland  during  the  War  —  Increasing  Weakness  of  G.  Fox  — 
Epistles  by  G.  Fox  —  Last  Sickness  and  Death  of  G.  Fox  —  Death 

of  J.  Burnyeat  —  Death  of  Thomas  Salthouse 557 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Troubles  of  Wm.  Penn— Seclusion  of  W.  P.— W.  P.  acquitted  — Death 
of  S.Crisp  —  Account  of  .lohn  Richardson  —  Accoujit  of  Thomas 
Story  —  Account  of  Thomas  Chalkley  —  Relief  to  Friends  in  15arba- 
does — Increase  of  Friends  in  Pennsylvania  —  Trials  of  Friends  in 
Pennsy  1  vu  n  ia  on  accountof  Military  demands — Rennmstrance  against 
Slavery  by  Friends  at  (lermantown  —  Friends  and  Slavery — Yearly 
Meeting  of  Pennsylvania  and  N.  Jersey — Harmony  among  Friends. .575 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Account  of  the  Heresy  and  Separation  of  G.  Keith  —  Long-continued 
labor  of  Friends  for  his  Restoration  —  Disownment  of  G.  Keith  — 
Continued  increase  of  Friends  in  the  American  Colonies  —  Friends 
in  England  seek  relief  from  the  im])osition  of  Oaths  —  Declaration 
of  Faith  by  P^riends — "Primitive  Christianity  Revived" — Eflbrts 
of  Friends  to  have  an  Affirmation  substituted  for  an  Oath  finally 
successful 592 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Efforts  to  obtain  some  relief  from  Tithes  —  Attempt  to  have  the  Laws 
for  collecting  Tithes  made  more  Stringent  —  Frustrated  by  the 
action  of  Friends  —  Renewed  efforts  to  subject  Friends  to  Persecu- 
tion—  End  of  Legal  Persecution  —  Death  of  C.  Marshall  —  Death 
of  J.  Crook  —  Visit  of  W.  Penn,  T.  Story  and  .Tohn  Everet  to  Ire- 
land—  Testiuiony  respecting  Friends  in  Ireland  —  T.Story  and  R. 
Gill  in  Philadelphia  —  Death  of  Thomas  Lloyd  —  Some  Account  of 
R.  Barrfiw — Second  visit  of  W.  Penn  to  Pennsylvania  — Some 
Observations  on  Friends;  their  Faith  ;  Discipline;  Suffering,  &c. 

—  Declaration  of  Faith 613 


FEIENDS 

IN  THE 

SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Reformation  under  Henry  VIII. —  Edwurd  VI. —  Mary  —  Elizabeth  — 
Manner  in  which  the  Doctrines,  Organization,  &c.,  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
hmd  were  determined — Prerogative  of  the  Crown  to  decide  in  Spiritual 
Matters  —  No  Liberty  of  Conscience  —  Witnesses  to  Truth  —  John  Wycliffe 
— Translation  of  the  Bible  —  Progress  of  Inquiry  and  Doctrinal  Differences 

—  Puritans  —  Intolerance  of  the  Government  and  the  Church  —  Presbyte- 
rians —  Independents  —  Baptists  —  Numerous  Sects  —  Development  of 
Princi{)les  of  Civil  Liberty  —  Growth  of  the  Contest  between  tiie  Church 
and  Dissenters  —  Justice  by  Law  defeated  —  Origin  of  tlie  Pilgrim  Fathers 

—  Tiiey  found  what  was  to  be  an  Asylum  for  the  Oppressed  —  Course  pur- 
sued by  Cliarles  I.— Ke.sistance  of  the  Scots  to  Prelacy,  &c. —  Tlie  Long 
Parliament  —  Civil  War  —  Cromwell — Attenlion  (»f  tlie  People  kept  di- 
rected to  Modes  and  Professions  of  Religion  —  Claims  of  the  Higli  Ciuirch 
Party  —  Tiieir  views  of  Dissenters  —  Opinions  and  Feeling  of  Dis.-^enters 
towards  that  Parly  —  Barljarcms  Laws  enacted  by  the  Presbyterians  wlien 
in  Power  —  Summary  F.Ktingnishment  of  their  Power  by  Cromweil  — 
General  and  loud  Professions  of  Religion. 

THE  refornialion  of  the  national  religion  introduced  into  England 
by  Henry  VIII.  was  effected  by  the  exercise  of  arbitrary  power, 
rather  to  gratify  evil  passion.?  roused  by  papal  opjujsition,  and  for 
self-aggrandizement,  than  from  any  desire  to  promote  clearer  views 
of  Ciirislianity.  Tlie  change  was  such  as  was  required  to  shift  the 
title  (jf  "Supreme  Head  of  the  Ciuirch,"  and  (livcrt  ecch^siastical 
revenues  from  the  Pope  at  Koine  to  tli'.-  I>iuif  but  royal  layman,  who 
was  accustomed  lo  use  the  swoi'd  oi- axe  and  block,  to  rid  himself  of 
whoever  oi-  wlialcvn-  stood  oppo-^cd  lo  his  will.  It  was,  however,  a 
means  for  largely  cxieu'liiig  access  lo  .-oui'its  of  religious  knowledge, 

y 


10  FKIENDS     IN    THE 

:ui(l  rousing  the  pcoi)lc%  in  incisure,  from  tlu' su[)rrstitious  iLriiorance 
and  apathy,  which  it  was  the  policy  of  Koine  to  keep  un(listurl)efl. 

The  crude  reform  of  Henry  was  I'elieved  in  some  of  its  more  hard 
and  rugged  features,  and  hnmglit  nearer  into  conformity  wilh  the 
purer  profession  of  Christianity,  promulgated  by  the  greater  reform- 
ers on  the  continent,  by  Edward  VI.  Mild,  scrupulous  and  devo- 
tional as  he  is  represented  to  have  been,  though  he  established  Protes- 
tantism in  his  kingdom,  he  was  hardly  fitted  to  detect  and  successfully 
oppose  the  selfishness  and  craft,  actuating  some  engaged  in  prescrib- 
ing what  should  be  the  doctrines  and  organization  of  "The  Church ;" 
so  that  the  laws  governing  its  action,  constituting  its  hierarchy,  de- 
fining the  powers  and  privileges  its  diguitaz-ies  should  enjoy,  and 
restricting  the  people  in  the  exercise  of  religious  duties,  all  manifest 
the  leaven  of  the  same  assumed  priestly  authority,  the  same  will- 
worship,  the  same  superstitious  reverence  for  the  functions  and 
powers  of  the  clergy,  in  the  "  Church  "  established  by  act  of  Parlia- 
meut,  as  had  characterized  the  religion  that  had  been  discarded. 

The  fires  of  Smilhfield,  kindled  at  the  bidding  of  the  bigoted  and 
cruel  Mary,  while  they  inspired  terror  of  the  spirit  and  policy  of  the 
upholders  of  Romanism,  at  the  same  time  warmed  many  among  the 
thoughtful  and  religious  into  more  effective  zeal,  and  im])lanted 
more  deeply  in  the  minds  of  others,  sympathizing  with  suffering  hu- 
manity, an  interest  in  the  success  of  some  reformation,  which  would, 
at  least,  free  the  nation  from  the  sanguinary  and  unsparing  tyranny 
of  the  priestly  despots  at  Ronie. 

Queen  Elizabeth  found  herself  surrounded  with  daugei-s  and  diffi- 
culties that  threatened  to  set  aside  her  questionable  right  to  the 
throne.  Her  numerous  subjects  who  clung  to  the  papal  religion, 
while  they  loudly  rejected  her  as  their  rightful  sovereign,  yet  de- 
manded of  her  protection  in  the  exercise  of  their  worship,  insepara- 
bly connected  with  fealty  to  the  Pope.  Many  Puritans  who  had 
left  their  country  during  the  persecution  of  Queen  Mary,  had  im- 
bibed the  more  enlightened  opinions  and  principles  of  the  Protestants 
in  France  or  Geneva,  and  they  now  sought  a  modification  of  the 
liturgy,  the  church  powers  and  ceremonials,  as  established  by  Ed- 
ward VI.  Elizabeth,  however,  equally  regardless  of  the  comi)laints 
of  the  one,  and  the  remonstrance  of  the  other,  took  counsel  of  her 
own  stubborn  will,  declared  that  "Supreme  Head  of  the  Church" 
was  no  meaningless  title,  and  that  slie  would  regulate  the  religion 
of  her  realm,  according  to  her  own  standard  of  what  was  right  and 
necessary,  and  would  have  all  her  subjects  to  conform  to  it. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  11 

History  discloses  tluit  the  dissensions  about  religion  among  the 
different  professors,  and  the  exigencies  of  the  civil  government,  fui-- 
nished  plausible  reasons  why  the  Crown  and  council,  or  tlie  Parlia- 
ment, should  decide  upon  the  doctrines  and  system  of  cluirch  govern- 
ment that  should  be  recognized  as  established  by  law.  Those  who 
had  drunk  deeply  of  the  spirit  of  Protestantism,  were  strongly  bent 
upon  discarding  from  the  polity  and  ritual  of  the  legally  constituted 
church,  everything  that  signally  marked  the  papal  system.  They 
were  eager  to  imitate  the  sweeping  reformation  exhibited  at  Geneva. 
Others  who  feared,  lest  by  too  great  changes,  there  would  not  be  left 
in  the  hands  of  the  clergy  the  power  they  desired,  and  who  were  will- 
ing to  take  advantage  of  the  natural  tendency  in  the  human  mind 
to  be  influenced  by  show  and  ceremony,  even  in  connection  with  the 
"services  of  religion,"  were  strenuous  for  continuing  many  of  the 
different  orders  of  priests,  with  whatever  dogmas  and  practices  in 
the  old  time  fait-h,  would  cherish  their  authority,  and  make  their 
services  indispensable.  These  were  anxious  that  the  robes  and  trap- 
pings that  had  distinguished  their  papistical  predecessors  should  be 
retained.  Yet  the  ceremonies  of  "consecration,"  were  repulsive  even 
to  some  who  were  entitled  to  the  office  of  bishop,  and  some  of  them 
refused  to  wear  the  vestments  thought  necessary  by  others  for  })re- 
lates  or  clergy.  The  controversy  was  long  and  bitter,  and  conse- 
quently compromises  had  to  be  extorted  or  voluntarily  made;  and 
the  resulting  articles  of  belief,  liturgy,  order  of  priests,  and  ritual, 
prescribed  by  secular  authority,  were  incorporated  in  what  has  long 
been  known  as  "The  Church  of  England." 

During  tlie  reign  of  Queen  Mary,  Parliament,  from  deference  to 
the  Pope,  had  repealed  the  Act  by  which  the  Sovereign  was  made 
the  Supreme  Head  of  the  church  ;  but  it  was  now  restored,  and  the 
king  or  queen  of  the  realm  was  clothed  with  authority  to  decide 
in  all  matters  of  faith  and  practice;  to  prescribe  what  doctrines 
shcjuld  be  preached,  and  to  amend  or  redress  all  heresies;  awarding 
tiie  piinisimient  that  shouhl  be  suffered  by  those  who  disobeyed 
whatever,  on  this  subject,  had  received  the  royal  sanction  :  the 
punisjunent  varying  from  fines  to  imi)risonment,  and  even  death. 
Thus  it  became  a  prerogative  of  the  crown,  either  with  or  without 
the  advice  of  the  council,  to  judge  for  and  direct,  the  \\h(Ar  nation 
what  form  of  religion  it  siiould  profess  and  uphold;  utteily  de- 
priving each  and  all  of  the  enjoyment  of  the  righloi'  liherty  of 
con.S(;ience. 

JN'otwitlistanding  the  lapse  that  long  existed  from  the  purity  and 


12  FRIENDS     IX    THE 

simplicity  of  priinitivo  Christiuiiily,  it  liiul  pleased  the  merciful 
Head  of  the  church,  at  various  times  and  in  dilferent  places,  during 
the  dark  ages  of  the  apostacy,  to  raise  up  men  —  one  here  and 
another  there  —  who,  tiirough  tlie  operation  of  Divine  Grace,  or  the 
Light  of  Christ  on  their  minds,  were  brought  to  see  in  part  tiirough 
the  darkness  and  corruption  that  surrounded  them,  and  were  enal)led 
to  protest  against  the  supei"stition  and  idohitry  lliat  had  crept  into 
the  professing  church,  perverting  the  worship  wliich  is  required  to 
be  in  spirit  and  in  truth,  blinding  the  people  to  the  liberty  and 
privileges  the  gospel  of  salvation  was  intended  to  confer,  and  sub- 
jecting them  to  the  oppressive  impositions  of  a  self-constituted  body, 
claiming  to  be  clothed  with  power  and  functions,  incompatible  with 
the  constitution  of  the  church  of  Christ.  These  witnesses  for  the 
truth  had  promulgated  it,  so  far  as  it  had  been  oj)ened  to  their 
understandings;  thereby  bringing  on  themselves  opposition  and 
persecution.  But  the  general  jjurity  of  their  lives,  their  faith  and 
patience  in  tribulation,  and  the  Christian  fortitude  and  peace  with 
which  several  of  them  had  confirmed  their  testimony  at  the  stake, 
had  comm(;nded  the  doctrines  they  preached  to  many  who  heard 
them  ;  and  who,  though  afraid  to  avow  them  openly,  treasured  them 
in  their  hearts,  and  often  declared  them  to  others  around,  or  trans- 
mitted them  to  those  who  came  after  them. 

In  England,  John  Wyclifi'e,  as  early  as  137-5,  had  denounced  the 
Pope  as  anti-Christ,  and  used  the  influence  he  had  acquired  by  his 
learning  and  religious  character,  to  disseminate  opinions  entirely 
opposed  to  some  of  the  cherished  articles  in  the  Popish  creed. 
Above  all,  he  succeeded  in  producing  a  version  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures in  English  ;  supposed  to  be  the  first  translation  into  a  modern 
language  ever  made.  He  was  condemned  and  branded  as  a  heretic 
by  a  council  of  bishops,  and  iiis  translated  Eible  was  proscribed. 
But  many  were  convinced  of  the  truths  he  promulgated  ;  the  con- 
verts being  subsequently  called  Lollards,  after  a  martyr  for  the 
same  truths  advocated  by  Wyclitt'e,  named  Lolhard,  who  was  burnt 
at  Cologne. 

From  the  time  of  Wyclifie  to  the  period  when  a  formal  separa- 
tion from  the  Komish  church  was  effected  by  the  reformation  under 
Henry  VHI.,  the  attention  of  not  a  few  among  the  people  was  kept 
turned,  more  or  le.ss,  to  the  perversions  of  Christian  doctrine  tauglit 
by  the  priests,  and  to  the  corruptions  which  they  jjractised  or  sanc- 
tioned, by  devoted  individuals,  made  willing  to  attempt  stemming 
the  superstitious  ignorance  and  irreligion  of  the  times.     In   ]5:]4, 


SEYEXTEEXTH    CENTURY.  13 

"William  Tyndale,  who  had  been  long  laboring  in  the  work,  pub- 
lished his  improved  translation  of  the  Scriptures ;  which  being 
eagerly  sought  after,  and  copies  distributed  among  many  who  could 
read,  a  knowledge  of  the  Sacred  truths  contained  therein  was  widely 
spread,  and  proved  a  powerful  means  of  diffusing  light  and  im- 
proved feeling;  thereby  convincing  many  of  the  errors  of  the 
religion  in  which  they  had  been  educated,  and  emboldening  them 
to  teach  doctrines  at  variance  with  those  enforced  by  the  national 
church. 

The  different  eminent  men  made  use  of,  to  point  out  the  errors 
and  corruptions  in  the  professing  church,  and  bring  the  attention 
of  its  members  back  to  the  cardinal  truths  of  Christianity,  were  lights 
in  the  respective  periods  in  which  they  lived  and  could  not  be  hid ;  but 
most  of  them  got  but  partial  views  of  the  truths  revealed  in  the  gospel ; 
though  like  the  voice  of  one  crying  in  the  wilderness,  their  labors 
tended  to  prepare  the  Avay  of  the  Lord ;  and  the  numbers  attracted 
to  them,  served,  in  measure,  to  disintegrate  the  great  body  of  profes- 
sors, and  to  draw  zealous  worshippers  into  some  organic  cohesion. 

After  the  Reformation  in  England  was  fully  established,  in  the 
reign  of  Elizabeth,  there  were  those  who  saw,  more  or  less  clearly, 
the  many  Popish  errors  that  had  been  retained  in  the  doctrines  and 
constitution  of  the  "  Ej^iscopal  church,"  and  who,  being  sincerely 
desirous  that  the  j)eople  siiould  be  taught  ".in  the  Avay  of  God  more 
perfectly,"  testified  boldly  against  the  disputed  points  in  the  creed, 
the  man-made  hierarchy,  and  many  of  the  ceremonies  still  enjoined 
and  jiractised.  Some  of  these  promulgated  their  opinions  with  so 
much  zeal  and  success,  that  being  denounced  by  prelates  high  in 
ecclesiastical  authority,  strenuous  efforts  were  made  to  silence  them, 
and  a  few  were  arrested,  tried,  condemned,  and,  by  order  of  the 
queen,  burned  at  the  stake.  But  the  spirit  of  free  inquiry  and  re- 
ligious liberty, had  obtained  sufficient  hold  on  the  minds  of  large 
numbers,  not  to  be  expelled  or  silenced  ])y  this  barbarous  persecu- 
tion. Many  withdrew  from  attending  at  the  authorized  places  of 
public  worship,  and  as  they  came  to  recognize  and  understand  one 
another,  in  relation  to  their  dis.sent  from  the  national  religion,  and 
the  work  of  Grace  in  their  hearts,  they  were  drawn  into  outward 
feMowship  and  covenanted  to  keep  together. 

Those  who  thus  essayed  a  purer  form  of  worship  and  discipline, 
received,  from  others  who  affected  to  contemn  them,  the  name  of 
Puritans,  anfj  as  there  were  among  them,  some  who  held  benefices, 
and  yet  refused  to  use  the  Episcopal  liturgy  in  their  "  churches," 


14  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

tlicv  tlni>;  inciinvd  the  oonsurc,  and  soon  the  hitter  liatrod  of  tlie 
bishops,  headed  hy  Whitu;ift,  bent  on  protecting;  and  extending 
their  own  ill-gotten  )>ower;  and  also  the  intorferenee  of  the  (irovern- 
ment,  determined  that  all  should  how  unresistingly  to  its  "Act  of 
Uniformity,"  which  forbade,  under  severe  penalties,  any  otiier  mode 
of  worship,  or  any  other  form  of  prayer  or  praise  than  those  pre- 
scribed by  the  Queen  and  Parliament.  The  two  were  not  long  in 
inflicting  punishment  on  all  whom  they  could  bring  within  reach  of 
their  power,  who  refused  to  comply  with  their  arbitrary  and  un- 
christian requisitions ;  and  many  suffered  severely.  Driven  into 
more  intimate  relations  by  the  means  taken  to  destroy  them,  and 
finding  they  could  no  longer  remain  in  membership  with  the  "Es- 
tablished church,"  which  they  had  all  along  desired,  a  large  portion 
of  these  Puritans  formed  themselves  into  a  separate  religious 
Society ;  and  substituting  for  l)ishops  and  other  high  ecclesiastics, 
experienced  men  as  rulers,  whom  they  called  Presbyters,  they  re- 
ceived, from  this,  the  name  of  Presbyterians. 

Another  party  of  Puritans,  which  had  adopted  the  sentiments  of 
a  popular  preacher,  named  Robert  Brown,  and  from  him  had  been 
called  Brownists,  Avent  further  than  the  Presbyterians  in  protesting 
against  the  assumptions,  and  the  corruptions  of  the  national  church. 
They  hehl  that  these  accepted  errors  destroyed  her  right  to  be  con- 
sidered a  ti-ue  church,  and  that  her  ministers,  with  the  position,  the 
titles  and  the  power  they  assumed,  were  not  rightly  qualified 
ministers  of  Christ.  They  also  insisted  that  every  congregation 
constituted  a  <'hui'ch  of  itself,  with  full  i)ower  to  choose  its  own 
pastor,  and  exercise  control  over  its  own  members,  without  the 
interference  of  any  other  congregation  or  body  claiming  superior 
authority  ;  and  from  this  peculiarity  in  their  cluirch  government, 
they  obtained  the  name  of  Independents. 

Although  the  doctrine  of  the  necessity  of  arriving  at  the  age  of 
religious  understanding  before  baptism  was  administered,  and  that 
it  must  be  done  by  immersion,  had  been  entertained,  and  frequently 
preached  by  some  from  the  time  of  Wycliffe,  and  many  who  held  it, 
under  the  name  of  Anabaptists,  suffered  greatly,  son)e  even  unto 
death  at  the  stake,  it  was  not  until  near  the  beginning  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,  that  the  Baptists  formed  a  distinct  religious  body. 
Its  early  members  appear  to  have  attained  more  clear  and  spiritual 
views  of  the  Christian  religion  than  most  others  of  the  time,  and 
consequently  were  greatly  inveighed  against.  They  boldly  asserted 
the  right  of  all  professors  to  enjoy  liberty  of  conscience;  that  as 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  15 

Christ  was  the  alone  Head  of  the  church,  He  only  could  qualify  for 
preaching  his  gospel,  and  that  school  learning  was  not  necessary  to 
fit  a  mau  for  a  minister.  They  denied  the  right  to  demand  pay  for 
preaching,  and  some  of  them  alleged  that  both  war  and  taking  an 
oath  were  opposed  to  the  precepts  and  spirit  of  the  New  Testament. 
It  was  not  many  years,  however,  before  some  of  these  truths  were 
lost  sight  of  by  them. 

As  inquiry  and  disputation  upon  points  of  faith  and  practice 
spread,  especially  during  tlie  civil  war,  the  division  and  subdivision 
of  religious  professors  multiplied.  Their  names  were  too  numerous 
to  be  here  recited  ;  but  there  were  Seekers,  who,  William  Penn  says, 
"  At  their  outset  were  very  diligent,  plain,  and  serious ;  strong  in 
Scripture  and  bold  in  profession,  bearing  much  reproach  and  contra- 
diction;" Levellers,  Waiters,  Familists,  Perfectionists,  Ranters,  and 
Muggletonians,  the  last  two  being  distinguished  by  their  blasphe- 
mous notions,  and  wild,  anarchical  discourses. 

It  was  a  natural  consequence  of  entertaining  religious  opinions 
more  in  accordance  with  the  Headship  of  Christ  in  the  church,  with 
the  equality  of  its  members,  and  the  brotherhood  of  man,  as  set  forth 
in  the  New  Testament,  that  the  political  principles  of  the  difierent 
bodies  into  which  the  Puritans  had  been  divided,  should  be  modified 
thereby.  These  associations  therefore,  without  any  avowed  antagon- 
ism to  the  civil  authority  of  the  State,  were  an  element  in  the  com- 
munity more  or  less  opposed  to  the  commonly  received  belief  in  the 
divine  right  of  kings,  and  to  the  right  of  the  government  to  regulate 
the  creed,  the  organization,  or  the  discipline  of  the  church.  They 
constituted  a  body  unconsciously  under  the  influence  of  the  leaven 
of  republicanism ;  gradually  working  on  all  brought  within  the 
reach  of  its  action,  preparing  them  to  appreciate  and  seek  for  civil 
as  well  as  religious  liberty,  and  at  last  to  resist  successfully  the 
usurpations  of  the  Sovereign  and^.the  high  church  party. 

While  the  fear  of  the  machinations  of  the  Poi)e,  his  emissaries 
and  adherents,  had  pressed  upon  them,  Conformists  and  Non-con- 
formists united  in  repelling  them,  and  in  endeavoring  to  punish, 
and,  if  possible,  to  drive  them  from  tlie  realm.  But  as  those  pro- 
i'essiug  Komanism  diminished  in  luimber,  and  in  their  eflbrts  to 
embarrass  and  weaken  the  government,  and  tln^  J^piscojial  churcli 
party  felt  itsf^lf  scfurely  entrenclied  in  power,  it  became  less  hostile 
towards  them,  and  more  zealous  lor  an  indisputable  supnimacy  of 
tli(!  king  in  council,  the  divine  origin  of  its  own  (;ons(itution  and 
dignities,  and  tlie  duty  of  uncpiestioning  submission  of  each  and  all 


16  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

subjects  to  whatever  was  enacted  by  eitlier  cluii-cli  or  State.  Oi)po- 
sition  to  its  (//c'^«  or  measures  met  with  no  toleration,  aiul  tl)e  clergy 
cherished  an  animosity  towards  Dissenters,  as  tliey  calle<l  them, 
which  increased  in  proportion  as  they  found  them  determined  to 
maintain  their  own  convictions  of  right,  and  resist  encroachments 
on  their  liberties.  On  both  sides  the  passions  became  too  much  in- 
flamed to  allow  the  voice  of  reason  to  be  heeded  ;  religious  contro- 
versy ripened  into  civil  strife;  carried  ou  by  the  king  and  his  coad- 
jutors, the  high  church  party,  in  support  or  defence  of  measures 
adopted  by  the  Sovereign,  under  the  authority  of  his  assumed  pre- 
rogative and  by  a  portion  of  the  Parliament  and  the  peoi)le,  in 
disputing  illegal  exactions,  and  refusing  to  comply  with  arbitrary 
and  unconstitutional  edicts. 

Appeal  was  made  to  the  Courts,  but  the  subserviency  of  the  Judges 
to  the  expressed  wishes  or  the  menaces  of  the  crown,  prevented  the 
administration  of  law-s,  long  before  enacted  for  the  preservation  of 
the  rights  of  the  subjects;  thus  defeating  the  demands  of  justice  and 
equity,  and  subjecting  to  close  imprisonment  and  other  severe  pun- 
ishments, some  of  the  noblest  and  most  distinguished  men  that  adorn 
that  period  of  England's  history.  The  national  hierarchy  were  im- 
placable in  the  enforcement  of  other  laws  provided  to  compel  to  uni- 
formity ;  using  them  and  ecclesiastical  courts,  as  a  means  to  harass 
and  crush  the  Dissenters;  so  that  many  of  the  Presbyterians,  Inde- 
pendents, and  others,  in  order  to  escape  the  cruel  persecution  that 
often  stripped  them  of  the  means  of  subsistence,  by  heavy  fines,  &c., 
while  it  prevented  the  exercise  of  their  forms  of  worship,  fled  to 
Holland,  and  other  places  on  the  continent. 

Among  those  thus  driven  from  their  native  country,  and  who  had 
taken  up  their  abode  in  Holland,  was  a  congregation  of  Independents, 
wdiose  pastor  was  John  Robinson.  In  addition  to  the  depressing 
feeling  accompanying  exile,  the^  persecuted  religionists  had  to 
endure  many  hardships  in  their  new  home,  arising  from  their 
poverty,  and  the  uncertainty  of  finding  a  fixed  dwelling  place. 
There  also  grew  up  a  feud  between  them  and  other  congregations  of 
separatists,  and,  in  course  of  time,  finding  their  number  decreasing, 
they  resolved  to  seek  another  asylum  where,  with  unrestricted  liberty 
of  conscience,  they  might  still  be  within  the  jurisdiction  of  England's 
sovereign  power.  After  carefully  considering  the  advantages  of  dif- 
ferent places  of  rei'uge  proposed,  they  resolved  to  remove  to  America. 
Accordingly  in  the  Seventh  month  of  1620,  about  four  years  before 
the  death  of  King  James  I.,  a  portion  of  them  embarked  at  Delft- 


SEVENTEEXTH    CENTURY.  17 

haven  in  two  vessels,  sailing  first  for  SouthamptoD,  England,  intend- 
ing to  make  the  necessaiy  arrangements  there  for  obtaining  the 
right  of  settlement  and  establishing  a  colony.  Many  obstacles  and 
vexations  detained  them  in  that  port,  and  after  getting  away,  one 
of  the  vessels  had  to  return.  The  other  —  the  Mayflower  —  after  a 
voyage  of  two  months,  arrived  on  the  shores  of  Xew  England,  and 
surmounting  many  difficulties,  finally  landed  on  what  subsequently 
received  the  name  of  Plymouth  Rock.  These  bold  adventurers 
have  become  world  renowned  as  "  The  Pilgrim  Fathers." 

They  founded  a  colony,  which  was  understood  to  be  a  refuge  for 
those  persecuted  for  their  religion,  where  such  should  find  safety  and 
peace.  They  appear  to  have  been  religious-minded  men,  disciplined 
in  the  school  of  advei'sity,  and  dou])tless,  under  the  feeling  awakened 
by  the  suffering  they  had  passed  through,  they  were  sincere  in  the 
feeling  of  toleration  and  charity ;  but,  as  will  be  seen  in  succeeding 
pages,  these  virtues  were  incompatible  with  principles  otherwhere 
avowt'd,  and  their  successors  either  forgot,  or  grievously  disregarded 
the  disposition  of  their  forefathers.  For  three  years  tliey  endured 
almost  incredible  hardships. 

James,  while  he  occupied  the  Scottish  throne,  manifested  a  strong 
disposition  to  favor  the  national  Kirk,  but  he  had  hardly  crossed 
the  border  on  his  way  to  take  possession  of  the  throne  of  England,  be- 
fore he  gave  evidence  how  little  he  was  governed  by  fixed  principles 
of  religion  or  conduct,  by  siding  with  the  high  church  party  he  there 
found  in  the  ascendant;  and  with  the  motto  "No  bishop,  no  king,"  he 
used  the  power  he  could  command,  to  make  all  professors  subservient 
to  2>relacy.  Nevertheless  he  bestowed  a  priceless  boon  upon  his  coun- 
try, by  the  celebrated  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  which  was  under- 
taken and  published  under  his  patronage. 

Charles  I.,  who  ascended  the  throne  on  the  death  of  James  I., 
l)ursued  the  same  policy  as  his  father,  but  with  more  directness  and 
determination.  It  was  during  his  reign,  that  the  widening  of  the 
breach  between  the  established  church  and  different  classes  of  Puri- 
tans, of  which  notice  has  been  taken,  took  place  jnost  rapidly  and 
irre])aral)ly  ;  the  feelings  of  both  parties  becoming  so  embittered 
towanls  each  other,  that  tiie  whole  nation  was  in  a  state  of  excitement 
and  contention.  As  one  ste[)  alter  another  was  taken  by  the  royal 
jtarty,  to  enforce  their  measures  and  punish  ojjposilion,  calling  forth 
more  determined  resistance,  it  becnme  evident  that  a  crisis  was  ap- 
proaching, wherein  the  people  would  see  thelibertiesof  tluir  country 
2 


18  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

fatally  sacrificed,  or  the  monarcli  and  the  Episcopal  rimrch,  ofwhicli 
he  was  the  head,  deprived  of  niiicli  of  their  power  for  evil. 

In  his  infatuated  ohstinacy  to  have  his  own  way,  and  rule  hy  wliat 
he  called  his  divine  ri^ht,  notwithstanding  the  wide-s])read  disaf- 
fection throughout  England,  arising  from  the  high-handed  efforts 
to  drive  all  into  the  ohservanee  of  the  fornnihi  prescrihed  by  the 
"  Church,"  Charles  resolved  to  force  prelacy  and  the  liturgy  on  the 
Scots.  Under  the  tuition  of  John  Knox  and  his  coadjutors,  that 
portion  of  his  subjects  had  become  fully  indoctrinated  with'Calvin- 
isni,  and  such  was  their  attachment  to  its  dogmas  and  their  own 
system  of  church  government,  that  the  announcement  of  an  inten- 
tion to  introduceEpiscopacy  as  the  national  religion,  at  once  roused 
their  passion  and  called  forth  open  and  determined  opposition. 
They  broke  out  into  riots  ;  threatened  to  take  the  lives  of  any 
bishops  who  might  come  among  them,  and  by  force  prevented  the 
reading  of  the  "  stated  services  "  in  the  places  of  worship.  This  was 
followed  by  the  adoption  of  the  "  Solemn  League  and  Covenant," 
sworn  to  by  most  of  the  nobles,  the  ministers  and  the  people ;  by 
which  they  bound  themselves  to  resist  to  the  uttermost  the  intro- 
duction among  them  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  to  preserve  their 
own  form  of  religion  —  Presbyterianism  —  intact. 

The  king  having  resolved  to  resort  to  the  sword  to  settle  his 
quarrel  with  the  Scots,  into  which  he  had  so  recklessly  plunged, 
found  it  necessary  to  convene  a  parliament  —  none  having  been 
called  together  for  eleven  years  ^  in  order  to  obtain  the  means  to 
carry  on  the  war.  But  though  this  was  supplied,  he  was  disap- 
pointed in  his  attempts  at  coercion,  and  was  obliged  to  forego  his 
project  of  fastening  prelacy  and  the  liturgy  on  his  rebellious  sub- 
jects. The  parliament,  which  at  first  had  manifested  a  strong  desire 
to  act  favorably  towards  its  sovereign,  having  afterwards  proceeded 
to  inquire  into  some  of  the  more  glaring  abuses  that  had  existed  for 
a  long  time,  was  at  once  dissolved  by  the  king. 

It  soon  became  apparent  that,  under  the  pressure  of  feelings  called 
forth  by  the  presence  of  an  army  more  powerful  than  his  own, 
Charles  had  dissembled  in  his  concessions  to  the  Scots  ;  and  it  was 
not  long  before  he  S(jught  and  found  an  occasion  for  disregarding 
the  stipulations  into  which  he  had  entered,  and  to  carry  out  his  own 
perverse  will.  To  strike  a  blow  that  would  be  felt,  required  extra 
funds,  and  the  public  mind  was  in  no  temper  to  submit  i)atiently  to 
an  attempt  made  to  raise  the  sum  required  by  the  exclusive  action 
of  the  House  of  Lords,  which  the  king  had  assembled  at  York. 


SEYENTEEXTH    CENTURY.  19 

Finding  there  was  no  alternative  between  submission  to  the  de- 
mands of  the  insurgent  and  incensed  Presbyterians  in  the  north, 
and  fiicing  another  parliament,  the  king  issued  the  writs,  and  when 
assembled  once  more  applied  to  it  for  assistance. 

Having  convened  in  the  Ninth  month  of  1640,*  it  at  once  became 
apparent  that  a  large  majority  of  the  members  represented  a  con- 
stituency determined  to  have  their  grievances  heard  and  redressed. 
The  Commons  speedily  entered  on  the  performance  of  this  duty. 
Finding  the  power  was  in  their  hands,  they  resolved  to  make 
thorough  Avork,  and,  in  order  to  prevent  the  king  cutting  short  the 
reforming  measures  contemplated,  by  again  suddenly  dismissing  the 
legislature  of  the  nation,  they  began  by  enacting  a  law  requiring 
that  at  no  time  should  more  than  three  years  elapse  between  the 
dissolution  of  one  parliament  and  the  meeting  of  another ;  and  after- 
wards they  passed  a  resolution  for  their  own  unlimited  continuance. 

This  Parliament  became  famous  as  the  Long  Parliament.  It 
claimed  to  speak  and  act  for  the  nation  in  opposition  to  the  en- 
croachments of  the  king  and  his  party  on  the  rights  of  the  people, 
and  their  disregard  of  the  people's  clearly  expressed  will.  The 
contention  between  the  two  became  more  and  more  acrimonious  and 
irreconcilable  ;  accusations  and  recriminations  were  freely  exchanged 
as  well  as  demands  made  and  refused.  Each  party  prepared  for 
the  desperate  struggle  all  saw  was  impending,  and  in  1642,  the 
sword  was  unsheathed,  and  blood  first  shed  in  the  sanguinary  civil 
war  carried  on  under  the  banners  of  Cavaliers  and  Roundheads. 
After  varying  fortunes  on  both  sides,  the  contest  resulted  in  the 
overthrow  of  the  Royalist  armies  and  power ;  the  king,  after  being 
made  prisoner,  was  brought  to  the  block  ;  the  whole  government 
and  polity  of  the  realm  were  reconstructed,  and  finally,  Oliver 
Cromwell,  having  risen  above  all  competitors,  was  appointed  Lord 
Protector  of  England. 

It  will  have  been  seen  that  from  the  introduction  of  the  Reforma- 
tion into  England  by  Henry  Vlll.,  in  addition  to  the  necessity  of 
keeping  the  papists  from  again  obtaining  ascendency,  and  reduc- 
ing the  kingdom  to  dependence  on  the  Pope,  which  at  the  outset 
was  a  primary  object,  doctrines  and  forms  of  religion  had  been, 
more  or  less,  forced  on  the;  attention  oi"  the  people,  hy  the  struggle 
kept  up  between  the  high  church  ])arty  in  power,  to  maintain  the 
principles  and  the  <;cclesiastical  organization  adopted  by  it,  and 
other  religious  pnjfessors  bent  on  as-serting  liberty  of  conscience,  and 
"'■  Tlif  dates  ill  tills  wurk  are  accortlui''  tu  tlic  old  stvlo. 


20  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

escapint;:  tlio  ])onalties  of  worsliipping  in  conformity  with  wliat  tlioy 
recotrnized  as  the  requirements  of  the  gospel.  It  was  not  likely  to  bo 
diverted  from  the  momentous  subject  when  "the  bloody  queen"  Mary, 
ascended  the  throne,  and  re-delivered  the  Kingdom  to  the  will  of 
the  See  of  Komc,  and  the  "  tender  mercies  "  of  Legates  and  Cardi- 
nals. The  many  martyrs  who,  during  her  short  reign,  perished  at 
the  stake,  as  witnesses  for  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  so  far  as  they 
understood  them,  challenged  the  attention  of  all,  and  awakened  in 
the  minds  of  the  more  sober  part  of  the  people,  a  feeling  of  rever- 
ence for  themselves,  and  for  the  cause  for  which  they  laid  down  their 
lives ;  thus  bringing  home  to  the  hearts  of  those  who  reflected  on 
the  startling  events  of  the  time,  the  conviction  that  religion  was  of 
higher  importance  than  the  ordinary  affairs  of  secular  life. 

During  the  long  period  of  civil  commotion,  or  military  conflict, 
that  intervened  from  the  death  of  King  James  to  the  establishment 
of  the  Commonwealth,  religious  faith  and  church  government  Avere 
subjects  that  largely  occupied  the  minds  of  thinking  men.  The  war 
was  waged  as  much  on  account  of  theological  differences  as  civil 
rights.  Even  where  conforniity  was  professed,  many  were  convinced 
of  the  unrighteousness  of  the  church  system,  under  whicli  so  many  in 
the  nation  groaned.  Controversy  and  persecution  spread  al)road  a 
knowledge  of  some  truths  long  concealed  or  obscured  ;  and  men  who 
were  sincerely  desirous  to  know  and  to  do  their  Heavenly  Father's 
will,  were  drawn  by  sympathy  into  union,  one  with  another,  for  the 
])urpose  of  edifying  each  other  in  the  religion  they  held  most  dear. 
The  Anglican  Church  party,  of  which  the  king  was  the  spiritual 
and  the  political  head,  though  numbering  among  its  "  clergy  "  and 
"laity"  many  who  were  exemplary  for  their  piety,  Avas  yet,  as  a 
head  and  body,  determined  to  force  on  all  the  notions, — That  there 
could  be  no  church  where  there  were  no  bishops ;  that  there  could 
be  no  bishops  unless  they  were  "  consecrated  "  by  those  having  apos- 
tolical succession,  and  that  its  priests  alone  could  availingly  admin- 
ister what  were  called  the  "  sacraments  ;"  viz.,  baptism  or  sprinkling, 
working  regeneration;  and  the  "  eucharist ;  in  which  they  alleged 
the  bread  and  wine,  after  the  prescribed  action  of  the  ^Driest,  under- 
went some  inexplicable  change,  so  that  they  who  partook  of  them, 
derived  spiritual  sustenance  from  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ. 
Ignoring  that  their  own  "  church  "  was  but  a  disowned  offspring 
of  rebellion  from  its  mother  at  Rome,  who  denounced  it  as  altogether 
heretical,  they  stigmatized  all  Dissenters  as  schismatics,  and 
scoffed  at  their  respective  pretensions  to  be  a  part  of  the  church  of 


SEVENTEENTH    CE;S^TURY.  21 

Christ;  denied  tlieir  organizations  to  be  sanctioned  by  scriptural 
or  traditional  authority,  and  rejected  the  claims  of  their  minis- 
ters to  be  called  to  the  work,  or  to  be  capable  of  performing  any 
ministerial  service.  But  among  the  men  attached  to  the  Episcopal 
party,  with  extensive  learning  and  large  acquaintance  with  the 
claims  and  interests  of  the  established  church  there  were  some,  such 
as  Hales,  Chillingworth  and  Jeremy  Taylor,  whose  theories  of  doc- 
trinal difiereuces  and  the  right  of  church  government, were  fiir  more 
liberal  tlian  those  of  the  dignitaries,  whose  bigotry  and  narrow 
thought  urged  the  court  and  church  into  the  oppressive  and  exas- 
perating measures  that  finally  wrecked  the  whole  party. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Dissenters  denounced,  with  equal  fervor, 
the  close  approximation  of  the  "Church  established  by  law"  to 
some  of  the  unscriptural  dogmas,  and  many  of  the  idolatrous  rites 
and  ceremonies  of  the  hated  papists,  from  whom  they  had  copied 
them ;  while  they  fiercely  resented  the  arrogant  assumptions  of  its 
hierarchy,  and  claimed  for  themselves  to  be  the  champions  of  an 
open  Bible,  an  unfettered  ministry,  and  a  free  church.  They  justly 
charged  many  of  those  holding  ministerial  offices  in  the  "  Establish- 
ment," with  leading  irreligious  lives,  and,  by  precept  and  example, 
encouraging  vain  and  corrupt  practices  among  the  i)eople ;  while 
they  claimed  that  with  them,  religion  was  the  primary  object  in 
life,  and  that  they  were  prepared,  should  the  power  be  conferred 
upon  them,  to  bring  about  not  only  a  change  of  i-eligious  profession, 
but  a  real  reformation  in  the  morals  of  the  people. 

Although  there  were  among  those  who  stood  high  in  the  different 
sects,  men  who  put  on  the  profession  of  religion  for  some  sinister  pur- 
pose, and  practised  not  a  little  cant  and  hypocrisy ;  and  among  the 
undissembling,  many  with  a  fanatical  zeal  that  led  ihem  far  beyond 
the  bounds  of  Christian  charity,  yet,  scattered  throughout  nearly 
all,  were  numerous  persons  of  undoubted  piety;  the  uppermost  desire 
of  whose  hearts,  was  to  live  in  love  with  all  men,  and  to  be  found  in 
the  i)roper  discharge  of  their  civil  and  religious  duties. 

When  liic  war  resulted  in  the  "  Uoundlieads  "  destroying  or  scat- 
tering their  o[)ponents,  the  Presbyterians,  who  had  a  large  majority 
in  the  parliament,  oljtained  for  a  time  control  of  the  nation.  They 
hatl  been  fighting  long  and  fiercely  against  the  Cavaliers,  ostensibly 
for  the  enjoyment  of  the  rigiit  of  liberty  of  conscience,  and  that  all 
Christians  should  worship  the  Almighty  in  accordance  therewith ; 
but  when  tlu^y  believed  the  power  to  be  securely  in  their  hands,  they 
at  once  began  to  enforce  conformity  to  their  own  religious  views. 
• 


22  F  R I  E  N  D  S     T  N    T  ir  E 

They  asserted  the  plenary  and  ini'ullible  inspiration  of  tlie  Scrip- 
tures, but  declared  that  theirs  was  the  only  true  interpretation  of 
them,  and  made  no  secret  that  their  principles  were  ojjposed  to 
toleration,  and  that  they  were  prepared  to  visit  with  the  severest 
punishments,  all  who  would  not  assent  to  what  they  required.  Ac- 
cordintily,  while  the  army  under  Cromwell  was  in  the  north,  sub- 
duinu'  the  Scots,  who  had  risen  in  favor  of  ('harles,  they  enacted  a 
law,  by  which  a  persistent  refusal  to  acknowledge  the  truth  of  any 
one  of  eight  specified  articles  of  faith,  incurred  the  penalty  of  death  ; 
and  a  similar  rejection  of  either  of  sixteen  other  points  of  belief, 
subjected  the  "  heretic"  to  imprisonment,  &c.,  until  he  should  agree 
not  to  maintain  his  errors  any  longer.  They  also  passed  an  ordi- 
nance entitled  "A  Form  of  Church  Government  to  be  used  in  the 
Churches  of  England  and  Ireland."  These  measures  at  last  brought 
them  into  conflict  with  the  Independents,  who  were  neither  so  big- 
oted nor  so  intolerant.  The  latter  sought  to  eflect  a  change  to  a 
milder  policy.  The  Presbyterians  refused  any  abatement  or  com- 
promise, and  Cromwell,  who  was  connected  with  the  Independents, 
brought  his  invincible  legions  to  his  aid,  took  the  reins  of  govern- 
ment into  his  own  hands,  and  purged  the  House  of  his  opjwnentis. 

The  Episcopal  Church  was  no  longer  recognized ;  those  of  its  clergy 
who  refused  to  conform  to  the  new  order  of  things,  were  expelled 
from  their  "livings ; "  which  were  taken  possession  of  by  some  of  those 
who  had  previously  been  called  Dissenters,  and  who  now  availed 
themselves  of  the  laws  for  collecting  tithes,  which  were  unrepealed. 
"Religion,"  says  Orme,  "was  now, the  language  and  garb  of  the 
Court ;  prayer  and  fasting  were  fashionable  exercises  ;  a  profession 
was  the  road  to  preferment."  The  soldiers  professed  to  unite  the 
military  and  spiritual  vocations,  so  that  in  their  camps  preaching 
and  praying  alternated  with  their  drills;  they  sang  psalms  or  hymns 
as  they  charged  their  enemies,  and  when  occasion  offered,  officers  or 
privates,  who  supposed  themselves  gifted  for  the  work,  entered  the 
pul|)it  or  mounted  a  gun-carriage,  and  woi-ked  on  the  feelings  of  their 
audience  by  long  sermons,  or  by  prayers  nearly  equally  extended. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  23 


CHAPTER  II. 

Review  of  Points  in  the  Preceding.  Chapter  —  Truths  of  tlie  Gospel  lost  Sight 
of —  Birth  and  Youth  of  Geoi-ge  Fox  —  Early  religious  Character  —  Travels 
from  Home  —  Deep  Mental  Conflicts  and  Exercises  —  Gospel  Truths  opened 
to  his  Understanding  —  Full  belief  in  tlie  Divinity  and  Atonement  of  Clirist 
—  Extracts  from  his  Journal  descriptive  of  his  State  and  the  knowledge 
Attained —  First  Appearance  as  a  Minister  — Political  and  Eeligions  State 
of  England  at  that  time  —  Continued  inward  exercises —  Doctrines  Preached 
and  his  Commission  from  the  Lord  —  Progress  of  Truth  —  Gospel  Testimo- 
nies Revived,  Pronuilgated  and  Maintained  by  G.  Fox — Plainness  in  Speech, 
Behavior  and  Apparel  —  The  Sacred  Truths  of  the  Scriptures  to  be  under- 
sto?)d  by  the  aid  of  tlie  Holy  Spirit — Call  and  Qualification  of  a  Gospel 
Minister— Perfection — Imprisonments  —  Attempt  to  induce  G.  F.  to  join  the 
Army — Origin  of  the  name  Quaker — Prison  Reform — Women's  Preaching. 

IN  the  preceding  cliapter,  a  glance  lias  been  taken  of  the  political 
and  religious  condition  of  England  during  the  time  that  elapsed  be- 
tween the  enforcement  of  the  Reformation  by  Henry  VIII.,  and  the 
inauguration  of  the  Commonwealth  under  Cromwell.  It  has  been 
seen  that  the  antagonism  between  different  parties  embracing  the 
uew  faith,  had  extended  from  those  in  power  in  State  and  Church, 
to  different  classes  of  the  people:  that  it  first  developed  passionate 
controversy  between  the  "Established  Church,"  and  those  who  could 
not  accept  all  its  teachings,  nor  admit  the  arrogant  claims  of  its 
dignitaries :  that  this  led  to  cruel  persecution,  in  an  unsuccessful 
attempt  to  extinguish  opposition  to  what  were  believed  by  many  to 
l)e  an  unscriptural  creed,  and  an  op[)ressive  and  domineering  priest- 
hood :  that  the  dissatisfaction  terminated  in  a  general  outbreak  of  a 
«pirit,  determined  to  obtain  more  free  exercise  of  civil  and  religious 
liberty;  which,  after  a  sanguinary  conflict,  wrested  the  government 
out  of  the  control  of  the  king  and  the  h'igh  church  party.  Crom- 
well, who  was  the  master  mind  of  the  Captains  of  his  age,  seized  the 
reins  of  government,  and  directed  military  and  political  power  to 
enforce,  if  not  conformity  to  his  own  creed,  subjection  to  his  per- 
sonal authority.  He  professed  to  desire  that  liberty  of  conscience 
slnnild  be  enjoyed.;  but  self-interest  and  the  love  of  place,  often  in- 
duced him  to  wink  at  the  intolerant  conduct  of  others,  who  made 
u:i(i  of  the  position  they  occupied  by  his  appointuient,  to  inflict 
penalties  for  religious  opinions,  or  modes  of  worship,  differing  from 
their  own. 


24  FRIENDSIXTHE 

During  the  eventful  period  reviewed,  men  litid  become  accustomed 
to  think  upon  and  discuss  the  points  of  religious  belief,  on  which 
there  long  had  been  differences  of  opinion  ;  and  as  the  state  of  the 
professing  church,  as  well  as  that  of  the  nation  at  large,  had  been 
throughout  such  as  to  demand  the  attention  of  those  who  had  capac- 
ity to  think  and  to  act,  very  many  within  different  classes  of  society, 
took  deep  interest  in  the  subjects  brought  into  dispute;  which  thus 
acquired  a  dignity  and  importance  previously  withheld  from  them. 

Nevertheless,  there  were  certain  great  and  fundamental  truths  or 
principles  of  the  gospel,  underlying  the  whole  system  of  Ciirislianity, 
which  though  they  may  have  been  admitted  in  theory  or  written 
creeds,  had  long  been  very  much  lost  sight  of,  denied  or  perverted, 
in  the  self-seeking  teaching  of  the  overbearing  clergy,  and  the  li^^ated 
and  blinding  controversies  of  sects  or  parties,  struggling  for  liberty 
or  power.  Although  the  doctrine  of  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
was  thus  admitted,  his  indwelling  with  men,  or  that  "The  Grace  of 
God  whiclj  bringeth  salvation  had  appeared  unto  all  men,  teaching 
them"  how  to  become  partakers  of  the  salvation  purchased  by  Christ, 
was  unacknowledged  or  denied. 

It  was  claimed  by  the  "Church," — said  to  be  organized  in  accord- 
ance with  the  Divine  will,  that  to  it  belonged  exclusively  all  the 
authority  and  right  which  a  commission  from  Christ  could  convey, 
—  that  it  was  collectively  inspired  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  its  indi- 
vidual membei's  participated  in  the  infiuenee  of  that  Spirit  through 
the  external  "means  of  grace"  possessed  and  administered  by  the 
"  Church  ; "  as  baptism,  the  eucharist,  preaching,  praying,  and  in- 
struction in  the  Scriptures. 

The  Bible  was  received  as  the  complete  and  final  revelation  of  the 
Divine  will,  in  relation  to  everything  connected  with  the  salvation 
of  the  soul,  and  consequently  was  considered  the  primary  rule  of 
faith  and  practice;  but  the  authoritative  interpretation  of  the  text, 
was  virtually  claimed  and  made  binding  by  tiie  "  Church ;"  or  in 
other  words,  by  the  "  clergy  ;  "  who,  as  a  body,  were  not  disposed  to 
give  any  exegesis  that  would  curtail  their  power,  or  otherwise  inju- 
riously affect  their  interest.  The  Head.ship  of  Christ  in  the  church, 
and  that  equality  among  believers  set  forth  in  his  declaration,  "One 
is  your  master,  even  Christ,  and  all  ye  are  brethren,"  were  generally 
disallowed  or  perverted,  by  denying  the  bestowal  of  Spiritual  gifts 
on  any  but  such  as  had  undergone  a  prescribed  course  of  study,  and 
been  ordained  by  men.  These  formed  a  distinct  class,  with  peculiar 
titles,  power,  and  privileges;  exercising  their  ministerial  functions 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  25 

as  a  profession,  and  claiming  the  right  to  demand  pecuniary  compen- 
sation for  their  services.  That  Christ's  kingdom  is  not  of  this  worhl, 
and  therefore  his  disciples  are  forbidden  to  fight,  though  so  clearly  set 
forth  in  his  teaching,  and  so  fully  confirmed  by  the  whole  spirit  of 
the  gospel,  was  altogether  ignored ;  and  consequently  the  constitution 
and  working  of  the  predominant  church,  w^ere  complicated  with  the 
character  and  action  of  the  i)olitical  government,  and  none  appeared 
to  comprehend  its  organization  and  the  execution  of  its  duties, 
without  connection  with  and  dependence  on  the  Legislature  or  the 
administration  of  the  State,  and  without  holding  that  as  these  were 
often  brought  into  collision  with  opponents,  Christians  were  there- 
fore warranted  in  engaging  in  war. 

But  He  who  watches  over  his  Church  by  night  as  well  as  by  day, 
as  He  had  preserved  witnesses  to  the  truth  throughout  the  ages  of 
almost  universal  darkness,  so  was  He  now  at  work  in  the  hearts  of 
individuals,  preparing  them  to  detect  and  reject  the  many  errors 
in  doctrine,  and  the  many  rites  and  ceremonies  by  which  man  in  his 
own  will  and  wisdom,  had  overlaid  and  obscured  the  truth,  and  to  turn 
away  from  tliem  ;  also  from  those  who  claimed  to  be  ministers  of 
Christ,  while  theii-  lives  bore  witness  that  they  knew  not  what  it 
w^as  to  be  subjected  to  his  heart-changing  baptism,  or  to  cease  from 
serving  the  spirit  of  the  world.  Thus  there  were  those  in  different 
portions  of  the  professing  Church,  who  were  longing  after  a  more 
spiritual  religion  than  could  be  found  while  it  maintained  such  a 
mechanical  routine  of  ceremony,  between  the  worshipjjer  and  the 
Father  of  Spirits ;  who  were  seeking  a  more  full  exemplification  of 
the  transforming  power  and  purity  of  the  gospel,  and  were  earnestly 
looking  for  a  clearer  light  to  shine  upon  the  path  of  the  just. 

That  light  came  not  by  any  sudden  outburst  of  religious  illumi- 
nation Avithin  any  one  of  the  various  sections  into  which  the  visible 
Cliurcli  was  divided  ;  but  by  the  inshining  of  the  Day  Spring 
from  on  high,  in  the  hearts  of  different  members  attached  to  them, 
who  were  hungering  and  thirsting  after  righteousness,  and  wailing 
to  be  taught  the  way  of  the  Lord  more  perfectly.  I'he  work  had 
been  and  was  going  on  secretly  and  with  slow  progress,  hidden  in 
the  heaits  of  many,  like  seed  in  the  warm  earth,  awaiting  tlie  time 
and  the  means  by  wiiicli  it  w<iul(l  be  niDi-c  powci'i'ully  (juickcncil, 
and  enaij](!d  to  push  forth  the  bhidc,  liiiin  the  (  ar  and  pci'ircl  lh(! 
full  corn  in  the  ear. 

Geoi'ge  Fox  was  born   in  Drayton-in-ihi -Chiy,  in  Leicestershire, 


26  FBIENDS    IN    THE 

in  the  year  1624,  about  one  year  before  the  death  of  King  James 
I.  He  was  the  sou  of  Chri^itopher  and  Mary  Fox,  the  maiden 
name  of  the  hitter  being  Lago,  said  to  be  of  the  stock  of  the  martyrs. 
They  were  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  were  liighly 
esteemed  for  their  piety;  the  father  being -called  by  his  neighbors 
"  Kightcous  Christer,"  on  account  of  his  honesty  and  uprightness. 

George  Fo.k  was  remarkable,  when  a  child,  for  his  gravity  and 
sedatencss,  and  he  states  that  when  but  eleven  years  of  age,  he 
"knew  pureness  and  righteousness;"  and  that  "Tiie  Lord  taught 
[him]  to  be  faithful  in  all  things,  aud  to  act  faithfully  in  two  ways  ; 
viz.,  inwardly  to  God,  and  outwardly  to  man,  and  to  keep  to  yea 
aud  nay  in  all  things." 

Seeing  the  seriousness  of  his  youthful  character,  his  relatives  at 
first  thought  to  have  him  educated  for  becoming  a  priest;  but  that 
being  abandoned,  he  was  placed  with  a  shoemaker,  who  also  dealt 
in  cattle  and  wool  ;  aud  in  the  latter  George  was  employed.  It  does 
not  appear  that  he  received  any  further  school  education  than  en- 
abled him  to  read  and  write  and  cast  accounts,  with  facility.  Con- 
scientiously just  and  exact  in  all  his  dealings,  it  became  a  common 
saying  among  those  who  knew  him,  that  "  If  George  says  verily  — 
a  word  he  often  used  —  there  is  no  altering  him." 

When  about  nineteen  years  of  age  [1642],  being  at  a  i'air,  he  was 
much  grieved  liy  two  of  his  acquaintances,  who  were  prol'essors  of 
religion,  with  whom  he  had  gone  to  an  inn,  for  some  refreshment  — 
drinking  healths,  and  urging  him  to  join  them  therein.  He  refused, 
and  left  them.  That  night  he  was  sleepless,  being  brought  under 
great  exercise  of  mind ;  aud  having  cried  fervently  unto  the  Lord, 
he  states,  He  said  unto  me,  "  Thou  seest  how  young  people  go  to- 
gether into  vanity,  and  old  people  into  the  earth ;  thou  must  for- 
sake all,  young  and  old,  keep  out  of  all,  and  be  as  a  stranger  unto 
all."  This  appears  to  have  been  the  beginning  of  "The  various 
exercises,  trials  and  troubles,"  through  whicii  the  Lord  led  liim,  in 
order,  as  he  observes,  "  To  prepare  and  fit  him  Ibr  the  work,  unto 
whicli  He  had  appointed  him." 

Believing  it  required  of  him,  he  left  home  in  the  Seventh  month 
of  164-'),  and  tarrying  a  shorter  or  longer  time  at  different  places, 
but  not  forming  intimate  acquaintance  with  any,  he  arrived  in 
London,  where  he  had  an  uncle  residing,  who  was  a  Baptist.  Here, 
as  elsewhere,  he  was  a  close  observer  of  the  doctrines  and  practices 
of  different  professors,  but  they  corresponded  not  with  the  standard 
he  saw  held  up  in  the  Scriptures,  aud  learning  that  his  relatives 


SEYENTEEXTH    CENTURY.  27 

were  uneasy  at  his  prolonged  absence  from  home,  he  returned  into 
Leicester,  where  he  remained  for  a  time.  Continuing  under  great 
sorrow  and  exercise  of  mind,  not  only  on  account  of  the  sense  given 
him  of  his  own  condition,  as  a  fallen  child  of  Adam,  and  his  entire 
inability  by  any  means  at  his  own  command  to  extricate  himself 
therefrom,  and  also  of  the  superficiality  of  the  religion  of  those  with 
whom  he  was  brought  into  contact  —  many  of  whom,  though  they 
made  much  profession,  appeared  to  know  little  or  nothing  of  that 
transforming  Grace,  which,  as  it  is  obeyed,  makes  man  a  new  crea- 
ture— he  passed  some  years  without  coming  to  that  full  settlement 
and  peace  which  his  soul  longed  for. 

At  this  time  the  Episcopal  Church  was  yet  in  power,  and  to  remove 
his  doubts  and  receive  instruction  in  the  way  of  righteousness,  he 
often  resorted  to  priests  who  had  acquired  high  character;  but,  he 
says,  "  I  found  no  comfort  in  them."  He,  however,  became  noted 
among  many,  of  different  religious  denominations,  as  a  young  man 
of  remarkable  experience  and  discerning  of  spirits.  Although  his 
conflicts  were  many,  and  his  sorrow,  at  times,  great,  yet  he  was 
favored,  through  the  Light  of  Christ  shining  in  his  soul,  with  many 
revelations  respecting  subjects  connected  with  the  spirituality  of  the 
gospel  of  Christ,  and  the  many  corruptions  that  had  crept  into  and 
marred  the  professing  church,  but  which  were  accepted  by  the  people 
as  being  all  right.  Thus  he  saw,  that  although  the  members  of  the 
different  denominations  claimed  to  be  believers,  yet  that  none  were 
true  believers  but  those  wlio  were  born  of  God,  and  had  passed  from 
death  unto  life  ;  also,  that  "  being  bred  at  Oxford  or  Cambridge  was 
not  enough  to  fit  and  qualify  men  to  be  ministers  of  Christ."  That 
Christ,  as  the  Head  of  his  own  church,  could  alone  call  and  qualify 
those  whom  He  ordains  to  preach  the  gospel  of  life  and  salvation  ; 
He  first,  by  the  transforming  operation  of  his  Grace,  and  the  bap- 
tisms of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  fii-e,  making  them  practically  acquainted 
with  the  gospel,  as  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation,  and  thus  fitting 
them  to  receive  the  gift.  That  "  God,  who  nmde  the  world,  did  not 
dwell  in  temples  made  with  hands."  As  these  things  were  so  at 
variance;  with  the  oi)inious  formed  by  his  education,  and  generally  be- 
lieved,they  at  first  almoststaggered  him,buthc  soon  became  convinced 
they  were  incontrovertible  truths  which  he  was  bound  to  maintain. 

His  firm  belief  in  the  deity  and  atonement  of  Christ  is  fully 
Bet  forth  in  his  reply  to  a  question  put  to  him  by  the  priest  of 
Drayton.  He  says,  tliis  priest  asked  me,  "  Why  Christ  cried  out 
ujion  the  cross,  'My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou   forsaken  me?' 


28  FRIENDS     IN    THE 

And  why,  He  said,  'If  it  be  possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from  me;  yet 
not  my  will,  but  thine  be  done  ?  '  I  told  him  ;  at  that  time  the  sins 
of  all  mankind  were  upon  him,  and  their  inicpiities  and  tran.>rgres- 
sions,  with  which  He  was  woundi'd  ;  which  He  was  to  bear  and  to  be 
an  offering  for,  as  He  was  man,  but  died  not  as  He  was  (iod  ;  so  in 
that  He  die  1  for  all  men,  tasting  death  for  every  man.  He  was  an 
offering  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world.  Tliis  I  spoke,  being  at  that 
time,  in  a  measure,  sensible  of  Christ's  sutferings."     [164.).] 

As  George  Fox  was  the  first  and  the  princi[)al  instrument  made 
use  of  by  the  Head  of  the  Church,  in  gathering  and  founding  the 
Society  of  Friends,  it  seems  right  to  give  a  more  detailed  account  of 
his  religious  exercises,  and  the  gradual  unfolding  to  his  understand- 
ing, by  the  same  Spirit  that  dictated  the  Scriptures,  of  the  doctrines 
and  testimonies  of  the  gospel  as  believed  in  and  held  by  Friends, 
than  can  be  expected  of  others,  in  this  account  of  the  rise  of  the 
Society.  The  following  passages  are  therefore  taken  from  his 
journal : 

1646.  "  Though  I  had  greatopenings,  yet  great  trovd)le  and  tempta- 
tions came  many  times  upon  me,  so  that  when  it  was  day  I  wished 
for  night,  and  when  it  was  night  I  wished  for  day  ;  and  by  reason  of 
the  openings  I  had  in  my  troubles,  I  could  say  as  David  said,  '  Day 
unto  day  uttereth  speech,  and  niglit  unto  night  showeth  knowledge.' 
When  I  had  openings  they  answered  one  another,  and  answered  the 
Scriptures;  for  I  had  great  openings  of  the  Scriptures:  and  when  I 
was  in  troubles,  one  trouble  also  ansvv'ered  to  another." 

1647.  "  I  fasted  much,  walked  abroad  in  solitary  places  many 
days,  and  often  took  my  Bible  and  sat  in  hollow  trees  and  lonesome 
places  till  night  came  on;  and  frequently  in  the  nig'.it  walked 
mournfully  about  by  myself:  for  I  was  a  man  of  sorrows  in  the 
time  of  the  first  workings  of  the  Lord  in  me. 

"During  all  this  time  I  was  never  joined  in  ])rofcssi()n  of  religion 
with  anv,  but  gave  up  my.self  to  the  Lord,  having  forsaken  all  evil 
c()m[)any,  taken  leave  of  father  and  mother,  and  all  other  relations, 
and  travelled  up  and  down  as  a  stranger  in  the  earth,  which,  way 
the  Lord  inclined  my  heart ;  tarrying  sometimes  more,  sometimes 
less  in  a  place:  for  I  durst  not  stay  long  in  a  i)lace,  being  afraid 
both  of  professor  and  profane,  lest,  being  a  tender  young  man,  I 
should  be  hurt  by  conversing  much  with  either.  For  which  reason 
I  kept  much  as  a  stranger,  seeking  heavenly  wisdom  and  getting 
knowledge  from  the  Lord  ;  and  was  brought  off  from  outward  things, 


SEVEXTEENTH    CENTURY.  29 

to  rely  on  the  Lord  alone.  Though  my  exercises  and  troubles  were 
very  great,  yet  were  they  not  so  continual  but  that  I  had  some 
intermissions,  and  was  sometimes  brought  into  such  an  heavenly  joy, 
that  I  thought  I  bad  been  in  Abraham's  bosom.  As  I  cannot  de- 
clare the  misery  I  was  in,  it  was  so  great  and  heavy  upon  me,  so 
neither  can  I  set  forth  the  mercies  of  God  unto  me  in  all  my  miserv. 

0  the  everlasting  love  of  God  to  my  soul,  when  I  was  in  great  dis- 
tress! when  my  troubles  and  torments  were  great,  then  was  his  love 
exceeding  great." 

"But  as  I  had  forsaken  the  priests,  so  I  left  the  separate  preachers 
also,  and  those  called  the  most  experienced,  for  I  saw  there  was  none 
among  them  all  that  could  speak  to  my  condition.  And  v/hen  all 
my  hopes  in  them  and  in  all  men  were  gone,  so  that  I  had  nothing 
outwardly,  to  help  me,  nor  could  tell  what  to  do,  then,  O  then,  I 
heard  a  voice  which  said,  '  There  is  one,  even  Christ  Jesus,  that 
can  speak  to  thy  condition.'  When  I  heard  it,  my  heart  did  leap 
for  joy.  Then  the  Lord  let  me  see  why  there  was  none  upon  the 
earth  that  could  speak  to  my  condition,  namely,  that  I  might  give 
Him  all  the  glory." 

"  My  desires  after  the  Lord  grew  stronger,  and  zeal  in  the  pure 
knowledge  of  God,  and  of  Christ  alone,  witiiout  the  help  of  any 
man,  book,  or  writing.  For  though  I  read  the  Scriptures  that  spake 
of  Christ  and  of  God,  yet  I  knew  Him  not  but  by  revelation,  as  He 
who  hath  the  key  did  open,  and  as  the  Father  of  life  drew  me  to  his 
Son  l)y  his  Spirit.  Then  the  Lord  gently  led  me  along,  and  let  me 
see  his  love,  which  was  endless  and  eternal,  surpassing  all  the 
knowledge  that  men  have  in  the  natural  state,  or  can  get  by  history 
or  books." 

"One  day,  when  I  had  been  walking  solitarily  abroad,  and  was 
come  home,  I  was  taken  up  in  the  love  of  God,  so  that  I  could  not 
but  admire  the  greatness  of  His  love;  and  while  I  was  in  that  con- 
dition, it  was  opened  unto  me  by  the  eternal  light  and  power,  and  I 
therein  clearly  saw.  That  all  was  done  and  to  be  done  in  and  by 
Christ;  and  how  He  concjuers  and  destroys  this  tempter  the  devil, 
and  all  iiis  works,  and  is  atop  of  him;  and  that  all  these  troubles 
were  good  for  me,  and  teiuptalions  for  tiie  trial  of  my  laitli,  which 
Christ  had  given  me.  Tlie  Lord  opened  me,  that  I  saw  through 
all  these  troubles  and  temptations.     My  living  faith  was  raised,  that 

1  saw  all  was  done  by  Christ  the  life,  ar.d  my  belief  was  in  Him." 


30  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

"  As  tlic  Light  appeared,  all  appeared  that  is  out  of  the  Light ; 
darkness,  death,  temptations,  tlie  unrighteous,  the  ungodly  ;  all  was 
manifest  and  seen  in  the  Light.  After  this,  a  pure  fire  appeared  in 
me :  then  I  saw  how  He  sat  as  a  refiner's  fire,  and  as  the  fuller's  soap. 
Then  the  spiritual  discerning  canic  into  me;  by  w^hieh  I  discerned 
my  own  tl:oughts,  groans,  and  sighs;  and  what  it  was  that  veiled 
me,  and  what  it  was  that  opened  me.  Tliat  which  could  not  abide 
in  the  patience,  nor  endure  the  fire,  in  the  Light  I  found  to  be  the 
groans  of  the  flesh,  that  could  not  give  up  to  the  will  of  God  ;  which 
had  so  veiled  me,  that  I  could  not  be  })atient  iu  all  trials,  troubles, 
anguishes,  and  perplexities;  could  not  give  up  self  to  die  by  the 
cross,  the  power  of  God,  that  the  living  and  quickened  might  follow 
Him,  and  that  that  which  would  cloud  and  veil  from  the  i)resence 
of  Christ,  that  which  the  sword  of  the  Spirit  cuts  down,  and  which 
must  die,  might  not  be  kept  alive.  I  discerned  the  groans  of  the 
Spirit,  which  opened  me,  and  made  intercession  to  God  :  in  which 
Spirit  is  the  true  waiting  upon  God,  for  the  redemption  of  the  body, 
and  of  the  whole  creation.  By  this  true  Spirit,  iu  which  the  true 
sighing  is,  I  saw  over  the  false  sighiugs  and  groanings." 

"  The  Lord  God  opened  to  me  by  his  invisible  power,  how  'Every 
man  was  enlightened  by  the  divine  light  of  Christ.'  I  saw  it  shine 
through  all,  and  that  they  that  believed  in  it  came  out  of  condemna- 
tion to  the  Light  of  life,  and  became  the  children  of  it;  but  they 
that  hated  it,  and  did  not  believe  iu  it,  were  condemned  by  it,  though 
they  made  a  profession  of  Christ.  This  I  saw  in  the  pure  openings 
of  the  Light  without  the  help  of  any  man  ;  ueither  did  I  then  know 
where  to  find  it  in  the  Scriptures ;  though  afterwards,  searching  the 
Scriptures,  I  found  it.  For  I  saw  in  that  Light  and  Spirit  which 
were  before  the  Scriptures  were  given  forth,  and  which  led  the  holy 
men  of  God  to  give  them  forth,  that  all  must  come  to  that  Spirit, 
if  they  would  know  God  or  Christ,  or  the  Scriptures  aright,  which 
they  that  gave  them  forth  were  led  and  taught  by." 

These  exercises  and  openings  appear  to  have  been  ex])erienced  by 
George  Fox,  when  between  the  twentieth  and  twenty-fourth  years  of 
his  age.  Having  beeu  thus  prepared  by  the  baptism  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  and  fire,  aud  received  a  call  from  his  divine  Master  to  enter 
upon  the  work  of  the  ministry,  his  first  recorded  appearance  as  a 
preacher  of  the  Gospel,  was  iu  1 647,  at  Duckenfield  and  jNIanchester ; 
where,  he  says,  "  Some  were  convinced,  who  received  the  Lord's 
teaching,  by  which  they  were  confirmed  and  stood  their  ground." 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  31 

The  state  of  England  at  that  time  (1647)  was  most  sad  and  per- 
plexing. The  civil  war  had  been  attended  with  great  destruction  of 
human  life  and  devastation  of  property  in  all  parts  of  the  Kingdom. 
Three  factions  had  been  long  struggling  for  pre-eminence.  The  King 
though  a  prisoner  had  not  yet  been  brought  to  trial.  It  was  un- 
certain whether  Presbyterians  or  Independents  would  finally  suc- 
ceed in  retaining  the  civil  and  ecclesiastical  authority.  The  former 
gave  evidence  by  the  sanguinary  laws  passed  by  their  party  in  Par- 
liament, that  the  possessions  and  life  of  no  man  would  be  safe  who 
would  not  conform  his  belief  to  certain  articles  prescribed  by  them ; 
which  were  not  to  be  openly  discredited  upon  pain  of  death.  The 
latter  professed  to  favor  liberty  of  conscience,  but  their  whole  course 
made  it  evident  that  they  were  determined  to  obtain  and  secure 
power  by  every  means  within  their  reach.  The  bloody  conflict  for 
supremacy,  so  long  waged  with  the  cruelty  of  jealousy  and  the 
blood-thirstiness  of  sectarian  hate,  employing  the  sword  to  decide 
between  rival  theories  of  religion  and  church  government,  appeared 
to  be  ended  ;  but  there  was  still  much  confusion  in  reference  to 
ecclesiastical  differences,  and  embittered  discord  between  the  parties 
striving  for  mastery ;  leading  many  to  fear  that  the  sword  would 
never  be  sheathed  if  to  it  was  to  be  left  the  adjustment  of  spiritual 
interests.  JMen  of  thoughtful  minds  had  come  to  see  that  though 
the  war  had  been  undertaken  ostensibly  to  redress  both  civil  and 
religious  grievances,  there  was  little  prospect  of  attaining  either  end  ; 
and  witnessing  the  deplorable  losses  and  calamities  attending  it,  and 
that  their  hopes  of  settlement  and  domestic  comfort  were  disap- 
pointed, many  of  them  had  become  earnest  in  seeking  for  more  dura- 
ble riches,  and  to  find  some  solid  foundation  to  rest  on,  amid  the  fluc- 
tuations of  doctrines  and  ecclesiastical  domination  that  surrounded 
them.  Others  than  George  Fox,  wearied  and  disgusted  with  the 
self-seeking  and  hypocritical  profession  of  many  who  made  them- 
selves conspicuous  as  spiritual  guides;  withdrew  from  the  ordinary 
places  of  wor.<hip,and  in  retirement,  self  examination  and  study  of  the 
Scriptures,  sought  to  ascertain  and  to  perform  their  religious  duties. 

No  i)arty  was  so  assured  of  retaining  j)o\ver  as  to  deem  it  expe- 
dient to  attempt  to  enforce  laws  for  the  repression  of  religious  in- 
quiry; so  that  the  places  for  worship  throughout  the  country  were 
often  occupied  l)y  teachers  of  difiereiit  denominations,  and  discus- 
sions on  theological  sul)jects  between  persons  of  ditferiug  oi)ini()ns 
were  not  uncommon. 

William  Penn  referring  to  tiiis  period  and  to  the  work  assigned  to 


32  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

Georpfc  Fox,  says,  "  It  was  about  that  time  that  the  eternal,  wise 
and  good  God,  was  pleased,  in  his  infinite  love,  to  honor  and  visit 
this  benighted  and  bewildered  nation  with  his  glorious  Day  Spring 
from  on  high ;  yea,  with  a  most  sure  and  certain  sound  of  the  word 
of  Light  and  Life,  through  the  testimony  of  a  chosen  vessel,  to  an 
effectual  and  blessed  purpose,  can  many  thousands  say  ;  glory  be  to 
the  name  of  the  Lord  forever !  " 

George  Fox,  as  he  went  through  various  ])laces  in  1()47,  con- 
tinued to  preach  to  the  people,  and  to  dispute  with  some  who 
opposed  the  doctrine  he  promulgated.  By  this  means,  he  brought 
nuuiy  to  see  how  far  they  had  fallen  short  of  the  truth  as  it  is 
iu  Jesus,  and  by  directing  them  to  the  Light  of  Christ  in  the 
heart,  or  the  gift  of  Divine  Grace,  which  Christ  had  purchased  for 
every  man,  and  instructing  them  in  the  alone  means  w'hereby  they 
could  know  their  salvation  wrought  out,  many  were  convinced,  and 
brought  to  unite  with  him  ;  and  several  meetings  of  Friends  were 
set  up.  This  success  of  his  ministry,  and  the  fame  of  his  ])iety  and 
zeal  brought  many  to  see  him,  and  a  man  of  the  name  of  Brown, 
when  on  his  death-bed,  prophesied  that  he  would  be  an  eminent 
instrument  in  the  Lord's  hand  to  convert  the  people.  But  George 
was  fearful  of  being  drawn  aside  from  the  strait  and  narrow  way  by 
these  things,  and  though  he  declined  not  to  declare  the  truth  to  the 
people,  yet  he  was  careful  not  to  be  influenced  by  the  applause  of 
men.  Nevertheless  Satan  suggested  to  him  that  he  had  sinned 
against  the  Holy  Ghost;  but  as  he  could  not  see  wherein  that  sin 
had  been  committed,  he  escaped  the  temptation. 

Seeing  that  the  same  work  of  the  Lord  was  being  carried  on  in 
others,  his  own  sorrows  and  troubles  were  assuaged,  and  he  says, 
"  Tears  of  joy  dropped  from  me,  so  that  I  could  have  wept  night  and 
day  with  tears  of  joy  to  the  Lord, in  humility  and  brokenness  of  heart." 

Being  in  the  early  part  of  1648,  at  a  great  meeting  of  professors, 
at  Mansfield,  he  was  moved  to  pray,  and  so  great  was  the  power 
attending,  that  the  house  seemed  to  be  shaken,  and  the  people  ob- 
served, "  That  it  was  as  in  the  days  of  the  Apostles,  when  the  house 
was  shaken  where  they  were  met." 

1648.  Speakingof  the  commission  he  had  received,  he  says:  "I  was 
sent  to  turn  people  from  darkness  to  the  light,  that  they  might  re- 
ceive Christ  Jesus ;  for  to  as  many  as  should  receive  Him  in  his 
light,  I  saw  He  would  give  power  to  become  the  sons  of  God ;  which 
I  had  obtained  by  receiving  Christ.  I  was  to  direct  people  to  the 
Spirit,  that  gave  forth  the  Scriptures,  by  which  they  might  be  led 


.     SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  33 

into  all  truth,  and  so  up  to  Christ  and  God,  as  those  had  been  who 
gave  tliem  forth.  I  was  to  turn  them  to  the  Grace  of  God,  and  to 
the  truth  in  the  heart,  which  came  by  Jesus ;  that  by  this  grace 
they  might  be  taught,  which  would  bring  them  salvation,  that  their 
hearts  might  be  established  by  it,  their  words  might  be  seasoned, 
and  all  might  come  to  know  their  salvation  nigh.  I  saw  Christ 
died  for  all  men,  was  a  propitiation  for  all,  and  enlightened  all  men 
and  Avomen  with  his  divine  and  saving  light;  and  that  none  could  be 
true  believers,  but  those  who  believed  therein.  I  saw  that  the  Grace 
of  God,  which  brings  salvation,  had  appeared  to  all  men,  and  that 
the  manifestation  of  the  Spirit  of  God  was  given  to  every  man,  to 
profit  withal." 

"  When  the  Lord  God  and  his  Son  Jesus  Christ  sent  me  forth 
into  the  world  to  preach  his  everlasting  gospel  and  kingdom,  I  was 
glad  that  I  was  commanded  to  turn  people  to  that  inward  Light, 
Spirit  and  Grace,  by  which  all  might  know  their  salvation  and 
their  way  to  God ;  even  that  Divine  Spirit  which  would  lead  them 
into  all  truth,  and  which  I  infall'bly  knew  would  never  deceive 
any.  But  with  and  by  this  divine  power  and  Spirit  of  God,  and 
the  light  of  Jesus,  I  was  to  bring  people  off  from  all  their  own  ways, 
to  Christ  the  new^  and  living  way ;  from  their  churches,  which  men 
had  made  and  gathered,  to  the  church  in  God,  the  general  assembly 
written  in  heaven,  which  Christ  is  the  head  of;  and  off  from  the 
world's  teachers  made  by  men,  to  learn  of  Christ,  who  is  the  way, 
the  truth,  and  the  life,  of  whom  the  Father  said,  '  This  is  my  be- 
loved Son,  hear  ye  him  ; '  and  off  from  all  the  world's  worships,  to 
know  the  Spirit  of  Truth  in  the  inward  parts,  and  to  be  led  thereby, 
that  in  it  they  might  worship  the  Father  of  spirits,  who  seeks  such 
to  worship  him  ;  which  Spirit  they  that  worshipped  not  in,  knew  not 
what  they  worshipped." 

The  public  ministry  of  George  Fox  was  now  fairly  begun,  and 
from  this  time  until  his  death,  when  out  of  prison,  and  not  prevented 
by  sickness,  his  travels,  and  other  services  for  the  Truth  were  con- 
tinued almost  uninterruptedly.  In  a  "  Narrative  of  the  Spreading 
of  Truth,"  &c.,  written  by  him,  in  1676,  he  says: 

"  The  'i'ruth  sprang  up  first  to  us,  so  as  to  be  a  people  to  the  Lord, 
in  Leicestersliire  in  1644,  in  Warwickshire  in  1645,  in  Nottingham- 
shire in  1646,  in  Derbyshire  in  1647,  and  in  the  adjacoiit  counties 
in  1648,  1649,  and  16o0;  in  Yorkshire  in  1651,  in  Lancashire  and 
Westmoreland  in  1652,  in  Cnmborland,  Durham,  and  Northninber- 
3 


34  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

land,  in  1653,  in  London  and  most  of  the  other  parts  of  Enghvnd, 
Seothiud  and  Irehind,  in  1054. 

"  lu  1655,  many  went  beyond  sea,  where  Truth  also  sprang  up, 
and  iu  1656  it  broke  forth  in  America  and  many  other  places." 

Having,  by  obedience  to  the  manifestations  of  Divine  Grace 
learned  to  distinguish  between  the  voice  of  the  true  Shepherd  and 
that  of  the  stranger,  he  was  made  quick  of  discerning,  in  the  Lord's 
holy  fear,  those  things  in  common  observance  in  the  professing 
church,  and  in  the  different  ranks  of  society,  which  had  been  con- 
trived by  man  to  promote  his  self-interest  or  minister  to  the  pride 
of  the  human  heart.  He  thus  found  it  enjoined  upon  him  to  keep 
strictly  to  the  use  of  the  Scriptural  language  of  thou  and  thee  to  a 
single  person ;  to  refrain  from  the  customary  modes  of  salutation, 
as  uncovering  the  head  or  bowing  the  body  ;  also  giving  flattering 
titles  to  any.  As  he  was  convinced  that  the  common  use  of  the 
pronoun  xjou  to  a  single  individual,  was  not  only  ungramnmtical,  but 
had  originated  from  a  corrupt  source,  and  like  the  customary  com- 
plimentary salutations  and  titles  was  untruthful  and  fostered  the 
honor  that  men  seek  one  from  another,  he  felt  required  to  bear 
testimony  against  them  all.  He  saw  that  as  all  were  required  to  speak 
the  truth  on  all  occasions,  and  as  Christ  and  his  Apostle  James 
had  positively  forbidden  swearing  of  any  kind,  so  it  was  unlawful 
for  a  Christian  to  take  an  oath.  And  as  Christ  was  the  Prince  of 
Peace,  and  had  commanded  his  followers  to  love  their  enemies,  to 
do  good  to  all,  to  forgive  all  who  trespassed  against  them,  and  to 
resist  not  evil,  so  his  disciples  could  not  fight,  nor  take  part  in  war, 
let  it  be  waged  under  what  plea  it  might.  He  believed  it  right  to 
banish  from  use  the  ordinary  heathen  names  of  the  days  of  the 
week,  and  the  similar  names  given  to  the  months  of  the  year,  and 
in  lieu  thereof  to  name  both  numerically. 

Seeing  the  vanity  and  folly  connected  with  dress,  and  how  ])eople 
were  brought  into  bondage  by  fashion,  and  thereby  betrayed  into 
things  destructive  of  a  religious  life,  he  practised  great  sim])licity 
therein  himself,  and  bore  a  decided  testimony  against  ornamenta- 
tion or  changing  with  the  fashions. 

Fully  believing  in  tlie  fundamental  truths  of  the  Gospel  held  in 
common  by  what  were  called  the  evangelical  churches,  he  saw  that 
the  truths  recorded  in  the  Holy  Scriptures  were  often  mutilated  or 
rendered  nugatory  by  the  construction  put  upon  them  by  the  un- 
learned in  the  school  of  Christ.  He  therefore  constantly  taught  that 
the  Scriptures  could  not  be  rightly  understood  or  interpreted,  except 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  35 

by  the  Spirit  which  dictated  thera,  and,  that  it  was  thus  aud  thus 
only,  tliat  the  mcoi  of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  furnished 
unto  all  good  works.  The  necessary  deduction  from  tliis  was,  that 
the  Spirit  itself  was  superior  to  the  Scriptures  which  had  been  written 
under  its  inspiration,  and  by  which  alone  their  sacred  contents  could 
be  rightly  interpreted  and  applied ;  and  as  Christ  had  enlightened 
every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world  with  a  measure  of  this  Spirit, 
or  Divine  Grace,  so  it  was  the  primary  rule  of  faith  and  practice ; 
which,  however,  the  Scriptures  would  never  contradict. 

Christ  being  the  glorified  Head  who  alone  could  prepare  for,  or- 
dain, and  commission  ministers  in  His  church,  so  the  ministers  made 
by  studying  divinity  and  ordained  by  men  alone,  were  not  true 
ministers  of  the  Gospel ;  that  as  men  and  women  were  one  in  Christ 
Jesus,  He  conferred  the  gift  for  the  ministry  upon  both  alike, 
whether  learned  or  unlearned,  and  both  could  exercise  it  in  the 
assemblies  of  the  people,  or  wherever  He  called  thera  thereto ;  and 
that  when  so  exercised,  it  must  be  under  the  immediate  inspiration 
of  Him  who  alone  knows  the  states  of  those  addressed,  and  what  is 
the  spiritual  food  convenient  for  them.  That  the  Gospel  must  be 
preached  without  money  and  without  price,  in  accordance  with  the 
commandment  of  Christ  to  his  disciples,  "  Freely  ye  have  received, 
freely  give."  The  several  testimonies  here  enumerated,  have  been 
maintained  by  the  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  who  were  led 
by  the  same  Spirit  as  George  Fox  and  his  fellow  laborers,  ever  since 
their  day,  and  are  felt  to  be  as  binding  on  them  now,  as  they  were 
on  them. 

There  were  few  of  the  testimonies  which  Friends  were  called  to 
bear  that  caused  them  more  cruel  persecution  and  suffering  than  that 
relative  to  the  use  of  the  Scripture  language  of  thou  and  thee,  aud  the 
refusal  to  bow  or  take  off  the  hat,  or  to  give  the  ordinary  flattering 
salutations.  Alluding  to  this,  George  Fox  says  :  "  Oh  !  the  blows, 
punchings,  beatings,  and  imprisonments  we  underwent,  for  not  put- 
ting off  our  hats  to  men.  For  that  soon  tried  all  men's  patience  and 
sobriety  what  it  was.  .  .  .  The  bad  language  and  evil  usage  we 
received  on  this  account  is  hard  to  be  expressed,  besides  the  danger 
we  were  sometimes  in  of  losing  our  lives  fin*  this  matter;  and  that 
by  the  great  professors  of  Christianity,  who  thereby  discovered  that 
they  wen;  not  true  believers."     [IG-l'S.] 

The  doctrine  promulgated  respecting  the  truL' cliaracter  of  Gospel 
ministry,  and  the  testimony  borne  against  receiving  pecuniary  com- 
pensation for  preaching,  as  it  struck  at  tlu;  trade  of  the  prii-sts,  and 


36  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

of  all  who  iiiiule  iu(M-cl):m(lise  of  what  tlioy  called  the  Gospel,  natu- 
rally roused  their  opposition  and  animosity  ;  and  consecjuently  there 
was  no  class  from  whom  Friends  encountered  more  determined  hos- 
tility, or  at  whose  hands  they  underwent  more  hitter  and  prolonged 
persecution  than  the  clergy. 

As  the  whole  tenor  of  the  ]>riiiciples  inculcated  hy  G.  Fox  and 
the  early  Friends  was  calculated  to  draw  people  off  from  the  ob- 
servance of  forms  and  ceremonies,  or  a  dependence  on  the  teaching 
of  men,  and  to  centre  their  attention  on  the  work  of  regeneration 
throTigh  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  heart,  and  also  to  lead  to  the 
attainment  of  a  state  of  perfection  or  holiness,  through  its  sanctifying 
power  and  influence  ;  these  also  drew  forth  much  contradiction  and 
resistance  from  those  who  wished  not  to  be  disturbed  in  the  belief, 
that  Christ  having  paid  the  penalty  for  sin,  and  purchased  salvation 
for  them,  there  was  no  repentance,  no  suffering  for  sin,  no  cross- 
bearing  and  self-denial  necessary  on  their  part;  and  from  those  wdio 
contended  that  man  could  not  escape  from  sinning  in  this  life. 

Besides  preaching  repentance  and  amendment  of  life,  G.  Fox, 
found  a  duty  laid  upon  him  to  go  to  the  courts,  or  to  write  to  the 
Judo:es,  inciting  them  to  avoid  oppression,  and  to  administer  justice 
in  all  their  doings  ;  and  also  in  warning  those  who  kept  ale  houses 
and  other  places  of  entertainment,  not  to  allow  of  drinking  to  ex- 
cess, nor  any  immoral  conduct;  and  to  declare  against  all  deceit  or 
untruthfulness  in  buying  or  selling,  likewise  against  stage  plays, 
gaming,  &c. 

Being  at  Nottingham  on  a  First-day  of  the  week,  he  went  into 
the  "  great  steeple  house  "  of  the  town,  and  hearing  the  priest  give 
an  incoherent  explanation  of  the  text  which  h^  took,  he  testified 
against  it,  and  explained  what  he  believed  to  be  the  true  meaning. 
Whereupon  the  officers  put  him  into  a  filthy,  offensive  prison,  where 
he  was  kept  for  some  time.  Afterwards  he  was  removed  to  the 
sheriff's  house,  who,  with  his  wife,  was  "  much  changed  by  the  power 
of  the  Lord ; "  and  allowed  him  to  hold  meetings  at  their  house. 
There  seems  to  have  been  a  wonderful  evidence  of  divine  power 
attending  these  gatherings,  and  many  were  convinced.  The  magis- 
trates having  neglected  to  bring  their  prisoner  before  the  court 
when  it  was  sitting,  he  was  detained  there  "  a  pretty  long  time,''  and 
then  set  at  liberty ;  this  was  his  first  imprisonment,  and  it  occurred 
in  1649.  At  Mansfield  Woodhouse,  for  speaking  to  the  priest  and 
people  in  their  place  of  worship,  they  knocked  him  down,  and  he 
"  was  cruellv  beaten  and  bruised  with  their  fists,  Bibles  and  sticks." 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  ,37 

They  then  hauled  him  away  and  set  him  in  the  stocks,  where  he  was 
kept  for  some  hours.  But,  he  says,  "  The  Lord's  power  soon  healed 
me,  and  that  day  some  were  convinced  of  the  Lord's  truth,  and 
turned  to  his  teaching." 

Travelling  from  place  to  place  his  ministry  was  so  powerful  that 
multitudes  were  convinced,  and  regular  meetings  of  Friends  were 
established  in  many  places. 

1650.  Being  at  Derby,  and  learning  there  was  to  be  a  great 
"lecture"  delivered  there  that  day,  at  which  many  officers,  priests, 
and  preachers  were  to  be  in  attendance,  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  go  to 
it ;  where,  after  the  "  service  "  was  through,  he  spoke  to  the  congre- 
gation what  he  believed  to  be  required  of  him.  Although  the  peo- 
ple were  quiet,  he  was  taken  before  the  magistrates.  In  the  course 
of  the  examination,  G.  Fox  was  asked  whether  he  was  sanctified? 
he  answered,  Yes  :  then  they  asked  if  he  had  no  sin  ?  to  which  he  an- 
swered, "Christ  my  Saviour  has  taken  away  my  sin,  and  in  Him  is 
no  sin."  Being  asked  how  he  knew  that  Christ  did  abide  in  us? 
G.  F.  said,  "  By  his  Spirit  that  He  hath  given  us."  It  was  then 
temptingly  queried,  "If  any  of  us  were  Christ"?  G.  F.  answered, 
"  Nay,  we  are  nothing,  Christ  is  all." 

These  magistrates,  nevertheless,  committed  George  Fox  and  a  man 
of  the  name  of  John  Fretwell  to  the  "  House  of  Correction  "  for  six 
months,  as  blasphemers.  J.  Fretwell  proved  unfaithful  to  the  truth 
and  so  got  released  ;  but  G.  Fox,  refusing  the  offer  of  his  relatives 
to  the  magistrates,  to  be  bound  that  he  would  not  come  any  more 
there,  was  kept  to  the  end  of  the  six  mouths  in  his  first  place  of  con- 
finement, and  nearly  six  months  longer  in  the  common  jail.  The 
change  in  the  place  of  imprisonment  took  place  in  consequence  of 
the  Commissioners  of  Parliament,  who  were  recruiting  for  the  army, 
sending  for  George,  when  they  knew  that  the  time  for  which  he  was 
committed  was  nearly  expired,  and  offered  to  niake  him  a  captain 
in  the  army,  urging  him  to  accept  it,  and  said  the  soldiers  were  de- 
sirous to  have  him  for  their  commander.  But  George  says,  "  I  told 
them  I  knew  from  whence  all  wars  arose,  even  from  the  lusts,  ac- 
cording to  James'  doctrine;  and  that  I  lived  in  the  virtue  of  that 
life  and  j)ower  that  took  away  tlie  occasion  of  all  wars.  Yet  they 
courted  me  to  accej)t  of  tlieir  ollrr,  and  thought  I  did  but  compli- 
nicnt  th(!m.  But  I  told  them  I  was  come  into  the  covenant  of  peace- 
wliich  was  before  wars  and  strifes  were.  They  said,  theyoflered  it 
in  love  and  kindness  to  me,  because  of  my  vii'tuc  ;  and  such  like 
flattering  words  they  used.     But  I  told  them,  Jl'tiiat  was  tlu'ir  love 


38  F  R  I  E  N  D  S     r  N    T  II  E 

and  kindness,  I  tramplt'd  it  under  my  i'eet.  'riicn  llieir  ra^'egot  np 
aud  they  ^aid,  "  Take  him  away,  jailer,  and  put  him  into  tlie 
prison  amoni^st  tlie  rogues  and  felons."  So  I  was  put  into  a  lousy, 
stinking  plaee,  without  any  IxmI,  amongst  thirty  felons,  where  I  Avas 
kept  almost  half  a  year;  yet  at  times  they  w'ould  let  me  walk  to 
the  garden,  helieving  I  would  not  go  away." 

Notwithstanding  the  vileness  of  the  inmates  of  the  prison,  he  was 
preserved  from  contamination,  and  was  often  engaged  in  reproving 
their  wickedness  and  striving  to  reform  them.  There  heing  a  young 
■woman  tliere  who  was  condemned  to  be  hanged  for  stealing,  George 
wrote  to  the  Judges,  showing  how  wrong  it  was  to  take  human  life 
for  such  crimes;  that  it  was  contrary  even  to  the  Mosaic  law,  and 
altogether  irreconcilable  with  the  religion  of  Christ ;  and  moving 
them  to  have  mercy  on  her.  She  was  taken  to  the  gallows  and 
there  reprieved ;  and  being  returned  to  the  prison,  she  afterwards 
became  convinced  of  the  truth  and  joined  Friends. 

Seeing  the  pernicious  effects  resulting  from  keejjing  the  prisoners 
so  that  they  could  mingle  together  promiscuously,  and  the  older  and 
more  hardened  convicts  thus  have  opportunities  to  teach  the  younger 
offenders  lessons  of  vice,  and  spread  and  increase  wickedness,  he 
thought  it  his  duty  to  write  out  his  observations  and  the  conclusions 
to  which  they  had  led  him,  and  communicate  them  to  the  Judges; 
that  they  might  adopt  some  measures  to  arrest  an  evil  so  detrimental 
to  the  safety  of  society.  This  is  the  first  essay  at  prison  reform  of 
which  we  have  account. 

George  Fox  aud  those  who  had  joined  in  fellowship  with  him, 
called  themselves  "Friends  of  Truth,"  Avhile  others,  owing  to  their 
so  frec^uently  speaking  of  the  Light  of  Christ,  had  named  them 
"Children  of  Light ;  "  but  at  one  of  the  interviews  between  G.  Fox 
and  Gervas  Bennet —  one  of  the  magistrates  who  had  committed  him 
at  Derby  —  the  former  bade  the  latter  "Tremble  at  the  word  of  the 
Lord;"  whereupon  Bennet  called  him  a  Quaker.  This  epithet 
of  scorn  well  suited  the  tastes  and  jnvjudices  of  the  people,  and  it 
soon  became  the  common  appellation  bestowed  on  Friends. 

Li  the  forepart  of  this  imprisonment  the  jailer  treated  G.  Fox 
with  much  harshness,  but  he  became  greatly  changed,  and  told  his 
wife  "  He  had  seen  the  day  of  Judgment,  aud  George  was  there,  and 
he  was  afraid  of  him,  because  he  had  done  him  so  much  wrong  and 
spoken  so  much  against  him."  He  became  convinced  of  the  Truth, 
aud  very  loving  towards  George.  Many  came  to  visit  him  while 
in  confinement  and  to  discourse  about  religion,  some  of  whom  were 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  39 

thus  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  doctrines  he  held.  Being  thus 
prevented  from  travelling  and  so  spreading  the  glad  tidings  of  the 
Gospel  of  life  and  salvation,  George  Fox  did  not  neglect  the  use 
of  his  pen,  to  endeavor  to  bring  the  magistrates  who  had  sent  him 
to  prison,  to  a  sense  of  the  iniquity  of  their  conduct ;  also  to  warn 
and  reprove  the  priests  of  the  town.  He  likewise  sent  forth  a 
paper  "  To  be  spread  among  Friends,  and  other  tender  people,  for 
the  opening  of  their  understandings  in  the  way  of  truth,  and  direct- 
ing them  to  the  true  Teacher  in  themselves."  Understanding  that 
some  who  had  been  convinced  were  falling  away,  and  that  Friends 
were  undergoing  great  persecution,  he  addressed  an  epistle  to  the 
latter,  showing  his  sympathy  with  them,  and  encouraging  them  to 
take  patiently  the  suffering  they  were  undergoing. 

It  was  in  1650  that  we  have  the  first  account  of  a  woman  preach- 
ing among  Friends ;  Elizabeth  Hooten,  whom  George  Fox  had 
met  in  1647,  and  in  the  course  of  their  interview  had  so  spoken  as 
to  convince  her,  and  she  became  a  Friend. 

With  a  knowledge  of  the  spiritual  nature  of  the  gospel,  and  that 
male  and  female  are  both  one  in  Christ  Jesus,  Friends  at  once  rec- 
ognized in  its  dispensation,  the  fulfilment  of  the  prediction  of  the 
prophet  Joel,  "  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  last  days,  I  will 
pour  out  my  Spirit  upon  all  flesh,  and  your  sons  and  your  daughters 
shall  prophesy."  The  Apostle  Paul  defines  prophesying  as  speak- 
ing to  others  to  edification  and  exhortation  and  comfort.  He  also 
gives  his  view  as  to  the  manner  to  be  observed,  when  a  person  of 
either  sex  is  engaged  in  this  service.  Thus,  "  Every  man  praying 
or  prophesying  having  his  head  covered,  dishonoreth  his  head  ;  but 
every  woman  that  prayeth  or  prophesicth  with  her  head  uncovered, 
dishonoreth  her  head."  The  apostle  here  gives  instruction,  as  to 
what  is  to  be  observed,  in  the  exercise  of  the  same  gift  by  both 
sexes,  and  as  it  is  directed  equally  to  men  and  women,  it  is  evident 
he  recognized  the  bestowal  of  the  gift  on  both  sons  and  daughters. 
There  is  no  contradiction  to  this,  in  his  saying  in  another  place, 
'*  Let  your  women  keep  silence  in  the  churches  ;  for  it  is  not  per- 
mitted unto  them  to  speak  :"...."  for  it  is  a  shame  for  women  to 
speak  in  tlie  church : "  the  whole  context  showing,  that  when  he 
makes  use  of  that  language,  he  refers  exclusively  to  asking  questions 
in  tlie  place  of  worship,  or  attemj)ting  to  argue  and  dispute  there; 
instead  of  which,  the  women  were  to  ask  their  husbands  at  home. 


40  FRIENDSINTHE 


CHAPTER  III. 

Friciuls  despised  and  condeiiined  l)y  all  I'rofessors  —  Keasoiis  wliy  —  Convince- 
meiits  —  Occurreiu:e  at  IJeverly  —  G.  ¥ox  aceiised  of  sayiiii^  lie  was  Christ  — 
William  Dewsbury  —  Steeple  Houses  —  Friends  iiiereasiug  ;;!iil  lurming  into 
a  Society  —  Cruel  treatment  Keceived  —  Instances  of  the  alm^e  of  Gr.  F. — 
Con vincenient  of  two  Priests  —  Francis  liowgil  —  John  Aiulhuul  —  Edward 
Bnrrough  —  Extract  from  a  Letter  —  Swartlimorc  Hall  —  Judge  Fell  and 
Wife  —  Margaret  Fell's  account  of  G.  Fox's  services  there  —  Priest  Lampit 
—  M.  Fell  joins  with  Friends. 

C1HARLES  I.  had  been  beheaded  in  tlie  early  part  of  1G49,  and 
'  Croniwell  was  sueeeeding  in  concentrating  the  power  of  the  gov- 
ernment in  his  own  hands,  not  intending  to  share  it  with  any  but  such 
as  were  willing  to  be  subservient  to  his  will.  As  the  Independents, 
of  whom  he  professed  to  be  one,  had  clamored  loudly  for  liberty  of 
conscience,  it  was  to  have  been  ex{)ected  that  no  denomination  of 
Christians  would  be  oppressed  on  account  of  their  religious  belief; 
and  it  is  probable,  that  if  Cromwell  could  have  had  his  own  way  in 
this  matter,  without  endangering  his  popularity,  such  would  have 
been  the  case.  But  though  the  peaceable  principles  which  Friends 
boldly  avowed,  restrained  them  from  any  attempt  to  interfere  with 
the  government,  and  their  constant  assurance  that,  while  conscien- 
tiously bound  to  adhere  to  their  own  religions  views,  they  were 
equally  bound  to  maintain  Christian  charity  towards  all,  they  were 
nevertheless  objects  of  hatred  or  scorn  to  very  many  of  their  fellow 
countrymen,  |)erhaps  of  dread  to  some. 

The  higli,  but  loose,  professors  in  the  dili'erent  religious  Societies, 
could  not  bear  the  requirement  of  strict  self-denial  and  godly  liv- 
ing in  every  day  life,  which  the  doctrines  Friends  preached  enjoined; 
nor  the  destruction  of  priestcraft  and  hireling  ministry  which  fol- 
lowed end)racing  those  doctrines  ;  as  was  repeatedly  manifested  by 
the  desertion  of  the  "Churches"  and  priests,  among  congregations 
into  which  their'preachers  had  found  admittance,  and  declared  those 
doctrines  with  power.  They  were  therefore  branded  as  fanatics, 
bent  on  disturbance  of  the  public  peace,  and  the  doctrines  they 
held  and  taught  were  denounced  as  absurd  or  blasphemous. 

The  great  fundamental  truths,  so  earnestly  insisted  on  by  the 
early  Friends,  that  Christ,  by  that  most  acceptable  sacrifice  which 
He  made  of  himself,  had  not  only  atoned  for  sin,  but  had  purchased  a 
measure  or  manifestation  of  his  Spirit,  whereby  he  enlightens  every 


SEVENTEENTH     CENTURY.  41 

mail  that  coraeth  into  the  world  ;  and  that  all  who  would  become 
children  of  God  by  adoption,  must  be  led  and  governed  by  this 
measure  of  Divine  Grace,  or  Holy  Spirit,  notwithstanding  it  is  so 
plainly  set  forth  by  Christ  and  his  ;i,j)ostles,  was  ridiculed  by  some, 
and  represented  by  others  as  blasphemous.  Their  belief  that  "  com- 
munion," or  partaking  of  the  flesh  and  blood  of  Christ,  was  only 
to  be  known  as  the  heart  was  opened  to  receive  Him,  and  consisted 
in  the  soul  being  permitted  to  feed  on  Him  spiritually ;  in  accord- 
ance with  his  declaration,  "  Behold  I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock, 
if  any  man  hear  my  voice  and  open  unto  me,  I  will  come  in  and 
sup  with  him  and  he  with  me  ;  "  and  that  the  "  one  baptism,"  spoken 
of  by  the  apostle,  was  not  that  which  can  only  put  away  the  filth 
of  the  flesh,  but  that  which  is  administered  by  Christ  alone,  de- 
scribed as  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  fire ;  these  two  articles  of  their 
faith  were  asserted  to  exclude  them  froni  the  visible  Church,  and 
render  them  justly  liable  to  punishment  by  the  secular  power. 

Thus  Episcopalians,  Presbyterians,  Independents  and  Baptists, 
widely  as  they  diftered  in  belief  one  from  the  other,  and  generally 
as  they  disliked  each  other,  united  in  denouncing,  and  when  they 
had  the  opportunity,  in  harassing  and  sorely  abusing  the  Quakers. 
The  ignorant  populace,  accustomed  to  be  led  on  by  those  to  whom 
they  looked  as  spiritual  guides,  were  easily  incited  to  violence  against 
them,  when  they  heard  them  stigmatized  by  their  priests  as  deceivers, 
menaced  with  punishment  or  actually  fined  and  imprisoned  :  hence 
the  frequency  with  which  the  Quaker  ministers  were  stoned,  and 
beaten  by  the  rabble,  when  they  had  been  engaged  in  preaching  the 
gospel  to  them. 

1651.  After  being  set  at  liberty,  George  Fox  travelled  through  the 
north  of  England,  preaching  the  way  of  life  with  such  power  that  very 
many  were  brought  to  the  acknowledgment  of  the  truth,  and  joined 
the  Society;  among  whom  were  William  Dewsbury,  Richard  Farus- 
worth,  Thomas  Aldam  and  James  Naylor ;  all  of  whom  in  the  course 
of  a  short  time  became  fully  approved  ministers  of  the  gospel. 

Being  at  Beverly  in  the  "east  riding"  of  Yorkshire,  at  the  house 
of  Justice  Hotham,  the  latter  told  G.  Fox  that  he  had  known  the 
principle  of  the  Light  within,  which  he  was  promulgating,  for  ten 
years;  and  he  manifested  great  friendliness  towaids  him,  saying, 
"  My  house  is  your  house."  He  also  informed  George  that  "  a  great 
woman"  of  Beverly  had  called  on  him,  and  in  the  course  of  con- 
versation, told  him  "  That  the  last  Sabbath  day  —  as  she  called  it  — 
there  was  an  angel  or  spirit  came  into  the  church  at  Beverly,  and 


42  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

spoke  the  woiuleri'ul  thin<js  of  God,  and  wlieii  it  li:ul  done,  it  passed 
away,  they  not  knowing  whence  it  came  or  whither  it  went;  but  it 
astonished  all,  both  priests  and  professors  and  the  magistrates  of 
the  town."  It  was  George  who  was  at  tlie  "  church,"  and  her  account 
shows  the  clearness  and  authority  with  which  he  spoke,  as  well  as 
the  superstitious  notions  of  the  people  respecting  si)irits  or  ghosts. 

A  certain  Scotch  priest  who  met  with  G.  Fox,  and  asked  hiiti 
many  questions,  all  of  which  he  answenid,  afterwards  dec-hired,  that 
if  ever  he  met  with  him  again,  he  would  have  his  life:  adding  that 
he  would  give  his  head,  if  G.  Fox  was  not  knocked  down  within  a 
month.  But  notwithstanding  his  murderous  feelings  towards  one 
who  had  never  done  him  harm,  in  the  course  of  time  he  became  con- 
vinced of  the  principles  of  Friends,  joined  the  Society,  and  was  glad 
to  entertain  G.  Fox  at  his  house. 

1G52.  Coming  into  Gainsborough,  in  Lincolnshire,  G.  Fox  found 
the  town  in  an  uproar  on  account  of  the  preaching  of  a  Friend  in 
the  market ;  and  a  man  asserting  that  he  had  heard  G.  Fox  say 
that  he  was  Christ,  the  people  rushed  into  the  house  where  George 
was;  and  he  stepping  on  a  table  explained  to  them,  that  he  had 
said  that  Christ  was  in  them  unless  they  were  reprobates,  and  that 
it  was  by  the  power  of  Christ  within  that  he  then  spoke  to  them, 
not  that  he  was  Christ :  this  satisfied  and  quieted  the  people.  Then 
turning  to  his  accuser,  he  told  him  that  the  word  of  the  Lord  to 
him  was,  that  Judas'  end  would  be  his;  and  shortly  after  this  poor 
man  hanged  himself. 

William  Dewsbury,  who,  as  has  been  mentioned,  was  convinced 
by  George  Fox,  when  the  latter  w'as  holding  meetings  at  Balby 
(1651),  was  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  being  born  at  Allerthorpe  in  the 
forepart  of  the  seventeenth  century.  He  lost  his  father  when  about 
eight  years  of  age,  and  so  deep  was  the  impression  made  on  his 
naturally  serious  and  reflective  mind  by  this  bereavement,  that  he 
began  to  spend  many  of  the  hours  usually  devoted  by  children  to 
play,  in  retirement,  prayer  and  solemn  meditation.  He  says,  "The 
word  of  the  Lord  came  to  me,  saying,  '  I  created  thee  for  my  glory  ; 
an  account  thou  must  give  me  of  all  thy  words  and  actions.'  "  Con- 
victed by  the  Monitor  within,  that  by  nature  he  was  prone  to  sin, 
and  that  he  was  living  in  a  state  not  conformable  to  the  law  of  God, 
he  was  brought  under  condemnation  and  sorrow  therefor,  and  com- 
menced striving  to  lead  an  altered  course  of  life. 

His  first  occupation  was  that  of  a  shepherd-boy,  the  quiet  and 
retiredness  of  which  were  congenial  with  his  serious  and  contempla- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  43 

tive  disposition  ;  but  when  nearly  fourteen  years  of  age  he  was  placed 
apprentice  with  a  cloth-weaver  near  Leeds ;  he  requesting  to  go 
there  because  he  had  heard  there  were  people  in  that  neighborhood 
who  were  more  strict  in  religious  observances  than  most  others. 
But  he  was  disappointed  by  finding  that  attendance  at  their  places 
of  worship  and  converse  with  some  who  made  high  profession,  did 
not  satisfy  the  longings  of  his  soul  to  enjoy  peace  and  communion 
witli  God. 

When  about  twenty-one  yekrs  of  age,  his  mental  conflicts  con- 
tinuing, he  was  caught  with  the  spirit  then  so  generally  prevailing, 
and  entered  the  parliamentary  army,  under  the  plea  of  "going  up 
to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty,"  and  fighting  for  the 
Gospel.  But  though  there  were  much  talk  about  religion,  and  no 
little  preaching  and  px'aying  among  both  men  and  officers,  he  gained 
no  real  settlement  or  satisfaction ;  he,  like  others,  being  too  much 
engaged  in  looking  without  for  that  which  is  to  be  found  only  Avithin. 
Still  in  pursuit  of  that  which  would  bring  him  peace,  he  journeyed 
into  Scotland  searching  for  some  whom  he  could  recognize  as 
walking  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord.  Returning  from  there,  he  asso- 
ciated for  some  time  with  Independents  and  Baptists  ;  among  the 
latter  of  whom  were  some  tender-hearted  people.  But,  he  says,  the 
Lord  discovered  to  me  that,  "  In  all  these  turnings  in  my  carnal 
wisdom  while  seeking  the  kingdom  of  God  without,  thither  the 
flaming  sword  turned  to  keep  the  way  of  the  tree  of  life,  fenced  me 
from  it,  cut  me  down,  rent  all  my  coverings,  and  destroyed  that 
mind  which  thus  looked  out  to  find  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Then 
my  mind  was  turned  within  by  the  power  of  the  Lord  to  wait  his 
counsel.  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  me  and  said,  '  Put  up 
thy  sword  into  its  scabbard;  if  my  Kingdom  were  of  this  world, 
then  would  my  children  fight.'" 

He  now  found  there  were  enemies  of  his  own  house,  against  whicli 
he  was  called  to  fight,  not  with  carnal  weapons,  bat  with  the  sword 
of  the  Spirit;  the  word  of  God  inwardly  revealed.  As  he  gave 
heed  to  this  discerner  of  the  thoughts  and  intents  of  tlie  heart,  h(> 
clearly  saw  that  he  could  no  longer  have  anything  to  do  with  mili- 
tary affairs;  so  he  left  the  army  altogether  and  returned  to  Ins 
former  occupation.  He  now  grew  in  grace  and  in  the  saving  knowl- 
edge of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  and  felt  a  strong 
prompting  to  declare  to  others  what  the  Lord  had  done  for  his  soul. 
But  the  Lord  showed  him  that  the  time  for  this  had  not  yet  come, 
and  he  says  he  received  a  distinct  command  to  refrain   until   the 


44  FllIEXDSINTHE 

year  1052,  wlieii  there  would  be  a  greater  hungering  and  thirsting 
for  the  knowledge  of  the  right  way  of  the  Lord,  in  the  hearts  of  the 
people,  than  was  then  the  case.  He  married  a  young  woman  who 
had  passed,  like  himself,  through  many  deep  baptisms  and  trials  ; 
their  marriage  taking  place  at  a  Baptists'  meeting. 

It  was  at  an  evening  meeting  that  W.  Dewsbury  iirst  heard 
George  Fox  preach,  and  he  owned  the  doctrines  he  procluimed,  and 
soon  after  joined  the  Society.  George  Fox  says,  "  After  the  meet- 
ing, it  being  moonlight,  I  walked  out  into  the  field,  and  William 
Dew^sbury  and  his  wife  came  to  me  in  the  field,  and  confessed  to  the 
Truth,  and  re(H!ived  it,  and  after  some  time  he  did  testify  to  it." 
In  1052,  according  as  it  had  been  before  revealed  to  him,  he  was 
called  into  the  ministry,  often  suffering  greatly  for  the  testimony  of 
Jesus.  He  says  the  command  to  him  on  this  occasion  was,  "  The 
leaders  of  my  people  cause  them  to  err,  in  drawing  them  from  the 
Light  in  their  consciences.  Freely  thou  hast  received,  freely  give 
and  minister;  and  what  I  have  made  known  to  thee  in  secret  declare 
thou  openly."  With  this  commission,  and  under  a  sense  of  duty  to 
go  forth,  and  preach  the  everlasting  gospel,  he  left  his  home,  and 
travelled  through  Lancashire,  Cumberland  and  Westmoreland. 

Although  Gaorge  Fox  felt  himself  often  moved  to  go  to  the 
"  steeple  houses,"  as  he  called  them,  to  speak  to  both  priest  and  con- 
gregation, generally  waiting  quietly  until  the  priest  had  got  through 
with  his  usual  services,  and  then  declaring  the  doctrines  set  forth  in 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  yet,  unless  where  Friends  had  their  own  meeting 
houses,  he  mostly  held  his  meetings  either  in  private  houses  or  in  the 
open  fields.  Occasionally  both  priest  and  people  desiring  to  hear 
him,  invited  him  to  come  into  their  "  church,"  which,  however,  he 
almost  always  refused  on  account  of  the  superstitious  notions  then 
entertained  that  the  "  church  "  was  a  holy  place,  and  that  it  was  in 
such  "  consecrated  houses  "  only  that  the  Gospel  could  be  projjcrly 
preached.  He  says,  "  The  steeple  houses  and  pulpits  were  offensive 
to  my  mind,  because  both  priests  and  people  called  them  the  house 
of  God,  and  idolized  them  ;  reckoning  that  God  dwelt  in  the  outward 
house.  Whereas  they  should  have  looked  for  God  and  Christ  to 
dwell  in  their  hearts,  and  their  bodies  to  be  made  the  temples  of 
God  ;  for  the  apostle  said,  '  God  dwelleth  not  in  temples  made  with 
hands:'  but  by  reason  of  the  people  idolizing  those  places,  it  was 
counted  a  heinous  thing  to  declare  against  them." 

Going  from  place  to  place  in  the  northern  shires  disseminating 
the  truths  of  the  Gospel,  as  they  had  been  opened  to  his  under- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  45 

standing  by  the  Spirit,  he  met  with  much  success  in  bringing  people, 
in  the  various  ranks  of  life,  to  receive  his  doctrines,  and  to  be  willing 
to  enter  upon  the  truly  religious  life  which  they  required;  so  that 
many  were  added  to  the  Society,  which  now  began  to  take  form,  and 
many  meetings  were  established,  and  many  zealous  ministers  sent 
forth  by  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  to  labor  in  his  vineyard. 

He  also,  in  common  with  his  brethren,  met  with  much  abuse  and 
cruel  treatment :  and  it  may  be  truly  said,  they  went  forth  with 
their  lives,  as  it  were,  in  their  hands  ;  often  escaping  death  only  by 
the  providential  interference  of  the  Master  whom  they  served. 

It  would  swell  this  account  to  too  great  size  to  narrate  a  tithe  of 
the  instances  recorded  of  the  cruel  treatment  endured  by  this  valiant 
soldier  of  Jesus  Christ,  while  laboring  to  turn  the  ])eople  from  dark- 
ness to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God.  The  following 
may  serve  to  show  what  was  the  character  of  the  abuse  and  suffer- 
ing he  passed  through  ;  and  also  how  greatly  the  people  were  ex- 
cited against  him  and  his  friends ;  so  that  oftentimes,  besides  the 
personal  injury  they  endured,  it  was  difficult  for  them  to  procure 
food  and  lodging  for  their  money. 

1652.  "  The  next  day,  Friends  and  friendly  people  having  left 
me,  I  travelled  alone,  declaring  the  day  of  the  Lord  amongst  people 
in  the  towns  where  I  came,  and  warning  them  to  repent.  I  came 
towards  night  into  a  town  called  Patrington.  As  I  walked  along 
the  town,  I  warned  both  priests  and  people  (for  the  priest  was  in 
the  street),  to  repent  and  turn  to  the  Lord.  It  grew  dark  before  I 
came  to  the  end  of  the  town,  and  a  multitude  of  people  gathered 
about  me,  to  whom  I  declared  the  word  of  life. 

"  When  I  had  cleared  myself  I  went  to  an  inn,  and  desired  them 
to  let  me  have  a  lodging ;  but  they  would  not.  I  desired  a  little 
meat  or  milk,  and  I  would  pay  for  it ;  but  they  refused.  So  I 
walked  out  of  the  town,  and  a  company  of  fellows  followed,  and 
asked  me.  What  news?  I  bid  theui  repent,  and  fear  the  Lord.  After 
I  was  gone  a  pretty  way,  I  came  to  another  house,  and  desired  the 
people  to  let  me  have  a  little  meat,  drink,  and  lodging  for  my  money  ; 
but  thcv  denied  me.  I  went  to  another  house,  and  desired  the  same  ; 
but  they  refused  me  also.  By  this  time  it  was  growu  so  dark  that 
I  c  )uld  not  see  the  highway ;  but  I  discerned  a  ditch,  and  got  a 
little  water  and  refreshed  myself.  Then  I  got  over  the  ditch,  and, 
being  weary  with  travelling,  I  sat  down  amongst  the  furze  bushes 
till  it  was  day.  About  break  of  day  I  got  up,  and  i)asse(l  on  tli<: 
fields.     A  man  came  after  me  wiili  a  great  pikcstaii"  and  went  al<ln^' 


46  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

witli  me  to  a  town  ,  ami  he  raised  tlie  town  upon  me,  with  the  con- 
stable and  chief  constable  before  the  sun  was  up.  I  declared  God's 
everlasting  truth  amongst  them,  warning  them  of  the  day  of  the 
Lord,  that  was  coming  upon  all  sin  and  wickedness;  and  exhorted 
them  to  repent.  But  they  seized  me,  and  had  me  back  to  Patring- 
ton,  about  three  miles,  guarding  me  with  watch-bills,  pikes,  staves, 
and  halberds.  When  I  was  come  to  Patrington,  all  the  town  was 
in  an  uproar,  and  the  priest  and  constables  were  consulting  together  ; 
so  I  had  another  opportunity  to  declare  the  word  of  life  amongst 
them,  and  warn  them  to  repent.  At  last  a  professor,  a  tender  man, 
called  me  into  his  house,  and  there  I  took  a  little  milk  and  bread, 
having  not  eaten  for  some  days  before.  Then  they  guarded  me 
about  nine  miles  to  a  justice."  This  justice  after  examining  into 
his  case  released  him  and  he  returned  again  to  the  village,  where 
he  held  a  great  meeting  and  many  were  convinced. 

"  I  went  to  Balby,  and  Doncaster,  where  I  had  formerly  preached 
repentance  on  the  market-day :  which  had  made  a  noise  and  alarm 
in  the  country.  On  First-day  I  went  to  the  steeple  house,  and  after 
the  priest  had  done,  I  spoke  to  him  and  the  people  what  the  Lord 
commanded  me ;  and  they  were  in  a  great  rage,  hurried  me  out, 
threw  me  down,  and  haled  me  before  the  magistrates.  A  long  ex- 
amination they  made  of  me,  and  much  work  I  had  with  them.  They 
threatened  my  life  if  ever  I  came  there  again ;  and  that  they  would 
leave  me  to  the  mercy  of  the  people.  Nevertheless,  I  declared  truth 
amongst  them,  and  directed  them  to  the  light  of  Christ  in  them; 
testifying  unto  them,  '  That  God  was  come  to  teach  his  people  him- 
self, whether  they  would  hear  or  forbear.'  After  awhile  they  put 
us  out  (for  some  Friends  were  with  me)  among  the  rude  multitude, 
and  they  stoned  us  down  the  streets.  An  innkeeper,  a  bailiff,  came 
and  took  us  into  his  house ;  and  they  broke  his  head,  so  that  the 
blood  ran  down  his  face,  with  the  stones  that  they  threw  at  us.  We 
stayed  awhile  in  his  house,  and  showed  the  more  sober  peoi)le  the 
priest's  fruits.  Then  we  w^ent  away  to  Balby  about  a  mile  off.  The 
rude  people  laid  wait  for  us,  and  stoned  us  down  the  lane ;  but, 
blessed  be  the  Lord,  we  did  not  receive  much  hurt." 

"  The  next  First-day  I  went  to  Tickhill,  whither  the  Friends  of 
that  side  gathered  together,  and  a  mighty  brokeuness  by  the  power  of 
God  there  was  amongst  the  people.  I  went  out  of  the  meeting,  being 
moved  of  God  to  go  to  the  steeple  house.  When  I  came  there,  I 
found  the  priest  and  most  of  the  chief  of  the  parish  together  in  the 
chancel.     I  went  up  to  them,  and  began  to  speak  ;  but  they  innncdi- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  47 

ately  fell  upon  me ;  the  clerk  up  with  his  Bible,  as  I  was  speaking, 
and  '  struck  nie  on  the  face  with  it,  so  that  my  face  gushed  out  with 
blood  ;  and  I  bled  exceedingly  in  the  steeple  house.'  The  people 
cried,  'Let  us  have  him  out  of  the  church.'  When  they  had  got 
me  out,  they  beat  me  exceedingly,  threw  me  down,  and  turned  me 
over  a  hedge.  They  afterwards  dragged  me  through  a  house  into 
the  street,  stoning  and  beating  me  as  they  dragged  me  along ;  so 
that  I  was  all  over  besmeared  with  blood  and  dirt.  They  got  my 
hat  from  me,  which  I  never  had  again.  Yet  when  I  was  got  upon 
my  legs,  I  declared  the  word  of  life,  showed  them  the  fruits  of  their 
teacher,  and  how  they  dishonored  Christianity.  After  awhile  I  got 
into  the  meeting  again  amongst  Friends,  and  the  priest  and  people 
coming  by  the  house,  I  went  with  Friends  into  the  yard,  and  there 
spoke  to  the  priest  and  people.  The  priest  scoffed  at  us,  and  called 
us  Quakers.  But  the  Lord's  power  was  so  over  them,  and  the  word 
of  life  was  declared  in  such  authority  and  dread  to  them,  that  the 
priest  fell  a  trembling  himself;  and  one  of  the  people  said,  'Look 
how  the  priest  trembles  and  shakes,  he  is  turned  a  Quaker  also.' 
When  the  meeting  was  over,  Friends  departed  ;  and  I  went  without 
my  hat  to  Balby  about  seven  or  eight  miles.  Friends  were  much 
abused  that  day  by  the  priest  and  his  people:  insomuch  that  some 
moderate  justices  hearing  of  it,  two  or  three  of  them  came  and  sat 
at  the  town  to  examine  the  business.  He  that  ha5  shed  ray  blood 
was  afraid  of  having  his  hand  cut  off,  for  striking  me  in  the  church, 
as  they  called  it ;  but  I  forgave  him,  and  would  not  appear  against 
him." 

1652.  Francis  Howgil  who,  with  several  other  priests,  had  heard 
George  Fox  preach  at  Sedbergh,  was  so  deeply  affected  by  the 
truths  he  declared,  that  when  a  certain  captain  found  fault  with 
Geoi-ge  for  not  being  willing  to  go  into  the  chapel  to  hold  the  meet- 
ing, he  replied  to  him,  saying,  "  This  man  speaks  with  authority,  and 
not  as  the  Scribes."  On  the  next  First-day,  F.  Howgil  was  himself 
preaching  in  the  chapel  at  Firbank,  when,  as  he  afterwards  said, 
he  thought  George  Fox  looked  in  as  he  passed  l)y  the  house,  and 
his  spirit  was  ready  to  fail  him.  He  soon  brought  his  sermon  to 
an  end,  as  did  John  Audland,  another  priest  who  was  officiating 
there.  In  the  afternoon  G.  Fox  held  a  meeting  near  to  a  chapel, 
at  which  there  were  a  thousand  peo})le ;  among  whom  were  F. 
Howgil  and  John  Audland.  Both  were  now  fully  convinced  of  the 
truth  of  tlie  doctrines  prochiimed,  and  freely  gave  uj)  to  unite  in 
fellowship  with  Friends. 


48  FRIENDS     IX    THE 

F.  Howii'il  liad  received  a  liberal  education  at  the  tJiiiversity,  in 
order  to  fit  him  to  becDine  n  priest  in  the  "Episcopal  Cliureh  ;  "  for 
which  he  received  ordination.  Becoming  dissatisfied  with  the  bur- 
densome ceremonies  and  superstitious  observances  retained  in  that 
establishment,  he  left  it,  and  in  pursuit  of  a  more  spiritual  worship 
than  that  he  had  forsaken,  he  joined  the  Independents,  among  whom 
he  became  a  i)reacher.  But  notwithstanding  his  training  in  divin- 
ity, and  his  zealous  engagement  in  what  he  thought  were  good  works, 
fasting,  praying  an<l  exhorting,  he  continued  sensible  that  he  did  not 
obtain  the  victory  over  his  evil  propensities  and  the  assaults  of  Satan. 
With  all  his  profession  of  religion,  his  conscience  convinced  him  of 
the  truth  of  the  declaration  of  the  apostle,  "  Know  ye  not  that  to 
whom  ye  yield  yourselves  servants  to  obey,  his  servants  ye  are  to 
whom  ye  obey ;  whether  of  sin  unto  death,  or  of  obedience  unto 
righteousness,"  and  he  could  not  obtain  the  peace  he  sought,  by  the 
belief  of  the  doctrine  he  taught,  that  Christ  had  taken  the  guilt  of 
sin  upon  himself. 

He  was  in  this  state  of  mind,  when  he  heard  George  Fox  declare 
that  the  Light  of  Christ,  or  a  measure  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  was  given 
to  every  man,  and  that  it  was  to.  this  Light  or  Si)irit  that  every  one 
must  have  their  thoughts,  words  and  deeds  brought,  to  be  by  it 
judged,  if  they  would  enter  and  walk  in  the  narrow  way  of  salva- 
tion. He  saw  that,  with  all  his  learning  and  high  profession,  he 
had  been  ignorant  of  the  first  principles  of  the  gospel,  and  that  the 
work  of  religion  was  to  be  known  in  the  heart,  and  salvation  to  be 
wrought  out  with  fear  and  trembling,  the  Holy  Spirit  working  on 
the  soul  according  to  his  good  pleasure.  He  at  once  resigned  him- 
self to  this  transforming  power,  and  under  its  convictions  for  sin,  he 
experienced  the  gift  of  true  repentance,  and  was  enabled  to  look 
with  an  eye  of  living  faith  to  the  Lamb  of  God  that  taketh  away 
the  sin  of  the  world,  and  to  know  forgiveness  through  his  atoning 
blood.  He  gave  himself  up  to  serve  the  Lord,  who  bestowed  on 
him  a  gift  in  the  ministry,  which  he  exercised  without  money  and 
without  price. 

John  Audland  was  quite  a  young  man,  and  like  Howgil,  was  a 
preacher  among  the  Independents,  with  whom,  from  his  fluency,  he 
was  very  popular.  He  had  been  married  about  two  years,  and  had 
his  wife  with  him  when  they  heard  G.  Fox  speak  at  Firbank  Chapel. 
Such  was  the  power  and  religious  fervor  with  which  the  word  of  life 
was  declared  by  that  eminent  servant  of  Christ,  that  it  came  home 
to  the  hearts  of  both  with  convincing  force,  and  they  eml)raced  it 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  49 

and  confomierl  their  lives  to  its  requirements,  casting  their  lot  with 
the  despised  Quakers.     [1652.]     Both  in  time  became  ministers. 

As  Howgil  and  Audland,  while  holding  their  benefices,  had  re- 
ceived tithes  from  their  flocks,  they  now  felt  that  duty  required 
them  to  return  the  money  they  had  received  for  preaching,  wdiich 
tliey  accordingly  did. 

At  Kendal  George  Fox  had  a  meeting  in  the  town  hall,  in  which 
he  says  he  showed  the  people  "  How  they  might  come  to  the  saving 
knowledge  of  Christ,  and  to  have  a  right  understanding  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures ;  opening  to  them  what  it  was  that  would  lead  them  into 
the  way  of  reconciliation  with  God ;  and  what  would  be  their  con- 
demnation." Going  thence  to  the  house  of  Miles  Bateraan,  at  Under- 
barrow,he  there  met  with  Edward  Burrough,a  young  man  of  about 
seventeen  years  of  age,  who,  with  many  others,  had  followed  him 
from  Kendal,  and  they  entering  into  disputation,  Edward,  though  a 
lad  of  superior  intellectual  power,  with  a  good  education,  and  deter- 
mined withal  to  maintain  the  high  religious  notions  he  entertained, 
was  overthrown  in  argument  and  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the 
doctrine  he  had  heard  George  preach.     [1652.] 

E.  Burrough's  parents  were  members  of  the  "  Episcopal  Church," 
and  had  trained  him  in  its  doctrines  and  practices.     He  had  been  a 
serious-minded  child,  inclined  to  religious  thoughtfulness,  and  not 
disposed  to  take  upon  trust,  witliout  investigation,  such  an  important 
matter  as  religious  belief     F.  Howgil,  who  in  after  years  became 
his  intimate  friend  and  close  companion,  says,  "  He  had  the  spirit  of 
a  man  when  he  was  but  a  child.     His  delight  was  always  among 
good  people,  and  to  be  reading  the  Scriptures,  and  his  very  strength 
was  bent  towards  God."     Not  finding  what  he  longed  for  among 
Episcopalians,  he  joined  the  Presbyterians,     He  says,  "When  I 
wtLs  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  it  pleased  God  to  show  himself  a 
little  to  me,  and  something  struck  me  with  terror.     When  I  had 
been  praying,  I  often  heard  the  voice,  'Thou  art  ignorant  of  God; 
thou  knowest  not  where  He  is;  to  what  purpose  is  thy  prayer?'  So, 
much  fear  came  upon  me,  and   broke  me  off  from  praying  many 
times;  troubles  came  thick  into  my  mind,  and  tearfulness  fell  upon 
me.     I  was  struck  off  from  my  delights,  and  what  I  had  gathered 
in  as  of  God,  died."     Whilst  in  this  unsettled  state,  he  says,  "It 
pleased  the  Lord  to  send  into  these  j)arts  his  faithful  servant  and 
messenger,  George  Fox.     He  spoke  the  language  which  I  knew  not, 
notwithstanding  all  my  high  talking."     His  heart  was  softened  ;  he 
remarks  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  show  him  that  he  was  in  the  nrod- 

A  i 


60  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

ii^al  state,  above  the  cross  of  Christ,  out  of  the  pure  fear  of  the 
Lord,  and  not  worthy  to  be  called  a  sou.  He  now  passed  through 
a  dispensation  of  condemnation  and  repentance,  while  the  axe  was 
being  laid  to  the  root  of  the  corrupt  tree,  the  Lord's  fan  purging 
tiie  floor  of  his  heart,  and  the  chaff  being  burnt  up  witli  unquencha- 
ble fire.  Thus  lie  came  into  a  state  of  acce])tance,  and  by  continued 
obedience  to  the  divine  will  revealed  in  his  heart,  he  attained  to  the 
stature  of  a  man  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  was  made  an  eminent  instru- 
ment in  the  Lord's  hand  to  contend  with  spiritual  wickedness  in 
high  places,  and  to  build  up  the  church  on  the  most  holy  faith. 

His  parents  were  much  displeased  at  him  for  joining  the  Quakers, 
whom  they  looked  upon  as  heretics,  and  tried  to  induce  him  to  leave 
them  ;  but  when  they  found  that  he  was  fully  convinced  of  the 
truth  of  their  principles  and  resolved  to  continue  in  fellowship  with 
them,  they  turned  him  out  of  doors ;  and  though  he  besought  them, 
that  though  they  disowned  him  as  a  son,  they  would  let  him  remain 
with  them  as  a  hired  servant,  they  refused,  and  he  was  obliged  to 
go  forth,  giving  up  father  and  mother  with  hoaie  and  all  its  com- 
forts for  Christ's  sake ;  whom  he  found  a  rich  rewarder  of  all  them 
that  diligently  seek  him. 

It  was  not  very  long  after  this  that  E.  Burrough  and  J.  Audland 
went  forth  as  fellow-laborers  in  the  gospel,  and  to  sliare  in  the  re- 
proaches and  afflictions,  the  beatings,  stonings,  halings  and  other 
cruelties  practised  at  that  time  on  the  promulgators  of  the  truths  of 
the  gospel  as  held  by  Friends.  In  a  letter  describing  the  religious 
labor  in  which  they  had  been  and  still  were  engaged,  and  the  success 
attending  it,  J.  Audland  says,  "  Dear  Friends,  the  work  of  the 
Lord  is  great,  and  I  see  that  the  Lord  will  raise  up  to  himself  a 
pure  and  large  people,  to  serve  and  worship  him  in  Spirit  and 
in  Truth.  My  dear  brother  and  fellow  laborer,  E.  Burrough,  salutes 
you  in  the  Lord." 

George  Fox,  having  gone  through  the  dales  of  Yorkshire,  in 
which  hundreds  had  been  convinced,  and  known  the  work  of  re- 
generation begun  and  carried  on  in  them,  by  a  i)ractical  belief  in 
the  doctrines  he  taught,  came  again  into  Lancashire  and  stopped  at 
Ulverstone,  where  a  priest  of  the  name  of  Lampit  —  a  truckler  to 
the  times  —  held  the  living.  George  .soon  had  a  sense  of  the  char- 
acter of  this  man,  whom  he  met  at  Swarthmoor,  the  residence  of 
Jiidge  Fell,  and  to  whom,  in  the  course  of  conversation,  he  told 
some  plain  truths,  which  the  priest  was  far  from  relishing. 

Swarthmoor  Hall  stands  about  a  mile  from  Ulverstone,  and  not 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  51 

far  from  Morecamb  bay.  Thomas  Fell,  who  owned  it  and  resided 
in  it,  had  been  a  successful  barrister,  before  being  raised  to  the 
bench.  He  had  been  in  Parliament,  but  retired  therefrom  in  the 
early  part  of  Cromwell's  administration. 

In  1632,  when  thirty-two  years  of  age,  he  married  Margaret 
Askew,  then  in  the  nineteenth  year  of  her  age.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  John  Askew,  and  was  a  descendant  of  Anne  Askew  the  martyr. 
She  had  received  as  good  an  education  as  it  was  then  common  to 
give  to  females  of  her  rank  in  life.  Their  wealth  and  the  salary  he 
received  as  Judge,  enabled  them  to  keep  open  house,  and  aniong 
the  numerous  guests  resorting  there,  were  often  to  be  found  those  in 
the  station  of  ministers,  or  teachers  of  religion.  It  appears  that 
both  the  Judge  and  his  wife  partook  of  the  spirit  of  the  times,  were 
earnest  inquirers  on  the  subject  of  religion,  and,  with  their  house- 
hold, strict  in  the  observances  of  the  "church"  to  which  they 
belonged. 

^  The  differing  reports  respecting  George  Fox,  which  were  widely 
circulated  ;  some  representing  him  as  a  wizard  and  wicked  man,  and 
some  extolling  him  as  an  unimpeachable  character  and  extraordi- 
nary preacher,  who  was  unsparing  in  his  attacks  upon  the  hireling 
priests,  turning  multitudes  from  following  them,  and  to  the  teach- 
ing of  Christ  himself  by  his  Spirit  in  the  heart,  had  no  doubt  ex- 
cited no  little  curiosity  to  see  and  hear  him  in  the  mistress  of 
Swarthmoor  and  in  her  family. 

16-52.  Margaret  Fell  was  from  home  when  G.  Fox  arrived  at  her 
house.  On  her  return  the  children  .told  her  what  had  passed  be- 
tween him  and  the  priest ;  at  which  she  was  troubled,  as  Lampit 
was  the  minister  of  the  "  church  "  where  she  attended.  In  the  even- 
ing George  preached  to  the  family.  The  next  day  Lampit  came 
there  again,  and  they  entered  into  a  long  discourse,  from  which 
Margaret  got  an  insight  of  the  priest's  true  condition.  There  being 
a  day  appointed  for  "humiliation"  soon  after,  M.  Fell  desired  G. 
Fox  to  be  present  at  the  "  steeple  house,"  at  Ulverstone,  but  he  told 
her  that  must  be  as  the  Lord  directed  him.  When  the  time  arrived 
he  felt  moved  to  go,  and  on  arriving,  found  the  priest  and  con- 
gregation singing.  But  the  words  sung,  G.  Fox  says,  were  "So  un- 
suital)le  to  their  states,  that  after  they  had  done  singing  I  was  move.l 
of , the  Lord  to  speak  to  him  and  the  people." 

Margaret  Fell  thus  narrates  what  occurred  afterward  :  "  And 
when  they  were  singing  before  the  sermon  he  came  in,  and  when 
they  had  done  singing  he  stood  up  upon  a  seat  or  form,  and  desired 


52  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

'tliat  bo  niiii'lit  have  liberty  to  speak;'  and  be  tbat  was  in  the 
pulpit  said  lie  inii;;bt.  And  tbe  first  words  tbat  be  spoke  were  as 
followetb  :  'Ho  is  not  a  Jew  tbat  is  one  outward,  neither  is  that 
eircumoision  which  is  outward  ;  liut  ho  is  a  Jew  tbat  is  one  inward, 
and  that  is  eircunicision  which  is  of  the  heart.'  And  so  he  went  on 
and  said  '  tbat  Christ  was  the  light  of  tht  world,  and  lighteth  every 
man  tbat  conioth  into  the  world,  and  tbat  by  this  light  they  might 
1)0  gathered  to  God,'  S^.c.  I  stood  uj)  in  my  pew,  and  wondered  at 
his  dootrino ;  for  I  bad  never  heard  such  before.  And  then  he 
wont  on,  and  opcMied  the  Scriptures  and  said,  'The  Scriptures  were 
tlio  prophets'  words,  and  Christ's  and  the  apostles'  words,  and  what, 
as  they  spoke,  they  enjoyed  and  possessed,  and  bad  it  from  tbe 
Lord  : '  and  saiil,  '  Then  what  bad  any  to  do  with  tbe  Scriptures,  but 
as  they  came  to  the  Spirit  that  gave  tliem  forth.  You  will  say, 
(yhrist  saith  this,  and  the  apostles  say  this  ;  but  what  canst  thou 
say?  Art  thou  a  child  of  light,  and  hast  walked  in  the  light,  and 
what  thou  spoakost,  is  it  inwardly  from  God  ?' &c.  This  opened 
me  so,  that  it  cut  me  to  tbe  heart;  and  then  I  saw  clearly,  we  were 
all  wrong.  So  I  sat  down  in  my  pew  again,  and  cried  bitterly  ;  and 
1  cried  in  my  spirit  to  the  Lord,  '  We  are  all  thieves,  we  are  all 
thieves,  we  have  taken  the  vScrii)tures  in  words,  and  know  nothing 
of  them  in  ourselves.'  So  that  served  me,  that  I  cannot  well  tell 
what  he  spoke  ai'tcrwards ;  but  he  went  on  in  declaring  against  tbe 
false  prophets,  prissts  and  deceivers  of  the  people.  And  there  was 
one  John  Sawrey,  a  justice  of  peace,  and  a  professor,  that  bid  the 
churchwarden  take  him  away  :  and  be  laid  his  bands  on  him  several 
times,  and  took  them  off  again,  and  lot  him  alone;  and  then  after  a 
while  be  gave  over,  and  came  to  our  bouse  again  that  night.  And 
he  spoke  in  the  family  amongst  the  servants,  and  they  were  all 
generally  convinced  ;  as  William  Caton,  Thomas  Salthouse,  Mary 
Askew,  Anne  Clayton,  and  several  other  servants.  And  I  was 
struck  into  such  a  sadness,  I  knew  not  what  to  do,  my  husband 
being  from  home.  I  saw  it  was  tbe  truth,  and  I  could  not  deny  it ; 
and  I  did,  as  the  apostle  saith,  '  I  received  the  truth  in  the  love  of 
it;'  and  it  was  opened  to  me  so  clear,  that  I  bad  n(!vor  a  tittle  iu 
my  heart  against  it;  but  I  desired  the  Lord  that  I  might  be  kept 
in  it,  and  then  I  desired  no  greater  portion." 

"About  three  weeks'  end  my  husband  came  iiome ;  and  many 
were  in  a  mighty  rage,  and  a  deal  of  tlie  captains  and  great  ones  of 
I  he  country  wont  to  meet  my  th(  n  liu>iiaud  as  bo  was  coming  home, 


SEVENTEEXTH    CENTURY.  53 

and  informed  him,  'That  a  great  disaster  was  befallen  amongst  his 
family,  and  that  they  were  witches  ;  and  that  they  had  taken  us  out 
of  our  religion;  and  that  he  must  either  set  them  away,  or  all  the 
country  would  be  undone.'  But  no  weapons  formed  against  the 
Lord  shall  prosper,  as  you  may  see  hereafter. 

"  So  my  husband  came  home  greatly  offended ;  and  any  may 
tliink  what  a  condition  I  was  like  to  be  in,  that  either  I  must  displease 
my  husband  or  offend  God ;  for  he  was  very  much  troubled  with  us 
all  in  the  house  and  family,  they  had  so  prepossessed  him  against  us. 
But  James  Naylor  and  Richard  Farnsworth  were  both  then  at  our 
house,  and  I  desired  them  to  come  and  speak  to  him,  and  so  they 
did,  very  moderately  and  wisely  ;  but  he  was  at  first  displeased  with 
them,  till  they  told  him  'They  came  in  love  and  goodwill  to  his 
house.'  After  that  he  had  heard  them  speak  awhile  he  was  better  sat- 
isfied, and  they  offered  as  if  they  would  go  away ;  but  I  desired  them 
to  stay  and  not  go  away  yet,  for  George  Fox  will  come  this  evening. 
.  .  And  then  my  husband  was  pretty  moderate  and  quiet,  and 
his  dinner  being  ready  he  went  to  it,  and  I  went  in  and  sat  me 
down  by  him.  And  while  I  was  sitting,  the  power  of  the  Lord  seized 
upon  me,  and  he  was  struck  with  amazement  and  knew  not  what  to 
think,  but  was  quiet  and  still.  And  the  children  were  all  quiet  and 
still,  and  grown  sober,  and  could  not  play  on  their  music  that  they 
were  learning ;  and  all  these  things  made  him  quiet  and  still." 

"At  night  Geo.  Fox  came,  and  after  supper  my  husband  was  sit- 
ting in  the  parlor,  and  I  asked  him  if  Geo.  Fox  might  come  in?  and 
he  said  yes.  So  George  came  in  without  any  compliment,  and  walked 
into  the  room,  and  began  to  speak  presently ;  and  the  family  and 
James  Naylor  and  Richard  Farnsworth  all  came  in  ;  and  he  spoke 
very  excellently  as  ever  I  heard  him,  and  opened  Christ's  and  the 
apostles'  practices,  which  they  were  in,  in  their  day.  And  he  opened 
the  night  of  apostacy  since  the  apostles'  days,  and  laid  open  the 
priests  and  their  practices  in  the  apostacy;  that  if  all  England  had 
been  there,  I  thought  they  could  not  have  denied  the  truth  of  those 
things.  So  my  husband  came  to  see  clearly  the  truth  of  what  he 
sj)(jke,  was  very  quiet  that  ni^ht,  said  no  more  and  went  to  bed. 

"  The  next  morning  came  Lampit,  priest  of  Ulverstone,  and  got  my 
husband  into  the  garden,  and  spoke  much  to  him  there;  i)ut  my 
iuisband  had  seen  so  much  the  night  before,  that  the  priest  got  little 
entrance  upon  him.  When  the  ])riest  Lampit  was  come  into  the 
house,  George  spoke  sharply  to  him,  and  asked  hiiu  '  When  God 
spake  to  him  and  called  him  to  go  and  preach  to  the  people':''     But 


54  FRIENDS    INT  HE 

after  awhile  the  priest  went  away:  tliis  was  on  the  sixth  day  of  the 
week,  about  the  Fifth  month,  Ib.ri.  And  at  our  house  divers 
Friends  were  speaking  one  to  another,  how  there  were  several  con- 
vinced here-aways,  and  we  could  not  tell  where  to  get  a  meeting ; 
my  husband  also  being  present,  he  overheard,  and  said  of  his  own 
accord,  '  You  may  meet  here  if  you  will :'  and  that  was  the  first 
meeting  we  had  that  he  offered  of  his  own  accord.  And  then  notice 
was  given  that  day  and  the  next  to  Friends,  and  there  was  a  good 
large  meeting  the  first  day,  which  was  the  first  meeting  that  was  at 
Swartlnnoor,  and  so  continued  there  a  meeting  from  16-32  to  1690." 

"  After  a  few  weeks  George  went  to  Ulverstoue  steeple-house  again, 
and  the  said  justice  Sawrey,  with  others,  set  the  rude  rabble  upou 
him,  and  they  beat  him  so  that  he  fell  down  as  in  a  swoon,  and  was 
sore  bruised  and  blackened  in  his  body,  and  on  his  head  and  arms. 
Then  my  husband  was  not  at  home ;  but  when  he  came  home,  he 
was  displeased  that  they  should  do  so,  and  spoke  to  justice  Sawrey, 
and  said, '  It  was  against  law  to  make  riots.'  After  that  he  was  sore 
beat  and  stoned  at  Waluey  till  he  fell  down,  and  also  at  Dalton  was 
he  sore  beat  and  abused  ;  so  that  he  had  very  hard  usage  in  divers 
places  in  these  parts.  And  then  when  a  meeting  was  settled  here 
[1652]  he  went  again  into  ^yestmoreland,  and  settled  meetings  there  ; 
and  there  was  a  great  convincement,  and  abundance  of  brave  minis- 
ters came  out  there-aways  ;  as  John  Canim,  John  Audland,  Francis 
Howgil,  Edward  Burrough,  Miles  Halhead,  and  John  Blaykling, 
with  divers  others.  He  also  went  over  the  sands  to  Lancaster,  and 
Yelland,  and  Kellet,  where  Robert  Widders,  Richard  Hubberthorn 
and  John  Lawson,with  many  others,  were  convinced.  And  about  that 
time  he  was  in  those  parts,  many  priests  and  professors  rose  up,  and 
falsely  accused  him  for  blasphemy,  and  did  endeavor  to  take  away 
his  life,  and  got  people  to  swear  at  a  sessions  at  Lancaster  that  he 
had  spoken  blasphemy.  But  my  then  husband  and  Colonel  West, 
having  had  some  sight  and  knowledge  of  the  truth,  withstood  the 
two  persecuting  justices,  John  Sawrey  and  Thompson,  and  brought 
him  off,  and  cleared  him  ;  for  indeed  he  was  innocent." 

Judge  Fell  appears  not  to  have  adopted  all  the  principles  of 
Friends ;  but  being  convinced  of  the  right  of  every  one  to  enjoy 
liberty  of  conscience  where  it  did  not  interfere  with  the  rights  of 
others,  he  was  conspicuous  in  that  day  of  intolerance  and  persecu- 
tion, for  making  use  of  power  and  influence  that  were  at  his  com- 
mand, in  protecting  the  oppressed  and  in  striving  to  moderate  the 


SEVEN  TEE  XTH    CENTURY.  55 

unrighteous  zeal  and  cruel  prejudice  of  his  times.  He  lived  about 
six  years  after  his  wife's  convincement,  during  which  time  he  left 
off  attendance  on  the  ministry  of  the  priest  Lampit,  and  havint^ 
given  permission  to  Friends  to  hold  their  meetings  at  his  house,  he 
often  sat  in  his  study  with  the  door  open  to  hear  the  preaching  that 
might  take  place  in  the  meeting  held  in  his  great  hall. 

Margaret  Fell  was  so  thoroughly  convinced  at  the  time  referred 
to  in  her  account,  that  she  never  wavered  ;  but  keeping  close  to  the 
manifestations  of  the  light  of  Christ  to  her  soul,  she  became  estab- 
lished in  the  truth  ;  took  an  active  part  in  succoring  Friends  under 
suffering  ;  and  as  a  mother  in  Israel,  enjoyed  until  her  death,  the 
confidence  ajid  correspondence  of  most  Friends  of  note  throughout 
the  kingdom.  She,  in  the  course  of  time,  became  the  wife  of  Geo. 
Fox.  At  the  time  of  Judge  Fell's  decease,  they  had  one  son  and 
seven  daughters  living ;  the  oldest  of  the  latter  being  then  twenty- 
five  years  of  age,  and  the  youngest  five.  All  the  daughters  appear 
to  have  adopted  the  faith  of  Friends,  with  their  mother,  who  Avas 
left,  in  her  widowhood,  to  bear  as  well  as  she  could,  the  cruel  impo- 
sitions which  were  sure  to  be  inflicted  on  her,  if  she  lived  in  accord- 
ance with  her  religious  convictions. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


Justification  of  Friends'  Speaking  in  the  "  Churches"— George  Whitehead  — 
Early  Friends'  Love  for  tlie  Scriptures — Effectual  Preaching  of  George 
Whitehead — Wni.  Barber  imprisoned  for  twenty  years  —  Imprisonment 
of  G.  Whitehead  — Injustice  of  Magistrates  encourages  the  violence  of 
the  people  — Persecution  of  Wm.  Dewsbury  at  Tholthorpe  —  At  Derby  — 
Change  in  Priests  who  had  become  Friends  —  Some  reasons  whv  the  Priests 
opposed  Friends  —  Their  efforts  to  excite  prejudice  against  Friends,  and  their 
Inconsistency — Cromwell's  ordinances  of  Toleration  —Not  observed  towards 
Friends —  Old  Laws  revived,  for  the  punishment  of  P'riends — Priests  accuse 
G.  Fox  of  Blasphemy— Cruel  usage  of  (i.  F.  at  Walney  Island— Trial  of  G. 
F.  at  Lancaster  —  Cleared  of  the  charges,  and  writes  Addresses  to  some  of 
the  Justices. 

TN  palliation  of  the  dreadful  cruelty  inflicted  on  Friends  who  visited 
-I-  and  spoke  at  the  so-calk'd  churches,  often  instigated  or  promoted 
by  the  priests,  the  charge  has  been  brought  against  them,  that  in  so 
doing,  their  conrliift  was  rude  and   partook  of  fanatical  insolence. 


56  FKIEXDS    IN    THE 

But  ill  jikljring  of  tlieir  actions  in  this  matter,  due  consideration  must 
be  given  to  the  circumstances,  the  temper  and  the  custom  of  the  time 
in  wliich  they  came  forth.  The  places  of  worship  had  been  provided 
by  and  belonged  to  the  government.  After  the  Presbyterians  ob- 
tained power  in  the  Long  Parliament,  the  clergy  of  the  "Episcopal 
Church,"  were  no  longer  authorized  to  have  exclusive  possession  of 
them.  The  Presbyterians,  however,  though  they  openly  declared 
that  ihcy  abhorred  toleration,  were  too  much  in  awe  of  the  Inde- 
pendents and  Baptists,  to  attempt  installing  their  own  preachers  in 
the  "  national  churches,"  to  the  exclusion  of  all  others.  True,  many 
of  them  sought  and  obtained  the  benefices  from  which  their  prede- 
cessors had  been  driven,  and  were  glad  to  get  hold  of  the  revenues 
attached  to  them.  Not  a  few  of  those  who  had  professed  to  be  Epis- 
copalians, while  that  party  was  in  power  and  had  the  "livings"  to 
bestow,  changed  their  profession  of  religion  to  suit  the  mutations  of 
the  times,  and  eagerly  sought  to  secure  the  revenues  connected  with 
their  former  parishes. 

During  the  progress  of  the  civil  war,  as  has  been  before  observed 
— tlie  strife  res])ecting  dift'erent  points  of  faith  was  constantly  kept 
up;  and  Presbyterians,  Baptists,  Independents,  and  members  of  other 
sects,  often  resorted  to  the  different  places  of  worship,  to  expound 
the  principles  they  held,  or  to  dispute  on  points  of  faith  and  prac- 
tice ;  and  it  was  no  unusual  circumstance  for  word  to  be  given  out 
from  the  pulpit,  that  if  any  one  present  had  aught  to  say,  he  might 
speak.  Oliver  Cromwell,  who  was  attached  to  the  Independents, 
rebuked  the  Presbyterians  of  Scotland,  when  they  entered  com- 
plaint to  him  that  "the  pulpit  doore  were  open  to  all  intruders;" 
reminding  them  that  He  who  ascended  up  on  high,  gave  his  gifts 
to  whom  He  would ;  and  demanding  of  them  whether  they  had  be- 
come envious  because  Eldad  and  Medad  prophesied  ?  Besides,  it 
was  well  known  that  many  of  the  parish  priests,  though  exceedingly 
avaricious,  not  unfrequently  neglected  their  flocks,  and  often  in- 
dulged in  immoralities.  George  Fox  declared  that  in  thus  doing. 
Friends  followed  the  example  of  Christ  and  his  apostles,  who  went 
into  the  synagogues  of  the  Jews  to  preach  to  and  to  teach  the  people. 
Sewel,  in  allusion  to  this  subject,  has  the  following : 
"Perhaps  some  will  think  it  was  very  indecent  that  they  went 
so  frequently  to  the  steeple-houses,  and  there  spoke  to  the  priests ; 
but  whatsoever  any  may  judge  concerning  this,  it  is  certain  that 
those  teachers  generally  did  not  bring  forth  the  fruits  of  godliness, 
as  was  well  known  to  those  who  themselves  had  been  {)riests  and 


SEVENTEENTH    CEXTURY.  57 

freely  resigned  their  ministry,  thenceforth  to  follow  Christ  in  the 
way  of  his  cross ;  and  these  were  none  of  the  least  zealous  against 
that  society  among  whom  they  formerly  had  ministered  with  an 
upright  zeal.  Yet  they  were  not  for  using  sharp  language  against 
such  teachers,  who,  according  to  their  knowledge,  feared  God ;  but 
they  levelled  their  aim  chiefly  against  those,  who  were  only  rich  iu 
words,  without  bringing  fortii  true  Christian  fruits,  and  works  of 
justice. 

"  None  therefore  need  think  it  strange,  that  those  called  Quakers 
did  look  upon  such  teachers  as  hirelings.  And  that  there  were  not 
a  few  of  that  sort,  appeared  plainly  when  King  Charles  II.  was  re- 
stored ;  for  those  who  had  formerly  cried  out  against  Episcopacy,  and 
its  liturgy,  as  false  and  idolatrous,  then  became  turn-coats,  and  put 
on  the  surplice,  to  keep  in  the  possession  of  their  livings  and  bene- 
fices. But  by  so  doing,  these  hypocrites  lost  not  a  few  of  their 
auditors,  for  this  opened  the  eyes  of  many,  who  began  to  inquire 
into  the  doctrine  of  the  denounced  Quakers,  and  saw  that  they  had  a 
more  sure  foundation,  and  that  this  it  was  which  made  them  stand 
unshaken  against  the  fury  of  persecution." 

So  notorious  was  the  profligacy  and  hypocrisy  of  not  a  few  of 
those  who  held  the  "livings,"  that  Oliver  Cromwell  appointed  a 
Commission  of  laymen,  called  "  Triers,"  to  take  the  subject  under 
their  special  care,  receive  complaints,  examine  witnesses,  &c.,  and 
displace  those  found  guilty  of  the  charges  brought  against  them, 
and  several  were  so  dismissed. 

When  Friends  felt  it  required  of  them  to  go  to  these  "churches," 
if  they  had  anything  to  say,  it  was  very  seldom  uttered  until  after 
the  "service"  was  gone  through;  and  George  Whitehead,  in  one 
of  the  papers  he  published,  draws  attention  to  the  fact,  that  when 
Friends  had  established  meetings  for  themselves,  it  was  not  an  un- 
common thing  for  ministers  and  teachers  of  other  religious  Societies, 
to  come  into  them,  put  questions  respecting  the  doctrines  preached, 
and  enter  into  disputes  thereon. 

George  Whitehead,  of  whom  mention  has  just  been  made,  was  a 
man  who  b-came  a  pillar  in  the  Church,  and  conspicuous  for  his 
many  suft'erings,  and  liis  important  services  in  and  for  the  infant 
Society,  of  which  he  early  became  a  member.  From  the  memoir  of 
himself  which  lie  wrote,  it  appears  that  from  his  boyhood  he  was  of 
a  serious  turn  of  mind,  and  observant  of  the  religious  i)rofession  and 
corresponding  lives  of  those  with  whom  he  associated,  liis  parents 
thinking  that  lie  miglit  become  an  ordained  minister  in  the  estab- 


58  FIIIENDS    IN    THE 

lislied  "  Churcli,"  gave  him  so  ^ood  an  education  that  he  afterwards 
became  a  tutor,  and  foUowed  that  oeeupation  i'or  years.  Not  liking 
the  "Church,"  he  consorted  for  a  whik!  with  the  Presbyterians;  but 
he  saw  that  they  fell  short  of  what  he  believed  the  Christian  is  called 
to.  In  order  to  satisfy  the  strong  desires  which  the  Lord,  even  in 
his  early  days,  had  raised  in  his  heart,  after  a  knowledge  of  his 
truth  and  a  life  consistent  therewith,  he  went  among  the  most  highly 
esteemed  of  difterent  religious  denonunations. 

But  he  states  that  his  longing  after  true  repentance  and  amend- 
ment of  life,  "was  often  quenched  by  indulgence  in  music  and  other 
vain  pursuits.  But  as  the  Lord  was  pleased,  by  the  secret  reproofs 
of  his  Spirit,  to  bring  him  under  condemnation  for  the  vanity  in 
which  he  took  delight,  he  was  preserved  from  running  far  into  folly, 
and  from  continuing  content  with  the  outside  religion  in  which  he 
saw  so  many  were  resting. 

Having  heard  of  a  people  called  Quakers,  who  were  said  to 
tremble  at  the  word  of  the  Lord,  and  were  reviled  by  wicked  people, 
he  made  inquiry  concerning  them,  and  learning  there  were  a  few 
of  them  at  Sedbergh,  near  Kendal,  in  Westmoreland,  not  far  from 
where  he  was  born,  he  concluded  to  go  to  their  meeting.  That 
which  impressed  him  most  at  this  meeting,  was  what  appeared  to 
him  to  be  "  A  great  work  or  power  of  the  Lord  breaking  the  hearts 
of  divers  into  great  sorrow,  weeping  and  contrition  of  spirit,"  which, 
he  says,  "  I  believed  to  be  a  godly  sorrow  for  sin,  in  order  for  un- 
feigned repentance."  Observing  a  young  woman  go  out  of  the 
meeting  he  followed  her,  and  seeing  her  "  mourning  bitterly,"  and 
hearing  her  cry  out  "  Lord  make  me  clean,  make  me  clean,"  he 
says,  "  This  far  more  tenderly  and  deeply  affected  my  heart,  than 
what  I  had  heard  spoken  [in  the  meeting]  and  more  than  all  the 
preaching  I  had  ever  heard." 

Being  convinced  by  the  testimony  of  Grace  to  his  soul,  that  there 
was  a  divine  power  at  work  among  this  people,  causing  both  godly 
sorrow  and  contrition,  in  order  to  bring  them  to  true  repentance  and 
amendment  of  life,  so  as  really  to  experience  regeneration  and  sanc- 
tification,  he  resolved  to  leave  all  dead  and  empty  forms,  and  to  re- 
sort constantly  to  the  meetings  of  the  reviled  Quakers.  This  was 
in  the  seventeenth  year  of  his  age.  His  judgment  was  confirmed  in 
the  full  belief  that  the  doctrines  of  Friends  were  in  exact  accord- 
ance with  those  taught  by  Christ  and  his  apostles ;  so  that  he  says 
he  was  fully  convinced  before  he  met  with  George  Fox,  whom  he 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  59 

first  heard  preach  iu  an  evening  meeting  held  at  the  house  of  Cap- 
tain Ward,  Sunnybank,  Westmoreland.     [1652.] 

Being  sure  that  without  being  converted  as  well  as  convinced,  and 
without  being  regenerated  and  sanctified,  he  could  not  enter  into  the 
Kingdom  of  heaven,  he  says,  "  I  saw  it  was  my  place  to  retire  in- 
wardly to  the  Light,  to  the  Grace  of  God,  the  immortal,  incorrupti- 
ble Seed,  the  ingrafted  Word,  which  is  our  principle ;  frequently 
testified  of  among  the  said  people,  according  to  Holy  Scripture."  .  .  . 
"  I  was  jiersuaded  to  wait  in  the  light,  in  the  way  of  his  [the  Lord's] 
judgments,  and  to  bear  and  submit  to  his  fatherly  chastisements  and 
reproofs  of  instruction ;  believing  that  Zion  must  be  redeemed 
through  judgment  and  her  converts  with  righteousness."  ..."  I  had 
a  spiritual  warfare  to  go  through,  a  body  of  sin  to  be  put  off  and 
destroyed  ;  though  [I  was]  not  grown  to  that  maturity,  as  many  of 
riper  years  who  [have  been]  guilty  of  many  gross  evils  by  their 
longer  continuance  and  custom  of  sinning.  Nevertheless  I  knew  a 
real  necessity  of  the  work  of  sanctification,  inward  cleansing  from 
sin,  and  being  born  again.  Tliat  is  the  new  birth,  that  is  born  from 
above,  which  only  is  entitled  to  the  Kingdom  of  Christ  and  of  God, 
which  no  unclean  person  can  inherit." 

"  In  waiting  upon  God  and  sincerely  seeking  after  him,  with  my 
mind  inwardly  retired,  and  my  soul  breathing  after  his  name  and 
power.  He  was  graciously  pleased  often  to  renew  his  merciful  visi- 
tations to  my  poor  soul,  and  in  the  midst  of  judgment  and  chastise- 
ments to  remember  mercy,  that  He  might  be  feared."  "  His  eternal 
word  by  judgment,  caused  fear  and  trembling  in  his  presence,  and 
by  showing  mercy,  brokeuness  and  true  tenderness  of  heart,  which 
I  often  felt.  In  the  lively  remembrance  thereof  I  find  still  great 
cause  to  ascribe  praise  and  glory  to  his  excellent  name,  power  and 
goodness,  through  his  dear  Son,  even  the  Sou  of  his  love,  our  blessed 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ." 

Speaking  of  the  meetings  which  he  attended  during  this  time  of 
his  being  engrafted  into  Christ,  the  living  Vine,  and  his  early  growth 
in  Him,  he  says  he  was  "  Much  inwardly  exercised  in  waiting  ujxju 
the  Lord  among  them  [Friends]  where  we  had  little  preaching,  but 
our  meetings  were  kept  much  and  often  in  silence,  or  but  few  words 
declared ;  the  Lord  was  pleased  sometimes,  by  his  power  and  word 
of  life,  to  tender  and  open  my  heart  and  unde*-standing  ;  so  that  He 
gave  me,  among  some  others,  now  and  then,  a  few  words  livingly 
to  utter,  to  their  and  my  owji  comfort."  "  It  was  out  of  these  and 
6uch  frequentli/  silent  meetinys,  the  Lord  was  pleased   to  raise  up. 


60  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

ami  brini^  forth  living  witnesses,  faitlii'iil  niiaistcrs  and  true  proph- 
ets in  early  days."  "  We  also  waiting  in  true  silence  upon  Him, 
and  eyeing  his  inward  appearance  in  .Spirit,  and  the  work  of  his 
power  in  us,  came  truly  to  see  and  feel  our  strength  renewed,  in 
living  faith,  true  love  and  holy  zeal  for  his  name  and  power;  inso- 
much that  the  Lord  gradually  brought  us  to  experience  what  He 
said  of  old  by  his  holy  i)ro{)het, '  Keep  silence  before  me,  O  islands  ! 
and  let  the  peoi)le  renew  their  strength  :  let  them  come  near ;  then 
let  them  speak;  let  us  come  near  together  to  judgment.'  Thus 
keeping  silence  before  the  Lord  and  drawing  near  to  Him  in  a  true 
silent  frame  of  spirit,  to  hear  first  what  the  Lord  sj^eaks  to  us, 
before  we  speak  to  others,  whether  it  be  of  judgment  or  mercy,  is 
the  way  for  renewing  our  strength,  and  to  be  his  ministers,  to  speak 
to  others  only  what  He  first  speaks  to  us.  O  !  that  the  people  truly 
minded  this ;  that  they  would  seriously  consider  hereof:  then  would 
they  not  run  after,  or  follow  such  of  their  ministers,  priests  or  proph- 
ets who  run  and  God  never  sent  them;  who  say,  'Thus  sayeth 
the  Lord,'  when  God  hath  not  spoken  to  them,  and  who  shall  not 
profit  the  people  at  all." 

Our  Saviour  declared  that  "God  is  a  Spirit,  and  they  tliat 
worship  hitn  must  worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth,  for  the  Father 
seeketh  such  to  worship  him."  Hence  Friends  from  the  beginning 
have  believed  that  acceptable  worship  cannot  be  performed  by  man 
in  his  own  time  and  will  ;  but  it  is  a  duty  that  must  be  discharged 
under  the  immediate  pi-(;n'iptiug  and  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  is 
not  limited  to  set  times,  places  or  persons.  That  nevertheless  it  is 
obligatory  on  Christians  to  meet  at  set  times  and  places,  to  bear  au 
outward  testimony  to  their  dependence  on  and  allegiance  to  the 
Author  of  their  lives  and  of  all  their  sure  mercies,  and  in  a  visible 
fellowship  to  strive  for  ability  to  ofi'er  unto  Him  that  worship  which 
He  seeks.  To  be  enabled  thus  to  worship  it  is  necessary  to  wait  in 
the  silence  of  all  flesh  on  the  gift  of  Divine  Grace  bestowed,  that  so 
through  its  assistance  an  offering  may  be  prepared  —  of  whatever 
kind  it  may  be  —  that  will  be  accepted  by  the  Father,  through  the 
mediation  of  the  great  High  Priest  of  the  new  covenant.  "  The 
preparation  of  the  heart  in  man,  and  the  answer  of  the  tongue  is  of 
the  Lord."  This  is  equally  necessary  for  those  who  minister  as  for 
any  other  member  of  a  congregation.  Their  worship,  if  acceptable, 
must  be  performed  in  the  same  way,  and  if  called  to  minister,  they 
must  wait  on  the  great  Head  of  the  church  to  know  when  and 
what  to  sijcak.     He  alone  knows  the  various  conditions  of  those 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  61 

present,  and  Avliat  food  is  convenient  for  the  states  addressed.  "  For 
what  man  knoweth  the  thiugs  of  a  man  save  the  spirit  of  man 
which  is  in  him  ?  even  so  the  things  of  God  knoweth  no  man,  hut 
the  Spirit  of  God."  .  .  .  .  "  Which  things  also  we  speak,  not  in  the 
words  which  man's  wisdom  teacheth,  hut  which  the  Holy  Ghost 
teaeheth ;  comparing  spiritual  things  with  spiritual."  "  Likewise  the 
Spirit  also  helpeth  our  infirmities,  for  we  know  not  what  we  should 
pray  for  as  we  ought."  "I  will  pray  with  the  Spirit  and  I  will 
pray  with  the  understanding  also.  I  will  sing  with  the  Spirit  and 
with  the  understanding  also." 

A  blessing  is  promised  on  those  who  thus  wait  and  watch,  though 
silence  may  not  be  broken  by  preaching,  prayer  or  praise;  for  our 
vSaviour  declares,  speaking  of  those  servants  who  are  found  watch- 
ing :  "  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  He  will  make  them  sit  down  to 
meat,  and  will  come  forth  and  serve  them ; "  and  they  can  bear 
testimony  that  they  who  wait  upon  the  Lord  do  renew  their  spiritual 
strength. 

The  early  Friends  were  remarkable  for  their  diligent  reading  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  as  their  memoirs  or  journals  show,  and  their 
belief  was  firm  that  they  would  never  be  found  contradicting  the 
revelations  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  the  soul.  George  Whitehead  says, 
"  I  always  had  a  love  for  the  Bible  and  to  reading  therein,  from 
my  childhood  ;  yet  did  not  truly  understand,  nor  experience  those 
doctrines  essential  to  salvation,  nor  the  new  covenant  dispensation, 
until  my  mind  was  turned  to  the  Light 'of  Christ,  the  living  eternal 
Word,  the  entrance  whereof  giveth  light  and  understanding  to  the 
simple."  Nevertheless  he  found  the  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures 
which  he  had  obtained  prior  to  his  understanding  being  illuminated 
by  the  inshinings  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  of  much  advantage  to  him. 
He  therefore  advises,  "  I  would  not  liave  Christian  parents  remiss 
in  educating  and  causing  their  children  to  read  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures;  but  to  induce  them  both  to  learn,  and  frequently  to  read 
therein,  i.  e.  tlie  Bible." 

This  will  be  found  the  care  and  advice  of  the  early  Friends  gen- 
erally;  while  they  set  their  faces  like  a  Hint  against  any  undertak- 
ing to  expound  or  apply  them,  unless  they  knew  what  it  was  to  be 
brought  into  the  same  Spiiit  iliat  iiisj)ired  the  holy  men  who  wrote 
them. 

The  memorial  of  I)evo)ishire  Monthly  Meeting  concerning  George 
Whitehead,  dc'chires  that  "  He  was  one  whom  the  Lord  had  titly 
qualified  and  prepared  by  his  divine  power  and  Holy  Spirit,  for  the 


62  FRIEXDSINTHE 

work  wliereunto  he  was  called,  and  whereby  he  was  made  one  of  tho 
most  able  ministers  of  the  gosjiel  in  our  day." 

"  He  went  forth,  travelling  on  foot  to  preach  the  Truth  in  several 
of  the  midland  counties,  and  on  one  occasion,  nearly  all  the  persons 
composing  the  meeting  which  he  was  addressing  were  convinced 
through  his  lively  testimony  and  prayer."  He  travelled  through 
Norfolk  and  Suflblk  when  in  the  nineteenth  year  of  his  age,  holding 
meetings,  at  which  many  were  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  princi- 
ples held  by  Friends  and  joined  the  Society.  When  at  Norwich  he 
was  opposed  by  an  Antinoraian,  who  "  pleaded  for  sin  to  continue 
even  iu  the  best  of  saints."  G.  Whitehead  says,  "  By  the  Lord's 
help  I  stood  over  him  and  his  perverse  gainsayings,  to  his  confusion." 

In  1654  he  was  at  a  phu^e  called  Diss,  iu  Norfolk,  where,  with 
others,  William  Barber  was  convinced  by  him ;  of  whom  he  long 
after  speaks  as  "  our  ancient  and  faithful  Friend  William  Barber," 
and  at  the  same  time  alluding  to  his  wife  saj's,  "I  observed  the 
Lord  endued  her  with  much  patience,  considering  the  great  and 
long  suffering  her  husband  endured,  by  imprisonment  in  Norwich 
Castle /or  the  space  of  twenty  years  or  more;  chiefly  for  non-pay- 
ment of  tithes  to  an  old  pi'iest  of  the  parish  ;  who  appeared  implaca- 
bly malicious  in  his  prosecution,  or  rather  persecution  and  revenge." 

Believing  it  was  required  of  him  by  his  divine  Master  to  go  to 
what  was  called  Peter's  church  in  Norwich,  after  the  priest  had  got 
through,  G.  Whitehead  began  to  speak,  but  was  soon  stopped,  and 
greatly  abused  by  the  congregation,  who,  endeavoring  to  pull  him  in 
different  directions  at  the  same  time,  so  strained  him  that  he  suffered 
great  pain  ;  but  he  says  he  was  healed  in  a  few  days.  The  mayor 
after  questioning  him  in  relation  to  water  baptism,  committed  him 
to  prison,  though  there  was  no  charge  against  him.  In  the  jail  he 
found  two  other  ministering  Friends  who  had  been  committed  a 
few  days  before,  because  of  their  having  preached  repentance  and 
amendment  of  life  in  the  market-place,  and  through  the  country 
around.  The  jailer  was  avaricious  and  cruel,  and  because  the 
Friends  would  not  comply  with  his  extortionate  demands,  they  were 
obliged  "To  lodge  upon  the  bare  boards  of  the  floor,  in  our  wearing 
clothes,  and  little  covering  besides;  and  thus  we  lodged  for  eight 
weeks  together  in  the  cold  winter,  and  though  we  endured  much 
cold,  yet  were  we  through  the  Lord's  mercy  generally  2:)reservexl  in 
health."  To  estimate  the  cruelty  which  could  inflict  such  suffering, 
it  must  be  remembered  that  G.  Whitehead  w'as  then  but  a  lad,  and 
naturally  of  a  weakly  constitution. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  63 

When  brought  before  Judge  Cock  at  the  evening  session  of  the 
court,  he  was  so  much  incensed  at  the  Friends  for  coming  in  his 
presence  with  their  liats  on,  that  though  they  plead  having  not  broken 
any  law,  and  that  wearing  their  hats  was  not  out  of  disrespect,  but 
because  they  were  restrained  by  their  religious  principles  from  un- 
covering their  heads  as  a  token  of  reverence,  except  to  Almighty  God, 
he  positively  refused  to  give  them  relief  John  Bolton,  who  had 
made  profession  with  Friends  but  shortly  before,  commiserating  the 
condition  of  the  two  Friends,  and  standing  just  behind  them,  allowed 
his  kind  feelings  to  overcome  his  sense  of  right,  and  suddenly 
pulled  oif  their  hats,  hoping  thereby  to  pacify  the  Judge ;  neverthe- 
less the  latter  remanded  them  to  their  cold  and  comfortless  prison. 
But  J.  Bolton  was  soon  sorely  troubled  for  what  he  had  done,  and 
though  off  his  guard  for  the  moment,  being  sincere  and  conscien- 
tious, he  could  not  rest  until  he  had  gone  back  into  the  court,  openly 
confessed  how  wrong  he  had  acted  in  taking  off"  the  Friends'  hats,  and 
severely  condemned  himself  therefor.  To  this  the  Judge  replied 
thus,  "  He  thought  what  John  had  done,  would  not  hold  with  the 
Quakers'  principle;"  thus  showing  he  was  fully  aware  that  the  not 
uncovering  the  head  was  from  a  conscientious  motive. 

The  Judge  however,  without  further  trial,  discharged  the  two 
Friends,  but  the  jailer,  under  pretence  of  having  commenced  an 
action  for  debt  due  for  lodging,  still  kept  them  in  the  same  way  as 
before,  for  eight  weeks  longer,  when  he  dying,  they  were  allowed  to 
go  free,  and  G.  Whitehead  remarks,  "  So  the  Lord  delivered  us  by 
removing  our  unmerciful  oppressor."     [1654.] 

When  Magistrates  and  Judges,  who  were  sworn  to  dispense  justice 
ai)d  equity  without  partiality,  were  so  utterly  regardless  of  the  com- 
mon rights  of  their  fellow  countrymen  as  to  refuse  to  hear  their 
cause,  to  give  them  a  knowledge  of  the  law  which  they  were  told 
had  been  broken,  or  to  bring  their  accusers  face  to  face  with  them, 
and  often  fined  and  imprisoned  them  for  not  complying  with  their 
own  illegal  demands,  it  was  to  be  expected  that  their  inferior  officers 
and  the  jailers,  like  the  one  who  imj)risoned  G.  Whitehead  and  com- 
panions of  his  own  will,  would  follow  the  example  set  them,  and 
often  practice  on  their  prisoners  such  unrestrained  cruelty  as  their 
persecuting  spirits  prompted  them  to.  Ilencc  it  was  a  fre(iuent 
occurren(;e  that  Friends  were  kept  in  jail  to  gratify  the  malice  of 
the  jailers,  and  while  witiiiii  thiir  power,  were  beaten  by  tluMU  uii- 
mcn'ifiilly  witliout  any  redress  being  within  reach. 

William  Dcwshury  being  at  York  in  1054,  was   charged  with 


64  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

being  a  seducer  of  the  people,  and  witli  being  suspected  of  blasphemy, 
and  breaking  the  peace  of  tlie  nation  by  })roniulgating  principles 
contrary  to  the  Gospel ;  Judge  Wyndham  hiiving  issued  the  war- 
rant for  his  apprehension  while  sitting  on  tlie  bench.  William  had 
gone  to  Tliolthrope  and  was  sitting  quietly  in  a  meeting  there,  when 
a  constable  rushed  in  and  thrust  at  him  twice  with  an  iron  fork, 
evidently  with  the  intention  of  maiming  or  killing  him.  William 
says,  "  The  Lord  by  his  power  chained  him  and  hindered  his  bloody 
intent ;"  and  by  some  means  he  failed  to  execute  the  warrant. 
Another  however  Avas  procured,  and  the  house  wherein  William  and 
his  friends  were  staying,  was  surrounded  after  midnight  by  the 
people  of  the  town  with  the  high  constable  at  their  head,  and  the 
doors  and  windows  attacked  with  great  fury ;  they  being  determined 
to  have  their  own  way  with  this  innocent  sei'vant  of  the  Lord. 
Having  dragged  hira  out  they  "  Urged  him  along  the  street,  shout- 
ing, from  one  ale  house  to  another,  until  they  found  one  open,"  where 
he  was  placed  under  the  guard  of  two  men,  and  in  the  morning,  with- 
out anything  being  proved  against  him,  was  committed  by  Jus- 
tice Dickenson  to  York  castle.  Here,  without  trial,  he  was  kept 
close  prisoner  four  months.  At  the  time  of  the  general  assizes  he 
was  brought  before  Judge  Wyndham,  when  his  friends  "  anxiously 
interceded  "  that  he  might  be  allowed  to  have  his  accusers  brought 
face  to  face  with  him  ;  telling  the  court  that  if  it  was  found  he 
had  broken  any  just  law,  they  were  willing  he  should  suffer  for  it. 
The  Judge  promised  that  William  should  have  a  fair  trial ;  but 
broke  his  word  ;  for  without  any  examination,  though  accused  of 
crimes  which  if  true  would  have  endangered  his  life,  and  though 
arrested  as  a  criminal  in  such  a  violent  manner,  after  proclamation 
being  made  that  if  any  one  had  any  thing  against  him,  to  speak,  he 
was  set  at  liberty. 

About  a  month  after,  while  preaching  to  a  large  congregation  at 
Derby,  he  was  seized  and  carried  before  the  General  Sessions  of  the 
town,  which  was  then  sitting.  One  of  the  Justices  said  to  him 
haughtily,  "  In  whose  presence  dost  thou  now  stand  ?  "  William 
replied  seriously,  "  In  the  presence  of  the  everlasting  God  :"  when 
the  jailer  was  at  once  ordered  to  put  him  in  prison  for  disturbing 
the  court.  Towards  night  the  mayor  sent  for  him  to  inquire  what 
he  came  to  do  I  He  answered,  "  To  declare  the  \vord  of  the  Lord  to 
the  consciences  of  the  inhabitants  of  Derby."  The  mayor  then 
asked, "  If  he  would  go  out  of  the  town  ? "  William  replied,  "  When 
the  Lord  orders  me  to  go  forth,  then  I  shall  go;   till  then,  I  shall 


S  E  V  E  X  T  E  E  N  T  H    CENTURY.  65 

stay."  Beiug  told  that  if  he  would  go,  promising  not  to  return,  the 
|)rison  doors  should  be  open,  and  he  might  go,  he  replied,  "  He 
would  not  go  until  the  man  who  said  he  had  authority  to  put  him  in, 
came  by  the  same  authority  and  took  him  out."  He  was  sent  back 
to  prison  ;  but  not  long  after,  the  man  under  whose  charge  he  was 
sent  to  prison,  came  and  took  him  out.  Tliis  man  took  him  out  of 
the  town,  and  threatening  him  greatly  should  he  ever  return,  bade 
him  go.  But  William,  not  feeling  clear  of  the  place,  disregarded 
the  command  and  threatening,  and  returned  at  once,  staying  until 
he  felt  easy  to  leave. 

From  among  the  multitudes  that  had  been  convinced  throughout 
the  northern  shires  of  England,  there  were  now  a  goodly  number, 
both  men  and  women,  come  forth  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  qual- 
ified and  willing  to  preach  the  gosj^el  freely, 'and  to  bear  the  testi- 
mony the  Lord  gave  them  against  all  false  doctrines,  and  all  those 
who  sought  to  make  merchandise  of  what  they  called  the  gospel,  by 
preaching  for  hire.  As  several  of  those,  now  ministers  among 
Friends,  had  once  been  hireling  ministers  themselves,  who  had  given 
up  their  "  livings,"  and  where  they  could,  returned  the  money  re- 
ceived for  their  services,  they  knew,  by  experience,  the  difference 
between  their  former  commission  and  that  they  had  now  received  ; 
between  their  former  motives  for  preaching  and  the  spirit  that  now 
inspired  them,  as  well  as  the  difference  between  the  compensation 
they  once  obtained  for  their  "  service,"  and  that  which  was  now 
given  them  by  their  Lord  and  Master.  These  had  great  influence 
among  those  who  knew  them,  and  by  their  and  others'  unwearied 
labor  and  patient  suffering,  many  were  turned  to  the  Lord.  [1654.J 

Finding  such  large  numbers  were  turning  "  Quakers,"  to  the  great 
diminution  of  their  flocks,  the  priests  began  to  preach  vehemently 
against  them,  and  to  bring  many  false  charges  against  them  and  the 
doctrines  they  said  they  held  ;  particularly  for  what  they  alleged 
•was  a  blasphemous  assumption,  of  being  led  or  guided  by  the  Spirit 
of  Christ  dwelling  within  them.  As  Friends  declined  the  baptism 
of  water,  and  the  eating  of  bread  and  drinking  of  wine  at  the  Lord's 
supper,  they  were  declared  to  be  no  part  of  the  Church  of  Christ; 
and  a  strong  effort  Avas  made  to  associate  them  with  the  Ranters ; 
whose  notorious  impiety,  with  the  open  blasphemy  of  some  of  their 
members,  made  them  objects  of  aversion  to  most.  The  uncomi)ro- 
niising  faithfulness  with  which  Friends  bore  testimony  to  free,  un- 
paid gospel  ministry  ;  to  the  equality  of  the  members  of  the  Church 
of  Christ,  He  being  the  alone  Head  and  High  Priest  therein,  and 
5 


66  F  R  I  E  N  D  S    T  N    T  II  E 

all  the  members  truly  ba})ti/A'(l  l)y  the  Holy  Ghost  and  fire,  equally 
"A  choseu  generation,  a  royal  priesthood,  a  holy  nation,  a  peculiar 
people,"  and  that  the  Church  should  never  be  under  the  control  ot" 
the  secular  power;  striking,  as  it  did,  at  the  distinction  between 
clergy  and  laity,  and  cutting  away  the  foundation  on  which  the 
punishing  power  of  the"  hierarchy  rested,  induced  the  clergy  to  look 
upon  them  as  enemies;  who,  if  allowed  to  go  on  propagating  their  doc- 
trines and  converting  the  people  to  them,  would  finally  destroy  their 
craft,  and  take  away  the  means  for  maintaining  their  "Churches." 

They,  therefore,  not  only  spoke  most  bitterly  against  them,  but 
many  of  them  spared  not  whatever  means  was  in  their  power,  to 
exaggerate  the  prejudice  existing  in  the  community  towards  them, 
and  to  excite  the  populace  to  acts  of  violence,  if  thought  necessary, 
to  drive  them  from,  or  prevent  them  coming  into  their  respective 
neighborhoods.  Yet  these  were  the  people  who  had  fanned  the 
spirit  of  war  into  a  flame  throughout  the  kingdom;  waged  ostensibly 
to  secure  liberty  of  conscience,  and,  as  they  said,  to  break  up  the 
power  of  an  usurping  priesthood,  bent  upon  punishing  all  who  would 
not  conform  to  what  they  prescribed  as  the  true  religion,  or  who 
were  seeking  to  worship  God  in  another  manner  than  they  thought 
right.  Profession  of  religion  was  then  the  fashion  of  the  Court,  and 
what  were  considered  religious  exercises  occupied  the  attention  of 
priests  and  people,  in  much  sincerity  doubtless  by  some;  but  often 
as  a  cloak  to  cover  the  hypocrisy  of  others,  and  to  open  the  way  to 
preferment. 

They  longed  to  extirpate  what  they  branded  as  heresy,  and  to 
stop  the  mouths  of  all  who  presumed  to  call  in  question  the  doc- 
trines they  preached,  or  to  deny  the  validity  of  their  claims,  rightly 
to  possess  the  power  and  functions  they  exercised.  But  Cromwell 
and  his  council  had  ordained,  "  That  none  be  compelled  to  conform 
to  the  public  religion  by  penalties  or  otherwise,  but  that  endeavors 
be  used  to  win  them  by  sound  doctrine  and  the  example  of  a  good 
conversation."  "  That  such  as  profess  faith  in  God  by  Jesus  Christ, 
though  differing  in  judgment  from  the  doctrine  and  discipline  pub- 
licly held  forth,  shall  not  be  restrained  from,  but  shall  be  protected 
in  the  profession  of  their  faith,  and  the  exercise  of  their  religion  ; 
so  as  they  abuse  not  this  liberty  to  the  civil  injury  of  others,  and  to 
the  actual  disturbance  of  the  public  peace  on  their  parts."  f  opery, 
Prelacy,  and  licentiousness  under  profession  of  rt^ligion,  were  ex- 
cluded from  the  benefit  of  these  provisions. 

This  should  have  tied  the  hands  of  those  who  were  prepared  and 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CENTURY.  67 

anxious  to  punish  Friends  for  their  religious  faith  ;  but  as  has  been 
already  shown,  and  as  will  be  further  seen,  provisions  of  law  were 
altogether  powerless  to  restrain  either  justices  or  priests,  when  their 
passions  and  prejudices  urged  them  to  inflict  penalties  of  the  severest 
kind  on  the  hated  "  Quakers ;"  who  would  persist  in  acting  accord- 
ing to  the  dictates  of  the  Monitor  within,  and  stood  as  unyielding 
witnesses  to  what  they  believed  to  be  the  truth  as.it  is  in  Jesus. 

There  were,  however,  three  enactnients  standing  on  the  statute 
book,  which  furnished  means  whereby  Friends  might  be  made  to 
suffer  under  color  of  law,  if  courts  could  be  found  pliant  enough  to 
disregard  equity  in  carrying  out  the  letter. 

One  was  imposing  severe  penalties  against  blasphemy ;  but  not 
defining  exactly  what  was  to  be  considered  blasphemous.  Another 
was  making  every  suspicious  person  liable  to  have  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  Government  tendered  him,  and  to  be  punished 
severely  if  he  refused  to  take  it;  and  the  third,  continuing  the 
imposition  of  tithes  and  the  laws  for  collecting  them,  until  the  gov- 
ernment should  provide  some  other  means  of  support  for  the 
ministers. 

These  old  statutes  were  largely  employed  by  the  persecutors  of 
Friends,  before  Parliament  enacted  any  laws  directed  specially 
against  the  Quakers. 

1652.  It  was  determined  by  a  number  of  priests,  if  possible,  to  bring 
George  Fox  under  the  punishment  imposed  by  the  first  of  these 
laws.  He  and  James  Naylor  had  been  at  a  meeting  in  Cockan, 
where  a  man  had  tried  to  shoot  the  former,  snapping  a  pistol  at 
him  ;  which,  however,  he  could  not  get  to  go  off.  After  the  meeting 
they  crossed  to  Walney  Island,  lying  between  Morecambe  bay  and 
the  estuary  of  the  little  river  Duddon  in  Lancashire.  The  next 
morning  going  in  a  boat  to  James  Lancaster's,  so  soon  as  George 
Fox  landed,  about  forty  men  attacked  him,  with  staves,  clubs,  and 
fishing-poles,  beating  him,  and  endeavoring  to  force  him  into  the 
water ;  but  as  he  pressed  on  to  pass  through  them,  they  knocked 
him  down  insensible.  James  Lancaster,  who  had  been  convinced 
by  him,  threw  himself  over  George's  body  to  shield  him  from  the 
blows  ;  but  his  wife,  who  had  been  persuaded  to  believe  that  George 
had  bewitched  her  husband,  was  busily  engaged  in  throwing  stones 
at  his  face.  After  regaining  consciousness  he  attempted  to  rise,  but 
was  beaten  down  again  and  thrust  into  the  boat;  which  J.  Lancas- 
t-er  seeing,  got  in  likewise  and  rowed  to  the  other  side. 

Landing  at  the  little  town  again,  the  people  here  made  a  furious 


68  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

attack  upon  him  with  "  pitchforks,  flails,  and  staves,"  determined 
that  he  should  not  stay  in  the  town  ;  crying  out  "  Kill  him  ;  knock 
liim  on  tiie  hea<l ;  bring  a  cart  and  carry  him  away  to  the  church- 
yard." Thus  they  drove  him  out  of  the  town  ;  when,  J.  Lancaster 
having  left  him  to  go  after  J.  Naylor,  who  had  also  been  dreadfully 
beaten,  George  went  to  a  ditch  and  washed  himself,  and  made  out 
to  walk  to  the  house  of  a  priest,  who  had  been  convinced  of  the 
truth  as  held  by  Friends.  Margant  Fell  hearing  of  his  being  there 
and  that  he  was  so  badly  bruised  he  could  hardly  speak,  sent  a 
horse  for  him  to  ride  on  to  Swarthmoor;  which  he  made  out  to  ac- 
complish, though  not  witliout  suffering  great  pain.  Judge  Fell  on 
couiing  home,  and  hearing  what  had  befallen  George  on  the  island 
and  in  the  town,  issued  warrants  for  the  apprehension  of  the  rioters  ; 
many  of  whom  fled  that  part  of  the  country,  and  George  Fox,  de- 
clining to  give  information  against  any,  because,  as  he  told  the 
Judge,  their  cruel  conduct  was  the  legitimate  fruit  of  their  priest's 
teaching,  the  matter  was  dropped. 

1G52.  A  large  number  of  priests  having  combined  together  for  the 
purpose  of  having  G.  Fox  tried  on  the  charge  of  blasphemy,  he  went 
voluntarily  to  the  session  of  the  court  at  Lancaster,  where  the  indict- 
ment was  found  against  him.  There  were  on  the  bencli  Judge  Fell, 
Justices  Benson,  Sawrey,  and  Thompson,  and  one  Colonel  West. 
About  forty  priests  appeared  as  his  prosecutors,  who  had  cho.sen  one 
of  their  number  named  Marshal  to  be  their  s[)okesman.  A  young 
priest  and  two  sons  of  priests  were  the  witnesses,  who  had  all  sworn 
to  having  heard  G.  Fox  utter  blasphemy.  After  the  case  was  opened, 
the  witnesses  were  examined.  Marshal  conducting  the  taking  of 
evidence,  and  giving  his  explanation  of  their  testimony. 

But  the  witnesses  were  so  confused  and  contradictory  to  their  state- 
ments, that  it  became  evident  they  were  not  keeping  to  the  truth. 
One  having  been  examined,  when  another  was  giving  his  evidence, 
he  became  so  at  a  loss  that  he  could  not  go  on,  and  said  "  The  other 
could  say  it."  The  Judges  said  to  him,  "Have  you  sworn  it,  and 
given  it  already  upcm  oath,  and  now  say  that  '  he  can  .say  it.'  It 
seems  you  did  not  hear  those  words  spoken  yourself,  though  you  have 
sworn  it." 

The  following  is  taken  from  the  journal  of  George  Fox:  "There 
were  then  in  court  several  who  had  been  at  that  meeting,  wherein 
the  witnesses  swore  I  spoke  those  blasphemous  words  which  the 
priest  accused  me  of;  and  these  being  men  of  integrity  and  reputa- 
tion in  the  country,  did  declare  and  affirm  in  court,  that  the  oath, 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  69 

■which  the  witnesses  had  taken  against  me,  was  altogether  false ;  and 
that  no  such  words  as  they  had  sworn  against  me  were  spoken  by 
me  at  that  meeting.  Indeed,  most  of  the  serious  men  of  that  side 
of  the  country,  then  at  the  sessions,  had  been  at  that  meeting,  and 
had  heard  me  both  at  that  and  other  meetings  also.  This  was  taken 
notice  of  by  Colonel  West,  who  being  a  justice  of  the  peace,  was  then 
upon  the  bench  ;  and  having  long  been  weak  in  body,  blessed  the 
Lord,  and  said,  the  Lord  had  healed  him  that  day ;  adding,  that 
he  never  saw  so  many  sober  people  and  good  faces  together  in  all 
his  life.  Then  turning  himself  to  me,  he  said  in  the  open  sessions, 
'  George,  if  thou  hast  anything  to  say  to  the  people,  thou  mayest 
freely  declare  it.'  I  was  moved  of  the  Lord  to  speak :  and  as  soon 
as  I  began,  priest  Marshal,  the  orator  for  the  rest  of  the  priests, 
went  his  way.  That  which  I  was  moved  to  declare,  was  this:  "That 
the  Holy  Scriptures  were  given  forth  by  the  Spirit  of  God ;  and  all 
people  must  first  come  to  the  Spirit  of  God  in  themselves,  by  which 
they  might  know  God  and  Christ,  of  whom  the  prophets  and  apos- 
tles learnt,  and  by  the  same  Spirit  know  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  for 
as  the  Spirit  of  God  was  in  them  that  gave  forth  the  Scriptures, 
so  the  same  Spirit  must  be  in  all  them  that  come  to  understand  the 
Scriptures.  By  which  Spirit  they  raiglit  have  fellowship  with  the 
Father,  with  the  Son,  with  the  Scriptures,  and  with  one  another:  and 
without  this  Spirit  they  can  know  neither  God,  Christ,  nor  the  Scrip- 
tures, nor  have  a  right  fellowship  one  with  another.'  I  had  no  sooner 
spoken  these  words,  but  about  half  a  dozen  priests,  that  stood  behind 
me,  burst  into  a  passion.  One  of  them,  whose  name  was  Jackus, 
amongst  other  things  that  he  spake  against  the  truth,  said,  that 
the  Spirit  and  the  letter  were  inseparable.  I  replied,  *  Then  every 
one  that  hath  the  letter,  hath  the  Spirit;  and  they  might  buy  the 
Spirit  with  the  letter  of  tiie  Scriptures.'  Tiiis  plain  discovery  of 
darkness  in  the  priest  moved  Judge  Fell  and  Colonel  West  to  re- 
prove them  openly,  and  tell  them,  that  according  to  that  position, 
they  might  carry  the  Spirit  in  their  pockets  as  they  did  the  Scrip- 
tures. Upon  this,  the  priests,  being  confounded  and  put  to  silence, 
rushed  out  in  a  rage  against  the  justices,  because  they  could  not 
liave  their  bloody  ends  upon  me.  The  justices,  seeing  the  witnesses 
did  not  agree,  and  perceiving  they  were  brought  to  answer  the  priests' 
envy,  and  finding  that  all  their  evidences  were  not  sufficient  in  law 
to  make  good  their  charges  against  me,  discharged  me.  And  after 
Judge  Fell  had  spoken  to  Justice  Sawrey  and  Justice  Thompson 
concerning  the  warrant  tlic-y  had  given  forth  against  me,  and  showing 


70  FRIENDSIXTIIE 

them  the  errors  thereof,  lie  and  Colonel  West  granted  a  supersedeas 
to  stop  the  execution  of  it.  Thus  I  was  cleared  in  open  sessions  of 
those  lyinir  acfusations  which  the  malicious  priests  had  laid  to  my 
charge ;  and  multitudes  of  people  praised  God  that  day,  for  it  was  a 
joyful  day  to  many.  Justice  Benson,  of  Westmoreland,  was  con- 
vinced ;  and  Major  Ripan,  mayor  of  the  town  of  Lancaster,  also." 
Under  a  sense  of  the  wickedness  of  some  of  the  justices  who  were 
most  active  in  persecuting  Friends,  and  of  those  priests  who  incited 
them  and  the  people  to  treat  them  with  such  barbarity  as  took  place 
on  some  occasions,  George  Fox  addressed  them  individually,  by 
letters  containing  serious  exhortations  to  a  different  course,  and 
solemn  warnings  of  the  consequences,  if  they  persisted  in  the  same 
evil  way  they  had  been  pursuing.  He  also  published  a  warning  to 
the  people  of  Ulverstoue,  and  the  neighborhood  of  Swarthmoor. 
This  was  in  1652. 


CHAPTER  V. 


Stories  respecting  G.  Fox  —  Publications  against  Friends  —  .John  Camm —  Con- 
vincements  —  Bristol  —  Persecution  —  Charged  with  being  Catliolics  —  Bar- 
bara Blaugdone —  Cruelly  "Whipped— Two  die  at  Bristol  of  the  Punishment 
inflicted  —  Introduction  of  Friends  into  London  —  Meetings  set  up  there  —  E. 
Burrough  and  the  Wrestler — W.  Crouch's  testimony  respecting  E.  Bur- 
rough's  Preaching  —  Extracts  from  Letters  —  Glimpse  of  the  Work  —  Bull- 
and-Mouth  —  Advice  of  G.  Fox  about  Meetings  —  Convinceiuent  in  O.  Crom- 
well's Family  —  liobert  Widders  —  Richard  Hubberthorn  —Persecution  at 
Oxford  —  G.  Fox  at  Booties  —  In)prisoument  of  G.  F.  at  Carlisle  —  Singing 
—  Convincement  of  James  Parnell  —  Suflerings  and  death  of  .J.  Parnell. 

NOTWITHSTANDING  the  persecution  and  suffering  almost 
continually  attending  membership  with  Friends,  throughout 
the  northern  parts  of  England,  large  numbers  continued  to  be  added 
to  them.  There  were  many  foolish  stories,  intended  to  operate  ou 
the  superstitious  notions  of  the  ignorant,  widely  circulated,  relative 
to  George  Fox ;  as  that  he  was  seen  at  two  different  places  many 
miles  asunder  at  nearly  the  same  time,  sometimes  on  a  great  black 
horse,  and  sometimes  without  any  apparent  means  of  locomotion  ; 
that  he  never  laid  down  ou  a  bed  ;  that  it  was  impossible  to  draw 
blood  from  him ;  aud  that  those  who  came  about  him  were  bewitched 
by  him.  From  all  this  it  was  asserted  to  be  evident  that  he  Avas  a 
wizard,  and  that  those  who  joined  with  him  would  come  to  nought 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  71 

in  the  course  of  a  short  time.  Still  the  people  flocked  to  hear  him 
and  his  faithful  coadjutors,  and  it  Avas  rarely  a  meeting  was  held, 
whether  of  their  own,  or  among  others,  that  some  were  not  brought 
to  confess  that  the  power  of  the  Lord  was  manifestly  among  them, 
and  to  be  willing  to  take  part  with  them  in  their  afflictions,  if  they 
might  also  share  with  them  in  the  blessed  assurance  that  they  were 
building  on  Christ  Jesus,  the  foundation  of  many  generations  of  the 
righteous. 

Many  books  and  pamphlets  denouncing  Friends  were  written  and 
published,  containing  grievous  charges  against  them,  and  false  rep- 
resentations of  the  doctrines  they  were  said  to  have  preached ;  but 
as  these  were  at  once  replied  to  by  some  one  or  more  of  their  num- 
ber, and  the  untruth  or  unfairness  of  what  was  alleged,  exposed, 
while  their  religious  belief  and  their  Christian  practices  were  fully 
and  fairly  stated,  these  attacks  proved  a  means  of  informing  the 
unprejudiced  and  propagating  the  principles  held  by  Friends. 

The  northern  parts  of  England  had  by  this  time  been  thoroughly 
visited,  by  those  who  felt  themselves  called  to  preach  what  they  be- 
lieved to  be  primitive  Christianity ;  and  the  feet  of  several  of  those 
zealous  preachers  were  turned  towards  other  parts  of  the  nation.  In 
1654,  John  Audland  and  Thomas  Airey  went  to  Bristol,  where  they 
were  soon  joined  by  John  Caram.  The  latter  was  born  in  Westmore- 
land, was  of  a  good  family,  and  had  been  religiously  inclined  from 
his  youth.  He  was  one  of  Geo.  Fox's  converts,  and  having  em- 
braced the  truth  from  heartfelt  conviction,  and  been  made  willing 
to  yield  obedience  to  its  requirings,  he  grew  therein,  and  became  an 
eminent  minister  of  the  gospel.  They  had  many  meetings  among 
the  Baptists  and  Independents  living  in  the  town,  and  also  preached 
to  large  gatherings  of  people  in  the  immediate  neighborhood.  Many 
were  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  doctrines  they  declared;  among 
whom  were  Josiah  Colo,  George  Bishop,  Charles  Marshall  and 
Barbara  Blaugdone,  who  afterwards  became  distinguished  members 
in  the  Society. 

Charles  Marshall,  speaking  of  the  great  exercise  the  converts  in 
Bristol  passed  througli,  when  aroused  to  a  sense  of  tlieir  lost  condition 
l)y  this  elicctual  preaching,  and  setting  in  earnest  to  experience  recon- 
ciliation and  regeneration,  says :  "  Oh  !  the  tears,  sighs  and  groans, 
treiii])lings  and  mournings,  at  the  sight  of  the  middle  wall  of  i)arti- 
tion  that  we  then  saw,  in  our  awakened  states,  that  stood  betwccui 
us  and  the  Lord  ;  and  in  the  sight  and  sense  of  our  s})iritual  wants 
and   necessities Oh  !  the  strip[)ings  of  all  needless  apparel. 


72  FRIENDSINTHE 

and  the  forsaking  of  superfluities  in  nicuts  and  drinlvs  ;  Ibr  we  walked 
in  a  plain,  self-denying  ])atli ;  liaviufr  the  fear  and  di'ead  of  God  on 
our  souls,  and  being  afraid  of  otiendiny  in  word  or  deed.  Our  words 
were  few  and  savory,  our  apparel  and  houses  plain,  being  stripjjed 
of  superfluities;  our  countenances  grave,  and  deportment  weighty 
among  those  we  had  to  do  with." 

F.  Howgill  and  E.  Burrough,  having  come  into  Bristol,  the  mag- 
istrates commanded  them  to  leave  the  city ;  but  when  brought 
before  them  they  replied,  that  as  they  were  free-born  Englishmen, 
and  had  broken  no  law,  they  intended  to  remain  until  the  same 
sense  of  duty  that  had  brought  them  there,  called  them  away.  Find- 
ing they  could  not  be  legally  expelled,  some  of  the  magistrates  and 
priests  incited  the  populace  to  drive  the  Friends  away  by  violence.  J. 
Audland  and  J.  Camm,  intending  to  have  a  meeting  at  Brislington, 
two  miles  from  Bristol,  started  to  go  there;  but  were  met  at  the 
bridge  by  an  infuriated  rabble,  who,  crying  out  "  kill  them,  knock 
them  down,  or  hang  them,"  made  a  violent  assault  upon  them  ;  so 
that  they  narrowly  escaped  with  their  lives,  and  were  forced  to  go 
l)ack  into  the  city.  The  mob  strove  to  get  possession  of  the  two 
Friends,  in  order  to  execute  their  murderous  designs  upon  them  ; 
but,  by  the  courageous  efforts  of  one  of  those  who  had  been  convinced 
by  them,  they  were  got  into  his  house,  and  thus  protected  from  the 
attempted  violence,  though  the  infuriated  multitude  threatened  to 
pull  the  house  down.  Several  of  those  who  had  been  convinced  and 
joined  Friends,  were  thrown  into  jail.  Elizabeth  Marshall  having 
spoken  to  the  priest  after  he  had  dismissed  the  congregation,  the 
magistrates  encouraged  the  people  to  assault  her,  which  they  did, 
giving  her  many  blows  with  their  canes  and  cudgels. 

Great  hatred  and  distrust  of  the  Roman  Catholics  existed  at  that 
time  in  the  minds  of  the  common  people,  and  the  magistrates  of 
Bristol,  hoping  to  make  these  feelings  contribute  towards  discredit- 
ing the  Quakers,  issued  a  warrant,  in  which  they  said,  "  Forasmuch 
as  information  hath  been  given  us  upon  oath,  that  certain  persons  of 
the  Franciscan  order  in  Rome,  have  of  late  come  over  into  England, 
and  under  the  notion  of  Quakers,  drawn  together  several  multitudes 
of  people  in  London  ;  and  whereas,  certain  strangers  going  under 
the  names  of  John  Camm,  John  Audland,  George  Fox,  James  Nay- 
lor,  Francis  Howgill,  and  Edward  Burrough,  and  others  unknown, 
have  lately  resorted  to  this  city,  and  in  like  manner,  under  the  no- 
tion of  Quakers,  drawn  multitudes  of  people  after  them,  and  occa- 
sioned vei-y  great  disturbancas  amongst  us ;  and  forasmuch  as  by 


SEVEXTEENTH    CENTURY.  73 

the  said  information  it  appeareth  to  us  to  be  very  probable,  and 
much  to  be  suspected,  that  the  said  persons  so  lately  come  hither, 
are  some  of  those  that  came  from  Rome,  as  aforesaid ;  these  are 
therefore,  in  the  name  of  his  highness,  the  Lord  Protector,  to  will 
and  require  you  to  make  diligeut  search  through  your  ward  for  the 
aforesaid  strangers,  or  any  of  them,  and  all  other  suspected  persons, 
and  to  apprehend  and  bring  them  before  us,  or  some  of  us,  to  be  ex- 
amined and  dealt  with  according  to  law  ;  hereof  fail  you  not."  [16o4.] 

This  spirit  of  persecution  prevailed  in  Bristol  for  many  years, 
inflicting  grievous  wrongs  and  sufferings  on  the  peaceable  and  inof- 
fensive Friends ;  who,  however,  amid  it  all,  kept  steadily  to  their 
meetings  and  their  profession,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  their 
number  increase,  and  the  testimony  they  bore  to  the  truth  gain  more 
and  more  place  with  the  religiously  minded  people. 

Barbara  Blaugdoue,  who  was  one  of  the  early  converts  at  Bristol, 
was  a  school-mistress ;  but  when  she  became  a  plain  Friend,  her 
pupils  were  taken  from  her,  and  shortly  after,  for  speaking  in  one 
of  the  "  churches"  against  the  formalities  practised,  she  was  im- 
prisoned for  three  months.  Sometime  after,  at  Marlborough,  for 
exhorting  the  people  to  fear  God,  she  was  again  imprisoned  for  six 
weeks.  On  being  released,  she  went  to  the  magistrate  who  had 
committed  her  and  so  spoke  to  him  that,  he  afterwards  confessed  to 
her,  he  was  convinced  her  doctrines  were  true,  though  he  flinched 
from  taking  up  the  cross  and  openly  adhering  to  them. 

Feeling  it  laid  upon  her  to  go  to  the  house  of  the  Earl  of  Bath, 
where  she  had  often  spent  much  time  with  his  family  in  vain  amuse- 
ments, and  warn  them  against  such  indulgences,  the  servant,  who 
knew  her,  sent  her  to  the  back  of  the  house,  where  a  mastiff  dog 
was  set  on  her.  The  savage  beast  came  bounding  towards  her,  but 
suddenly  turned  away,  yelping,  and  did  her  no  harm;  which 
Barbara  ascribed  to  the  immediate  interposition  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence. The  wife  of  the  Earl  came  to  her,  listened  to  her  exhorta- 
tion and  thanked  her,  but  asked  her  not  into  the  house,  though  they 
had  once  been  on  intimate  terms. 

At  Great  Torrington,  having  spoken  to  the  people  in  their 
"  church,"  she  was  arrestcnl  and  taken  before  the  mayor,  who  seemed 
very  loth  to  send  her  to  prison.  But  the  priest  was  bent  on  having 
lier  punished,  saying  she  ought  to  be  vvhi})ped  as  a  vagabond.  She 
bid  liim  j)rove  that  she  had  ever  asked  for  bread.  As  he  could  not 
do  this,  he  insisted  that  she  had  broken  tlie  law  by  speaking  in  the 
"church,"  and  so  urged  the  mayor,  that  finally  he  committed  her 


74  FRIENDSIXTHE 

to  Exetor  jail,  wliich  was  twriity  miles  off.  When  the  assizes  came 
round,  she  was  not  brought  to  trial  ;  but  when  the  session  was  over 
the  sheriff  came  with  a  beadle,  took  her  into  another  room,  and 
t'here  whipped  her  until  the  blood  ran  down  her  back.  She  never 
winced  as  the  blows  fell  on  her,  but  sang  aloud,  rejoicing  that  she 
was  counted  worthy  to  suffer  in  the  Lord's  cause.  The  sheriff  ex- 
claimed, "  Do  you  sing  ?  I  '11  make  you  cry  by  and  by  !  "  He  tiien 
laid  on  with  increased  violence  ;  at  which  Ann  Speed,  who  was  with 
her,  began  to  weep  ;  but  Barbara  still  bore  the  torture  without  com- 
plaint, and  afterwards  said,  such  was  the  Divine  support  she  felt, 
that  she  believed  if  they  had  whipped  her  to  death,  she  would  not 
have  felt  dismayed.  The  sheriff  seeing  that  the  wrath  and  cruelty 
of  man  could  not  move  her,  bid  the  beadle  cease  striking  her,  and 
allowed  Ann  to  dress  her  lacerated  back.  The  next  day  she  was 
put  with  a  company  of  Gypsies  and  turned  out  of  the  town  ;  the 
sheriff  following  them  for  two  miles,  and  forbidding  lier  to  come 
back.  When  he  had  gone,  however,  Barbara  returned  and  went  to 
the  prison  to  visit  the  Friends  who  were  kept  there.  After  being 
with  them  for  some  time  she  returned  to  Bristol. 

It  would  extend  the  narrative  too  greatly  to  mention  even  a  few 
of  the  many  cases  of  personal  suffering  inflicted  on  Friends  in 
Bristol ;  those,  however,  of  Temperance  Hignell  and  George  Har- 
rison may  be  noticed  ;  the  former  of  whom  was  knocked  insensible 
for  speaking  reprovingly  to  a  priest,  and  while  in  that  condition  so 
grievously  beaten,  that  after  being  shut  up  in  jail,  she  had  to  be 
carried  out  in  a  basket,  and  in  two  days  died.  The  latter  was  kept 
in  jail  until  he  died. 

In  1654,  two  women  Friends,  the  name  of  one  of  whom  was 
Isabel  Buttery,  went  up  to  London  from  the  North  of  England ; 
carrying  with  them  an  address  written  and  printed  by  George  Fox, 
with  the  following  long  title,  "  To  all  that  would  know  the  way  to 
the  Kingdom,  whether  they  be  in  forms,  without  forms,  or  got  above 
all  forms,  a  direction  to  turn  your  minds  within,  where  the  voice  of 
God  is  to  be  heard,  whom  you  ignorantly  worship  as  afar  off;  and 
to  wait  upon  him  for  true  wisdom.  That  you  may  know  truth 
from  error,  the  Word  from  the  letter,  the  power  from  the  form,  and 
the  true  prophets  from  the  false  :  given  forth  by  one  of  those  whom 
the  World  in  scorn  calls  Quakers."  Without  seeing  the  contents 
of  the  pamphlet,  the  title  will  give  a  good  idea  of  the  doctrines  in- 
culcated in  it. 

This  pamphlet  was  distributed  by  the  two  women  Friends,  assisted 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  75 

by  two  brothers,  Simon  and  Robert  Dring  ;  who  lived  in  the  city, 
and  who  appear  to  have  been  convinced  of  the  doctrine  thus  pro- 
mulgated, as  they  opened  their  respective  houses  for  holding  meet- 
ings, for  all  who  inclined  to  assemble  there  for  the  purpose  of 
Divine  worship.  Although  I.  Buttery  is  said  to  have  occasionally 
spoken  a  few  words  in  these  meetings,  yet  they  were  generally  held  in 
silence.  For  distributing  the  pamphlet  in  "St.  Paul's  churchyard," 
on  a  First-day  evening,  1.  Buttery  and  a  maid-servant  of  R.  Dring's 
were  arrested,  carried  before  the  Lord  Mayor,  and  under  pretence 
of  having  broken  the  "Sabbath,"  were  committed  to  the  common 
jail,  where  vagabonds  and  common  street-walkers  were  usually  sent. 
How  long  they  were  kept  there  is  not  known. 

In  the  summer  of  this  year,  F.  Howgil,  E.  Burrough  and  Anthony 
Pearson — the  latter  of  whom  had  been  a  justice  of  the  peace — came 
to  London,  and  at  once  entered  on  the  religious  service  which  they 
believed  required  of  them  ;  occasionally  preaching  at  the  meetings 
of  Friends  already  established,  but  more  frequently,  at  meetings 
held  at  different  places ;  sometimes  in  churches,  sometimes  else- 
where, for  the  purpose  of  religious  inquiry  and  dispute,  to  which  all 
who  chose  might  go. 

London,  at  that  time  (1654),  was  a  walled  city,  with  no  entrances 
but  through  embattled  gates;  having  few  wide  or  large  streets, and 
few  stately  edifices  ;  the  most  of  the  houses  being  of  wood.  It  was  a 
common  practice  among  the  tradesmen  and  apprentices,  after  the 
labors  of  the  day  were  pretty  much  over,  to  go  out  into  the  fields 
that  surrounded  the  city  and  engage  in  games  of  various  kinds.  On 
one  occasion  of  the  kind  there  was  a  ccmtest  in  wrestling,  and  a 
strong,  well-trained  man,  who  had  already  been  victorious  over 
three  opponents,  stood  resting,  in  the  ring  formed  by  the  admiring 
crowd,  waiting  to  see  if  any  other  would  be  so  bold  as  to  confront 
him,  and  wrestle  for  the  prize.  No  one  appeared  to  dispute  his 
])rowess.  E.  Burrough,  who  happened  to  be  passing  at  the  time, 
and  had  stopped  among  the  spectators,  stepped  into  the  ring  as  though 
he  was  intending  to  engage  in  the  contest.  The  crowd,  as  well  as  the 
wrestler,  were  taken  by  surprise  at  seeing  a  young  man  of  such  ph\i!i 
appearance  and  serious  countenance,  place  himself  in  such  a  posi- 
tion, and  stood  wondering  what  would  l)e  the  issue.  But  Edwaid 
had  a  far  different  kind  of  wrestling  in  view  than  that  in  which  tliey 
were  interested  ;  even  to  wrestle  against  "  The  rulers  of  the  darkness 
of  this  world,  against  spiiitiuil  wickedness  in  high  places."  So  he 
began  at  once  to  address  the  motley  audience,  thun(U'ring  against  sin 


76  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

and  all  uiiriiilitcousness,  and  strivino-  to  turn  liis  hearers  from  dark- 
ness to  the  light  of  Christ  Jesus  the  Saviour,  and  from  the  power  of 
Satan  unto  (xod.  Such  was  the  engagin<^  manner  of  his  address, 
and  the  convincing  power  accompanying  the  doctrine  he  i)reache{l, 
tiuit  he  was  heard  l)y  that  mixed  multitude  with  becoming  quiet 
and  admiration,  and  some  were  convinced. 

Edward  was  so  noted,  even  in  that  day  of  dauntless  Christian 
courage,  for  righteous  zeal  and  supernatural  energy,  wdien  engaged 
in  the  exercise  of  the  gift  with  which  his  Master  had  entrusted  him, 
that  he  was  designated  "  A  son  of  thunder." 

William  Crouch,  who  was  a  resident  in  London,  speaking  of  E. 
Burrough  says,  "  He  was  a  man,  though  but  young,  of  undaunted 
courage;  the  Lord  set  him  above  the  fear  of  his  enemies,  and  I 
have  beheld  hira  filled  with  power  by  the  spirit  of  the  Lord ;  for 
instance  at  the  Buli-and-Mouth  ;  when  the  room,  which  was  very 
large,  hath  been  filled  with  people,  many  of  whom  had  been  in 
uproars,  contending  one  with  another;  some  exclaiming  against  tlie 
Quakers,  accusing  and  charging  them  with  heresy,  blasphemy, 
sedition  and  what  not;  that  they  were  deceivers  and  deluded  the 
people  ;  that  they  denied  the  holy  Scriptures  and  the  resurrection. 
Others  endeavoring  to  vindicate  them,  and  speaking  of  them  more 
favorably.  In  the  midst  of  all  whi(;h  noise  and  contention,  this 
servant  of  the  Lord  hath  stood  upon  a  bench,  with  his  Bible  in  his 
hand — for  he  generally  carried  one  about  him — speaking  to  the 
people  with  great  authority  from  the  words  of  John  vii.  12:  'And 
there  was  much  murmuring  among  the  people  concerning  him  (viz. 
Jesus)  for  some  said  he  is  a  good  man  ;  others  said  nay,  but  he  de- 
ceiveth  the  people.'  And  so  suitable  to  the  present  debate  amongst 
thera,  that  the  whole  multitude  were  overcome  thereby,  and  became 
exceedingly  calm  and  attentive,  and  departed  peaceably,  and  with 
seeming  satisfaction. 

While  diligently  pursuing  the  great  work  that  engaged  them  in 
London,  F.  Howgil  and  E.  Burrough  occasionally  addressed  letters 
to  Margaret  Fell,  some  extracts  from  which  will  give  a  little  insight 
of  the  manner  in  which  the  cause  prospered  in  their  hands. 

In  one,  dated  Fifth  mo.  29th,  1654,  speaking  of  the  deep  religious 
solicitude  they  constantly  feel,  under  a  sense  of  the  magnitude  and 
serious  character  of  the  work  assigned  them,  and  their  fervent  desire 
to  be  kept  faithful  and  bold,  with  wisdom  to  discern  what  to  spare 
and  what  to  destroy  ;  they  say,  "  We  have  three  meetings  or  more 
every  week,  very  large,  more  than  any  place  will  contain,  and  which 


SEVEXTEENTH    CENTURY.  77 

we  can  conveniently  meet  in.  Many  of  all  sorts  come  to  us,  and 
many  of  all  sects  are  convinced  ;  yea,  liundreds  do  believe  ;  and  by 
the  power  of  the  gospel  declared  among  them  is  the  witness  of  God 
raised,  which  shall  never  die.  There  are  some  brought  under  the 
power  exceedingly,  which  strikes  terror  into  the  hearts  of  many ; 
and  many  lie  under  true  judgment,  and  a  true  love  is  raised  up  in 
many,  and  the  time  of  redemption  to  many  is  drawing  nigh."  .  .  . 
"  Our  dear  brethren,  John  Audland  and  John  Camm,  went  from 
us  the  last  Sixth-day  out  of  tliis  city  towards  Oxford,  to  be  there 
the  last  First-day  :  our  hearts  were  broken  in  separating  one  from 
another,  for  our  lives  were  bound  up  in  one,  and  we  partake  of  one 
another's  sufferings  and  of  one  another's  joy.  We  received  letters 
every  week  from  the  prisoners  at  Chester ;  the  work  of  the  Lord 
goes  on  gloriously  in  that  county  ;  there  is  a  precious  seed  ;  and 
Anthony  Pearson  writes  to  us  of  tlie  like  in  the  county  of  Durham. 
It  is  even  our  reward  to  hear  that  the  Lord  is  raising  that  up  in 
power  which  was  sown  in  weakness."  ..."  Our  chiefest  care  is 
that  we  may  be  preserved  in  obedience,  in  power  and  in  wisdom  ; 
that  the  Lord  may  be  glorified  by  us." 

The  sufferings  of  Friends  at  Chester  were  often  very  severe.  The 
authorities  made  use  for  torture  of  an  excavation  in  a  rock,  called 
"  Little  Ease,"  of  which  the  following  description  is  given  in  Besse's 
Collection  of  Sufferings.  "  It  was  an  hole  hewed  out  in  a  rock  ;  the 
breadth,  and  cross  from  side  to  side  was  seventeen  inches  ;  from  the 
back  to  the  side  of  the  great  door  at  the  top,  seven  inches;  at  the 
shoulders,  eight  inches;  at  the  breast,  nine  inches  and  a  half;  from 
the  top  to  the  bottom,  one  yard  and  a  half;  with  a  device  to  lessen 
the  height,  as  they  are  minded  to  torment  the  person  put  in,  by 
draw-boards,  which  shoot  over  the  two  sides  to  a  yard  in  height  or 
thereabouts." 

Into  this  stone  case  prisoners  were  thrust,  and  there  kept  for 
hours,  or  until  their  tormentors  thought  they  had  suffered  as  much 
as  they  could  endure  and  live.  Friends,  both  men  and  women, 
were  repeatedly  subjected  to  this  barbarous  punishment,  and  a  min- 
ister, named  Richard  Sale,  who  was  so  corpulent  a  man  that  it  took 
four  men  to  force  his  body  into  the  hole,  was  so  greatly  injured 
thereby  that  he  soon  after  died  in  consequence. 

In  a  letter  from  F.  Howgil  to  Robert  Widders,  dated  about  a 
month  later  than  the  former,  he  says,  "  We  have  been  in  great 
service  contiuuully  since;  we  came  into  lliis  filliiy  place;:  Ise'rc;  is  the 
trimmed  liarlot,  llie  mystcrv  of  witchcnil't  ;  and  tlic  devil  rules  and 


78  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

is  head  in  all  sorts.  We  have  been  at,  the  most  eminent  Societies  in 
the  citv,  and  we  have  had  stroma  fif^htings  with  them  over  and  over, 
and  at  some  steeple-houses;  and  but  that  they  have  our  persons  in 
contempt,  they  say  none  speak  like  us ;  but  the  devil  will  not  stoop 
so  low.  We  have  two  or  three  meetings  in  a  week,  and  no  place 
large  enough  ;  so  tluit  we  are  much  put  to  it.  And  we  have  been 
guiiled  in  much  wisdom,  so  that  all  them  that  hate  us  have  nothing 
to  accuse  us  of,  as  of  tumults  or  disorder  in  the  least.  Some  wait 
to  entrap  us,  but  in  wisdom  we  are  guided." 

From  the  journals  and  letters  of  Friends  active  at  that  time,  the 
character  of  the  labors  undergone  by  the  Friends  in  London  can 
be  in  part  ascertained.     E.  Burrough  and  R.  Hubberthoru  being 
at  a  meeting  of  Baptists  held  in  the  "  Glasshouse,"  the  former  was 
allowed  to  speak  until  he  had  relieved  himself  of  the  exercise  that 
had  lain  upon  him  ;  but  Richard  addressing  the  congregation,  they 
became  excited  and  turned  him  out  of  the  house.     He  then  in  com- 
pany with  John  Camm  went  to  a  meeting  of  a  sect  called  "  Lockers," 
where  they  largely  declared  the  truths  of  the  gospel.  Anthony  Pearson 
and  F.  Howgil  on  the  same  day  repaired  to  a  meeting  of  those  called 
"  Waiters."  The  man  who  was  addressing  the  audience  stopped  when 
he  saw  the  Friends  enter,  and  F.  H.  began  to  preach  ;  opening  the 
doctrine  of  the  indwelling  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  heart  of  man, 
and  its  work  in  the  salvation  of  the  soul.     A  person  present,  who 
said  he  acknoAvledged  the  truth  of  the  doctrine,  drew  wrong  con- 
clusions from  it ;  which  aiforded  A.  P.  opportunity  to  illustrate  the 
doctrine  still    more  clearly  and  convincingly ;    and  E.  Burrough 
coming  in,  he  also  set  it  forth  in  its  scriptural  clearness  and  fulness. 
On  another  day  the  Friends  met  with  their  brethren  in  their  own 
meeting  houses ;  then  some  of  them  went  to  a  large  meeting  held  in 
a  place  called  Ely-House,  under  control  of  a  man  styled  the  Gov- 
ernor.    In  the  company  were  some  "  Ranters,"  one  of  whom  was 
speaking.    Edward  broke  in  on  his  unsavory  discourse  and  preached 
so  powerfully  that  he  convinced  several.    The  Ranter  followed  him, 
and  when  he  stopped,  F.  Howgil  addressed  the  assembly,  under  a 
similar  anointing  as  had  attended  E.  B.   The  Ranter  again  replied, 
and  in  the  conclusion  desired  the  audience  to  say  whether  he  had 
not  spoken  to  their  consciences  as  convincingly  as  the  two  Friends  ? 
to  which  the  people  with  one  consent  answered.  No.     At  an  ap- 
pointed meeting  held  in  a  meeting  house  of  Anabaptists,  where 
many  who  usually  met  there  attended,  the  gospel  labors  of  the 
Friends  proved  so  effectual,  that  a  large  portion  of  the  members 
seceded  from  the  congregation. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  79 

So  greatly  did  the  Lord  bless  his  word,  preached  in  the  demonstra- 
tion of"  the  Spirit  and  of  power,  that  in  about  four  months  the  Friends 
of  London  found  it  almost  impracticable  to  hold  their  own  meetings 
in  the  houses  they  then  had,  so  great  were  the  crowds  of  noisy  and 
rude  persons  who  came  to  them.  To  obviate  this  difficulty,  a  large 
meeting  house  was  provided,  —  known  as  the  Bull-and-Mouth, — 
which  would  hold  about  a  thousand  persons.  [1654.]  This  was 
used  for  public  meetings,  where  all  who  chose  might  attend  ;  while 
the  body  of  Friends  continued  to  hold  their  meetings  for  worship 
in  private  houses,  many  of  which  were  offered  by  members  for  the 
purpose. 

It  is  probable,  this  was  found  necessary  in  other  places  beside 
London,  and  it  explains  a  passage  in  one  of  George  Fox's  epistles, 
where  he  says,  '"  And  when  there  are  any  meetings  in  unbroken 
places,  ye  that  go  to  minister  to  the  world,  take  not  the  whole  meet- 
ing of  Friends  thither,  to  suffer  with  and  by  the  world's  spirit;  but 
let  Friends  keep  together,  and  wait  in  their  own  meeting-place; 
so  will  the  life  in  the  Truth  be  preserved  and  grow.  And  let  three, 
or  four,  or  six,  that  are  grown  up  and  are  strong  in  the  Truth,  go  to 
such  xmbroken  places,  and  thresh  the  heathenish  nature,  and  there  is 
true  service  for  the  Lord."  This  shows  how  careful  and  how  de- 
sirous he  was,  that  those,  newly  converted,  who  were  as  yet  but  babes 
in  Christ,  or  had  not  attained  to  that  stability  in  the  Truth  which 
would  enable  them  to  contend  for  its  doctrines  and  testimonies, 
should  be  kept  retired  in  Friends'  compai-atively  quiet  meetings  ; 
there  to  wait  upon  the  Lord,  in  the  silence  of  all  flesh,  to  experience 
their  spiritual  strength  increased. 

While  in  Loudon  at  this  time,  F.  Howgil  went  to  see  Oliver 
Cromwell  at  the  Court,  and  spoke  so  convincingly  to  him  and 
those  about  him,  that  two  who  heard  him,  afterwards  embraced  the 
faith  of  Friends,  and  joined  the  Society. 

The  Robert  Widders,  to  whom  the  last  letter  quoted  from  was 
addressed,  had  been  convinced  in  the  early  part  of  Geo.  Fox's  min- 
istry, and  like  his  brethren,  had  suffered  nnicli  for  his  integrity  and 
faithfulness  to  his  conscientious  convictions.  At  one  time  he  was 
so  unmercifully  beaten  in  a  "church"  yard,  that  he  lay  on  the 
ground  for  some  time  as  dead;  but  recovering,  he  went  seven  miles 
that  day  to  another  steeple-house ;  where  he  told  the  priest  that  "  the 
hand  of  the  Lord  was  against  him."  He  was  arrested,  and  before 
the  justice,  he  told  the  priest  he  was  in  the  spirit  of  persecution, 
which  he  denied;  but  directly  after  accused  Robert  of  having  stolen 


80  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

tlie  horse  he  rode  on,  and  said,  "  He  could  find  it  in  liis  lieart  to  be 
his  executioner  with  his  own  hands."  The  justice  having  made  out 
the  warrant  to  commit  him  to  prison  and  given  it  to  the  consta})le, 
asked  Robert,  by  what  autliority  or  power  he  came  to  seduce  and 
bewitch  tlie  peo])le?  To  whicli  he  replied,  "I  came  not  to  seduce 
and  bewitch  the  people;  but  I  came  in  that  power  which  shall  make 
thee,  and  all  the  powers  of  the  earth,  bend  and  bow  before  it' — the 
mighty  power  of  God."  While  Robert  thus  spoke,  the  power  alluded 
to  seemed  to  seize  upon  the  justice,  so  that  he  took  the  warrant  out 
of  the  constable's  hand,  and  permitted  Robert  to  go  on  his  way  [1 053], 
Active  and  zealous  a  minister  of  the  gospel  as  Richard  Ilubber- 
thorn  must  have  been,  and  highly  as  he  was  esteemed  by  Friends 
in  his  day,  there  ajipears  to  l)e  but  little  recorded  that  gives  infor- 
mation relative  to  his  early  days.  He  was  a  native  of  Lancashire, 
born  of  pious  and  respectable  parents,  and  from  his  youth  was  seri- 
ous and  disposed  to  a  religious  life.  Like  many  others  of  the  early 
Friends,  he  had  been  an  officer  in  the  parliamentary  army,  and,  in  his 
zeal  for  religion,  was  occasionally  engaged  in  preaching  to  the  soldiers. 
It  is  probable  that  he  was  one  of  the  many  convinced  by  Geo.  Fox, 
at  the  meetings  held  by  him  at  Sedberg  and  Firbank  chapel,  in  the 
early  part  of  1652.  Coming  under  the  converting  power  of  Divine 
Grace,  he  was  brought  through  deep  and  mortifying  exercises  of 
mind,  and  made  willing  to  sell  all,  in  order  to  become  possessed  of 
the  pearl  of  great  price.  When  prepared  by  the  blessed  Head  of 
the  Church  to  receive  it.  He  bestowed  upon  him  a  gift  in  the  min- 
istry;  and  he  went  forth  to  preach  Jesus  Clirist  and  him  crucified, 
and  to  take  his  share  of  the  cruel  abuse  practised  on  the  faithful 
men  and  women  who  were  instrumental  in  gathering  and  establish- 
in  o-  the  Society  of  Friends.  He  is  represented  to  have  been  a  man 
of  small  stature,  weakly,  and  slow  of  speech.  He  was  possessed 
of  deep  knowledge  in  the  mysteries  of  religion,  of  sound  judgment, 
and  fervent  and  effective  in  the  exercise  of  his  ministerial  gift. 

Not  long  after  he  had  joined  the  then  infant  Society,  he  was 
dragged  out  of  a  meeting,  with  others,  carried  some  distance  into 
the  fields,  there  bound  hand  and  foot,  and  left  to  pass  a  winter  night 
without  the  means  to  shelter  or  relieve  themselves.  Accompanying 
George  Whitehead,  he  went  to  Norwich  in  1654,  and  for  speaking 
to  a  priest,  and  not  taking  off^  his  hat  when  brought  before  the  mag- 
istrates, he  was  cast  into  prison,  and  confined  there  nearly  a  year. 
During  his  imprisonment,  he  addressed  several  epistles  to  Friends, 
for  their  encouragement  and  edification. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTUKY.  81 

Oxford,  long  renowned  as  a  seat  of  learning,  where  so  many  had 
been  trained  in  its  schools  of  Divinity,  was  not  behindhand  in  pre- 
judging the  Quakers,  and  decrying  their  principles;  nor  in  follow- 
ing the  example  set  in  other  parts  of  the  country,  to  treat  them 
with  indecent  scorn  and  barbarous  cruelty. 

In  1(354,  two  women,  named  Elizabeth  Heavens  and  Elizabeth 
Fletcher,  the  latter  quite  young  in  years,  having  preached  to 
the  people  in  the  streets  and  spoken  to  the  students  at  the  college, 
the  latter  made  an  attack  upon  them,  pushed  E.  Fletcher  first 
against  a  gravestone,  and  then  into  an  open  grave.  Not  satisfied 
with  this,  they  tied  the  two  women  together,  put  them  under  a  pump, 
and  after  drenching  them  there,  threw  them  into  a  ditch  ;  through 
which  they  finally  dragged  E.  Fletcher,  and  so  cruelly  abused  her, 
that  she  never  recovered  from  the  injuries  then  received,  and  did 
not  live  long  after. 

Notwithstanding  this  inhuman  treatment,  these  two  innocent 
women,  shortly  afterward,  under  a  sense  of  duty,  went  into  a 
"  church,"  and  after  the  "  service"  was  over  began  to  exhort  the 
people  to  godliness,  but  were  immediately  arrested  and  sent  to  the 
common  prison  by  two  magistrates  who  were  present.  The  mayor 
refused  to  have  anything  to  do  with  punishing  them ;  saying  he 
would  provide  them  with  food,  elotliing  or  money,  if  they  required 
either,  but  that  those  who  had  committed  them,  might  deal  with  them 
if  they  had  broken  any  law.  The  magistrates  agreed  that  they  should 
be  whipped  as  vagrants  ;  and  having  drawn  up  an  order  to  that  effect 
presented  it  to  the  mayor ;  but  he  refused  to  sign  it,  or  to  allow  the 
corporate  seal  to  be  aflSxed  to  the  order. 

Tiie  magistrates  and  Vice-Chancellor  of  the  University  then  re- 
solved to  take  the  responsibility  themselves,  and  accordingly  the 
next  morning,  these  two  unoffending  women  were  ordered  to  be 
"soundly  whipped;"  which  was  done,  though  the  executioner  man- 
ifested his  unwillingness  to  be  engaged  in  such  work. 

After  George  Fox  had  been  cleared  in  open  court,  of  the 
charge  of  blasphemy  preferred  against  him  by  about  forty  priests 
[1652]  he  continued  his  gospel  labors,  travelling  still  in  the 
northern  parts  of  England.  On  one  occasion,  being  at  Swarthmoor 
Hall,  and  hearing  the  judge  and  Justice  Bennet  conversing  on  the 
news  of  the  day,  and  of  the  "  Long  Parliament,"  which  was  then 
sitting,  George  says,  "  I  was  moved  to  tell  them,  before  that  day 
two  weeks  the  ijarliamcnt  should  be  broken  u|)  and  the  speaker 
6 


82  FEIENDSINTHE 

plucked  out  of  liis  chair;  and  that  dtiy  two  weeks  Justice  Benson 
told  Judge  Fell,  that  now  he  saw  George  was  a  true  prophet;  for 
Oliver  had  broken  up  the  parliament."  In  1653  he  went  into 
Cumberland,  though  he  had  previously  heard  it  had  been  declared, 
that  if  ever  he  came  there  his  life  woidd  be  taken. 

On  the  first  day  of  the  week,  in  the  afternoon,  being  in  the  "  church," 
at  a  place  called  Booties, after  the  priest  had  got  through,  he  began  to 
speak,  when  the  priest  ordered  him  to  stop,  as  he  had  no  right  to 
speak  there.  But  George  told  him  that  he  (the  priest)  had  his  hour- 
glass, and  having  preached  by  that  and  finished,  now  "The  time  was 
as  free  for  him  (George)  as  it  was  for  him  (the  priest) ;"  who  himself 
was  a  stranger  in  the  place.  So  George  preached  to  the  people,  who 
were  quiet.  When  they  came  into  the  yard,  the  priest,  who  was 
greatly  excited,  addressed  the  bystanders,  saying :  "  This  man 
hath  gotten  all  the  honest  men  and  women  in  Lancashire  to  him, 
and  now  he  comes  here  to  do  the  same."  Then,  said  George 
to  him,  "  \yhat  wilt  thou  have  left?  And  what  have  the  priests  left 
them,  but  such  as  themselves  ?  For  if  they  be  the  honest  that  receive 
the  truth  and  are  turned  to  Christ,  then  they  must  be  the  dishonest 
that  follow  thee,  and  such  as  thou  art."  Some  also  of  the  priest's 
people  began  to  plead  for  their  priests,  and  for  tithes.  George  told 
them,  "It  were  better  for  them  to  plead  for  Christ,  who  had  ended 
the  tything  priesthood  with  the  tythes,  and  had  sent  forth  his  min- 
isters to  give  freely,  as  they  had  received  freely."  So  the  Lord's 
power  came  over,  put  to  silence,  and  restrained  the  rude  i:)eople, 
that  they  could  not  do  the  mischief  they  intended. 

Having  moved  on,  preaching  from  day  to  day,  until  he  arrived 
at  Carlisle,  on  the  first  of  the  week  he  went  into  the  "  steeple-house," 
and  after  the  priest  had  finished,  spoke  to  the  congregation.  The 
priest  left,  and  the  magistrates  ordered  George  out  of  the  house,  but 
he  went  on  "  declaring  the  word  of  the  Lord."  The  peo])le  becom- 
ing tumultuous,  the  governor  sent  a  file  of  musketeers  to  stop  the 
outbreak.  George  retired  to  the  house  of  a  lieutenant,  who  was 
convinced,  and  there  a  meeting  was  held  of  Friends  and  some  Bap- 
tists. The  next  day  the  magistrates  issued  a  warrant;  which  when 
George  heard  of  he  went  to  them,  and  had  a  long  disputation  with 
them.  They  committed  him  to  the  jail  as  a  blasphemer,  a  heretic, 
and  a  seducer.  He  was,  as  usual,  cruelly  treated  by  the  upper 
jailer. 

1653.  When  the  assizes  came  on  it  was  generally  reported  that 
George  was  to  be  hung.    The  high  sherift'did  what  he  could  to  have 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  83 

him  convicted  of  some  capital  offence,  saying,  "  He  would  guard  liini 
to  execution  himself."  They  would  not  allow  his  friends  to  visit 
him,  nor  any  one  to  go  to  him  except  to  carry  necessary  things. 
While  the  judge,  justices  and  sheriff  appeared  to  be  managing  so  as 
to  have  him  sentenced  to  death,  the  clerk  of  the  court  started  a 
question  which  brought  them  to  see  that  they  lacked  the  authority 
to  do  as  they  proposed  ;  and  being  thus  defeated  in  their  intention, 
they  resolved  that  George  should  not  be  brought  to  trial,  but  to 
leave  him  in  the  hands  of  the  magistrates  of  the  town. 

Anthony  Pearson,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  who  had  been  convinced 
of  the  truth  in  a  conversation  he  had  with  G.  Fox  on  one  occasion, 
at  Swarthmoor  Hall,  sent  a  communication  to  the  judges  of  the 
court,  pointing  out  the  illegal  and  oppressive  course  pursued  towards 
George;  that  he  had  not  been  examined,  knew  not  who  were  his 
accusers,  no  witnesses  had  been  brought  forward,  and  no  sentence 
passed  on  him  ;  and  yet  he  was  kept  in  the  strictest  confinement,  and 
none  of  his  friends  allowed  to  visit  him.  But  it  was  without  effect. 
The  judges  left  the  town,  and  then  the  magistrates  ordered  the 
jailer  to  put  George  down  into  a  prison  among  "  mo.ss-troopers, 
thieves,  murderers,"  and  abandoned  women.  "  A  filthy,  nasty  place 
it  was,"  where  men  and  women  were  huddled  in  a  most  indecent 
manner,  and  so  lousy,  that  one  woman  was  almost  eaten  to  death  by 
lice.  George  says,  "  Yet  as  bad  as  the  place  was,  the  prisoners  were 
all  made  very  loving  and  subject  to  me,  and  some  of  them  were  con- 
vinced of  the  truth,  as  the  publicans  and  harlots  were  of  old  ;  so  that 
they  were  able  to  confound  any  priest  that  might  come  to  the  grates 
to  dispute.  But  the  jailer  was  cruel,  and  the  under-jailer  very 
abusive  both  to  me  and  to  Friends  that  dame  to  see  me  ;  for  he  would 
beat  Friends  with  a  great  cudgel,  who  did  but  come  to  the  window 
to  look  in  upon  me.  I  could  get  up  to  the  grate,  where  sometimes  I 
took  in  my  meat ;  at  which  the  jailer  was  often  offended.  Once  he 
came  in  a  great  rage,  and  beat  me  with  his  cudgel,  though  I  was 
not  at  the  grate  at  that  time  ;  and  as  he  beat  me,  he  cried.  Come 
out  of  the  window,  though  I  was  then  far  from  it.  While  he  struck 
me  I  was  moved  to  sing  in  the  Lord's  power,  which  made  him 
rage  the  more.  Then  he  fetched  a  fiddler,  and  set  him  to  play,  think- 
ing to  vex  me  ;  but  while  he  played,  I  was  moved  in  the  everlasting 
power  of  th(!  Lord  God  to  sing;  and  my  voice  drowned  the  noise  of 
the  fiddh',  struck  and  confounded  them,  and  made  them  give  over 
fi<Mliiig  and  go  their  wav." 

.Singing  (A'  psalms  or  hymns  was  not  j)ractiscd  among  Friends  in 


84  FRIENDSINTHE 

tboir  11  lootings  for  worship  ;  tlioufjli  thov  boliovod  tliat  ■\vlicrc  an  in- 
dividual was  nioved  thereto  by  tlie  Holy  Spirit,  to  sine"  that  which 
was  applicable  to  liis  or  her  present  condition,  it  was  an  accepted 
service;  as  was  divinely  inspired  preaching  or  praying.  But  as  it 
was  liable  to  great  abuse,  by  performers  being  induced  thus  to  use 
expressions  altogether  untrue  as  applied  to  themselves,  and  there 
was  a  great  snare  in  the  pleasurable  emotions  excited  by  the  har- 
mony of  sweet  sounds,  they  rejected  "  sacred  "  singing  and  music,  as 
it  was  ordinarily,  practised. 

The  report  that  had  been  raised  at  Carlisle  that  George  Fox  was 
to  lose  his  life,  spread  so  as  finally  to  reach  the  ears  of  some  mem- 
bers of  Parliament ;  who  reported  to  that  body  that  a  young  man 
was  in  prison  at  Carlisle  who  it  was  expected  would  l)e  sentenced  to 
death  for  his  religion  ;  whereupon  a  letter  was  sent  to  the  sheriff 
and  magistrates  in  relation  to  it. 

The  Governor  of  the  Castle,  accompanied  by  Anthony  Pearson, 
went  to  the  prison  to  inspect  it,  and  inquire  into  the  treatment  of 
the  prisoner.  They  found  the  place  so  bad,  and  the  smell  so  offen- 
sive, that  they  blamed  the  magistrates  severely  for  thrusting  George 
into  such  an  abominable  prison.  Calling  the  jailers  before  them, 
the  governor  obliged  the  head  jailer  to  find  surety  for  his  future 
good  behavior,  and  the  umJer  jailer,  for  his  barbarous  treatment 
of  the  prisoners,  he  put  in-to-  confinement  in  the  same  apartment 
with  George  Fox.  The  magistrates  now  becoming  uneasy,  set 
George  at  liberty  without  ever  bringing  him  to  trial. 

While  George  Fox  was  in  Carlisle  prison,  a  little  lad  al)out  six- 
teen years  of  age  came  to  see  him.  He  was  then  and  there  con- 
vinced of  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  and  though  so  young,  G.  Fox 
says,  "  The  Lord  quickly  made  him  a  powerful  minister  of  the  word 
of  Life,  and  many  were  turned  to  Christ  l)y  him,  though  he  lived 
not  long;  "  his  name  was  James  Parnel. 

This  youthful  martyr  for  the  testimony  of  Jesus  was  born  at  Ret- 
ford, in  Nottinghamshire,  in  1638,  and  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  the  neighborhood,  attending  at  the  place  of  worship  where  his 
kindred  resorted.  Early  made  sensible  of  the  corruption  of  his 
heart  by  nature,  sftid  anxious  to  know  a  thorough  redemption  from 
sin,  of  which  the  Holy  Spirit  convicted  him  ;  but  ignorant  where  to 
find  the  light  and  power  which  could  redeem  and  change  hiu),  he 
again  and  again  formed  resolutions  to  abstain  i'rcjm  what  he  knew 
to  be  wrong,  and  to  lead  a  godly  life.  But  his  good  intentions  and 
his  detenuined  will,  were  not  sufficient  to  resist  the  power  of  his 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  85 

cori'upt  appetites  aud  the  temptations  of  Satan.  He  repeatedly 
jrave  way,  and  so  made  work  for  repentance.  Nevertheless  his 
Heavenly  Father  followed  him,  in  mercy,  with  the  reproofs  of  in- 
struction, showed  him  the  emptiness  and  deadness  of  the  forms  of 
worship  that  were  generally  practised,  and  kept  alive  in  his  soul  a 
thirst  after  Himself  and  to  become  his  disciple.  What  passed 
between  him  and  George  Fox  in  Carlisle  jail  is  not  known  ;  but 
whatever  George  may  have  said  reached  the  witness  for  Truth  in 
James  Parnel's  heart,  and  a  willingness  was  wrought  to  deny  him- 
self, take  up  his  daily  cross  and  follow  Christ  in  the  regeneration, 
by  waiting  upon  aud  obeying  the  light  of  his  Holy  Spirit  shining  in 
the  dark  recesses  of  his  soul.     [1653.] 

After  the  conference,  he  appears  to  have  returned  to  his  own 
home,  aud  to  have  patiently  borne  the  winnowiug  of  the  Lord's 
fan,  thoroughly  purging  the  floor  of  his  heart.  His  refusal  longer 
to  comply  with  the  vain  customs  of  the  world,  his  plain  appearance 
and  language,  and  his  frequenting  the  meetings  of  Friends,  offended 
his  relatives,  who  despised  aud  rejected  him.  When  called  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  he  went  forth  without  "  purse  or  scrip,"  fully 
given  up  to  do  or  to  suffer  in  the  precious  cause  of  Him  who  had 
brought  him  up  out  of  an  horrible  pit,  and  out  of  the  miry  clay,  set 
his  feet  upon  a  Rock,  established  his  goings,  and  put  a  new  song 
into  his  mouth.  He  was  low  in  stature,  but  boy  as  he  was,  was  en- 
dued with  Christian  courage;  which  prevented  his  flinching  from 
preaching  repentance  and  amendment  of  life  to  high  and  low,  to 
rebuke  hypocrisy,  and  boldly  to  proclaim  the  revelation  of  Christ's 
spirit  in  the  heart,  to  be  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation. 

Having,  in  the  course  of  his  travels,  gone  to  Cambridge  and  testi- 
fied against  the  corruption  existing  among  priests  and  people,  he 
was  sent  to  prison,  and  kept  there  a  considerable  length  of  time. 
But  as  there  was  no  legal  authority  for  this  treatment,  he  was  set  at 
liberty  and  driven  out  of  the  town  as  a  vagabond. 

In  1G55,  having  heard  that  a  fast  had  been  proclaimed  at  Col- 
chester, to  take  place  on  a  specified  day,  when  prayers  were  to  be 
oflerc'd  up  against  "the  errors  of  the  Quakers,"  James  felt  himself 
required  to  go  there,  which  he  did.  He  remained  quietly  in  the 
"church,"  until  the  priest  had  got  through  with  his  charges  and 
invectives  against  the  Quakei's ;  after  which  he  observed,  "  That  it 
is  the  order  of  tiie  true  church,  that  all  may  speak  one  by  one;  and 
if  anything  be  revealed  to  him  that  stands  by,  let  the  first  hold  his 
peace,"     After  he  had  spoken  a  short  time,  he  was  asked,  "  What 


86  F  R  I  E  M)  S    I  X    T  TI  E 

cluirch  lie  owned?"  to  whicli  lie  replieil,  "  Tiic  cluireli  in  God." 
The  priest  said  he  spoke  nonsense.  James  bade  him  point  out 
wherein  he  had  spoken  nonsense.  The  priest  said,  "In  saying  tlie 
chun-li  in  God."  James  pulling  out  his  Bible,  read  where  the 
Apostle  addresses  the  Thessaloniaiis  as  the  church  in  God,  and  told 
his  antagonist  that  it  was  blasphemous  to  say  that  expression  was 
nonsense.  The  priest  then  accused  him  of"  lies  and  slander,  and  in 
order  to  prevent  his  replying,  went  back  into  tlie  pulpit  and  began 
to  pray.  The  magistrates  ordered  James  to  take  oiY  his  hat,  but 
rather  than  obey  them  he  went  out  of  the  meeting  house. 

A  little  time  after,  one  of  the  magistrates  arrested  him,  and  some 
of  his  friends  engaged  that  he  should  appear  biifore  them  when  they 
had  got  through  with  their  service.  He  accordingly  went  before 
them — four  justices  and  six  priests.  One  of  the  justices  pulled  his 
hat  off  his  head  and  threw  it  away.  They  asked  him  many  ques- 
tions and  then  committed  him  to  the  common  jail. 

As  the  session  of  the  court  was  to  be  held  at  Chelmsford,  eighteen 
miles  from  Colchester,  when  the  time  arrived  for  its  sitting,  James 
was  fastened  to  a  chain  with  murderers  and  other  felons,  and  thus 
led  through  the  country  ;  being  kept  chained  night  and  day.  He 
was  brought  to  the  bar  of  the  court  handcuffed,  but  this  barbarity 
roused  the  feelings  of  the  people  so  greatly,  that  at  the  next  sit- 
ting his  manacles  were  removed.  He  was  accused  of  entering  the 
"  church  "  riotously ;  of  telling  the  minister  that  he  blasphemed  ; 
of  using  reproachful  words  against  him  ;  and  that  he  could  give  no 
good  account  of  himself,  as  to  where  he  lived,  but  appeared  to  be 
an  idle  person,  &c. 

James  plead  his  own  cause,  showing  that  so  far  from  entering  the 
"church  "  riotously,  he  went  in  quietly  by  himself;  that  he  did  not 
deny  telling  the  priest  he  thought  it  blasphemous  in  him  to  say  the 
expression  "  Church  in  God  "  was  nonsense,  and  that  it  was  not 
indecent  or  improper  to  call  a  justice  who  had  acted  so  unjustly 
towards  him,  unrighteous  or  a  persecutor,  &c.  That  his  former  life 
and  conversation  would  speak  for  him  that  he  was  not  an  idle  or 
disorderly  person,  but  was  lawfully  engaged  in  the  work  to  which 
he  had  been  called.  The  judge  betrayed  the  determination  he  ha<l 
come  to,  by  telling  the  jury  that  if  they  did  not  find  the  prisoner 
guilty,  the  sin  would  lie  upon  their  own  heads.  James  desired  to 
address  the  jury  in  his  own  defence,  but  the  judge  would  not  allow 
him.  The  jury  on  consultation,  declared  him  guilty  of  having 
written  an  answer  to  the  mittimus  issued  f  )r  him  ;  and  though  the 
court  strove  hard  to  get  them  to  alter  their  verdict,  they  did  not 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  87 

consent.  James  was  sent  out  of  the  court  room,  and  when  brought 
back,  the  judge  said  the  Lord  Protector  had  charged  him  to  punish 
those  who  contemned  either  magistracy  or  ministry,  and  he  there- 
fore fined  him  (about  forty  pounds),  and  he  was  to  be  kept  in  prison 
until  it  was  paid.  He  was  sent  to  a  ruinous  okl  castle  used  as  a 
prison,  and  the  jailer  was  charged  not  to  allow  any  "  giddy-headed 
people  " — meaning  Friends — to  come  to  him. 

The  jailer  and  his  wife  were  more  than  willing  to  carry  out  the 
evident  wishes  of  the  court.  They  allowed  none  to  see  James,  but 
such  as  would  abuse  him.  The  wife  swore  she  would  "have  his 
blood."  She  set  on  the  man  to  beat  him,  and  several  times  laid 
violent  hands  on  him  herself.  She  instigated  other  prisoners  to 
take  the  victuals  brouglit  for  him  by  his  friends.  She  refused  to 
allow  him  to  have  the  use  of  a  trundle  bed  brought  for  him,  but 
forced  him  to  lie  on  the  damp  stones.  The  walls  of  Colchester 
castle  were  of  great  thickness  —  about  twelve  feet  —  and  in  one  part 
of  them  were  two  rows  of  small  vaulted  chambers,  probably  intended, 
and  certainly  well  fitted,  to  destroy  the  health  of  whoever  might  be 
confined  in  them.  Into  one  of  these,  this  innocent  young  man  — 
thea  in  his  nineteenth  year  —  was  obliged  to  go.  It  was  about 
twelve  feet  from  the  ground,  and  a  ladder  six  feet  long  was  pro- 
vided, from  the  top  of  which,  the  prisoner  must  climb  up  by  a  rope 
to  the  entrance  of  the  damp  and  cramped  apartment.  For  all  neetl- 
ful  purposes,  he  was  rejuired  to  descend  and  ascend  this  dangerous 
passage,  to  his  dismal  abode;  and  in  order  to  oblige  him  to  run  the 
risk  of  falling  the  oftener,  his  cruel  jailers  refused  to  allow  liim  the 
use  of  a  basket  and  cord,  which  his  friends  had  provided,  to  draw 
up  his  food  and  drink. 

Confinement,  under  these  circumstances,  produced  the  effect  that 
could  hardly  have  been  unforeseen,  if  it  was  not  desii'ed.  He  began 
to  lose  his  muscular  power,  and  his  lind)s  became  benumbed.  In 
this  condition,  as  he  was  one  day  endeavoring  to  reach  his  wretched 
room,  when  having  got  to  the  top  of  the  ladder,  with  his  food  in  one 
liand,  he  missed  catching  the  rope  as  he  clutched  at  it  with  the  other, 
and  fell  on  tlie  rough  stones  below  ;  cutting  his  head,  and  was  so 
jarred  and  bruLsed,  that  he  was  taken  up  as  one  dead.  So  far  were 
his  sufferings  from  in  anywise  softening  the  hearts  of  his  merciless 
jailers,  that  they  put.liim  into  the  (;ell  below  that  he  had  occupied; 
which  was  so  small  that  it  was  called  the  oven,  and  when  the  door 
was  shut,  there  was  no  opening   lor  the;  admission  of  light  or  air.'' 

*  TliDinas  Sciittcrgood,  in  iiis  juiiru.il,  li.is  tlu'  i'()ll()\viii<f :  "After  U-.i  I  look 
a  walk  witli  (j.(iilwoii  and  Jolm  Kiinlall  U)  tlie  castle,  and  went  over  tlic  old 


00  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

Here  they  ininuired  him  so  closely,  that  he  a|)j)e;ire(l  likely  to  die 
from  sutfocation  ;  they  not  permitting  him  to  go  into  the  yard  below, 
to  breathe  the  fresh  air.  And  now  was  witnessed  one  of  those  strik- 
ing evidences  of  Christian  fellowship  and  sympathy,  that  drew  from 
some  of  that  day  the  exclamation,  "  See  how  the  (Quakers  love  one 
another."  Three  of  his  friends,  William  Talcot,  Edward  Grant  and 
Thomas  Shortland,  went  to  the  justice  and  offered  to  be  bound  under 
a  penalty  of  forty  pounds,  if  they  did  not  comply,  to  enter  that  dis- 
mal hole  and  lie,  body  for  body,  while  James  was  allowed  to  go  to 
the  house  of  one  of  them  until  recovered  from  his  illness. 

But  it  was  in  vain  ;  so  implacable  was  the  enmity  of  those  to  whom 
lie  had  done  no  wrong,  but  who  had  the  power  in  their  own  hands, 
that  they  would  not  consent  even  to  his  walking  occasionally  in  the 
yard.  Once  the  door  of  his  stifling  cell  being  open,  James  stepped 
out  and  walked  between  the  high  walls  that  shut  in  the  narrow  pas- 
sage below  ;  which  the  jailer  seeing,  went  and  locked  the  door  of  his 
cell ;  and  though  it  was  in  the  depth  of  winter,  kept  him  in  the  yard, 
unslu'ltered,  all  night. 

But  He  who,  in  his  inscrutable  wisdom,  permitted  wicked  men  thus 
to  persecute  this  youthful  and  devoted  servant,  was  watching  over 
him  in  mercy,  and  when  He  saw  it  was  enough,  and  the  end  designed 
had  been  accomplished,  sent  his  pale  messenger  to  free  him  from  his 
bonds,  and  the  inhumanity  of  man.  His  imprisonment  had  lasted 
nearly  a  year,  when  his  persecutors  seeing  that  death  was  near,  per- 
mitted two  of  his  friends  —  Thomas  Shortland  and  Ann  Langley  — 
to  visit  him.  James  was  sensible  that  his  release  was  approaching, 
and  remarked  to  one  of  them,  "Here  I  die  innocently."  To  T. 
Shortland  he  said,  "This  death  must  I  die,  Thomas;  I  have  seen 
great  things;  don't  hold  me,  but  let  me  go.  Will  you  hold  lue  ?  " 
To  which  A.  Langley  replied,  "No,  dear  heart,  we  will  not  hold 
thee."  He  observed  that  "one  hour's  sleep  would  cure  him  of  all." 
The  last  words  he  uttered  were,  "Now  I  go;"  and  stretching  himself 
out,  he  slept  about  an  hour,  and  then  breathed  his  last;  leaving  the 
pent  u  )  cell  where  his  suffering  hody  had  been  so  long  shut  in,  to 
enter  the  glorious  courts  of  heaven  ;  where  the  wicked  cease  from 
troubling,  the  weary  are  at  rest,  and  the  songs  of  the  redeemed  are 
forever  heard.  During  his  confinement  he  addressed  several  epistles 
to  his  fellow  believers.     [1655.] 

ruins,  where  I  was  sliowii  tlie  hole  in  tlie  wall,  from  whicli,  it  is  supposed,  dear 
James  Parnell  fell  when  confined  in  this  place;  and  also  his  apartment  below, 
which  looks  like  a  baker's  oven  ;  the  thickness  of  the  wall  beuig  about  f'oiw 
times  the  length  of  my  walking  stick."  —  Friends'  Library,  Vol.  8,  page  105. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTUEY.  89 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Evidence  of  the  Seeking  State  of  the  People —  Large  Assemlilages  to  hear  G. 
Fox  —  G.  F.  visits  his  native  place  — Treatment  by  the  Priests  — Colonel 
Hacker — G.  Fox  and  Cromwell  —  Visitation  to  Capt.  Drury  —  G.  Fox  in 
London  ■ —  Alexander  Parker  —  Extracts  from  Letter  —  Hnmphrey  Bache  — 
John  Crook — Extract  from  another  Letter — Imprisonment  of  William 
Dewsbnry  — Trial  before  Judge  Hale  —  Same  before  Judge  Atkins  —  Eeflec- 
tions  on  the  causes  that  kept  Friends  from  having  justice  done  them  — 
General  views  of  Religion,  and  of  tiiose  of  Friends  —  Miles  Halhead  —  In- 
teresting interview  with  a  Justice's  Wife  —  Extraordinary  incidents  in  il. 
Halhead's  course  —  Misrepresentations  of  Friends'  belief  in  Christ. 

IT  must  be  considered  strong  evidence  of  the  long  unsettled  con- 
dition of  the  minds  of  the  people,  on  the  subject  of  religious  belief, 
and  of  the  uneasiness  produced  by  the  want  of  certainty  as  to  what 
was  true,  and  what  could  be  relied  on  to  stand  unmoved  amid  the 
various  jarring  parties,  which  were  crying,  "  Lo  here  is  Christ !  or, 
lo  He  is  there!"  that  they  flocked  so  numerously  to  hear  what 
were  the  doctrir.es  preached  by  Friends,  and  what  the  character  of 
the  religion  that  drew  upon  them  the  hatred  and  abuse  of  so  many, 
both  high  professors  and  the  ignorant,  yet  enabled  them  to  speak 
undoubtingly  of  what  they  had  experienced  in  the  way  of  salvation, 
and  made  them  willing  to  endure  the  unmeasured  scorn  and  unre- 
lenting persecution  meted  them  in  all  places. 

1653.  George  Fox,  speaking  of  the  multitude  that  came  to  a  meet- 
ing which  he  had  appointed  to  be  held  near  Cockermouth,  in  Cumber- 
land, says,  "The  country  people  came  in  like  as  it  had  been  to  a  fair." 
"  I  looked  about  for  a  place  to  stand  upon,  to  speak  to  the  people ; 
for  they  lay  all  up  and  down,  like  people  at  a  leaguer."  Again,  of 
another  meeting,  "  We  had  a  general  meeting  of  thousands  of  peo- 
ple, atop  of  a  liill  near  Langland.  There  were  as  many  people  as 
one  could  well  speak  over,  the  multitude  was  so  great."  Then  as 
to  the  character  of  the  preaching  and  its  effect  upon  the  audience : 
"  A  glorious  and  heavenly  meeting  it  was  ;  for  the  glory  of  the  Lord 
did  shine  over  all.  Their  eyes  were  turned  to  Christ  their  teacher ; 
and  they  came  to  sit  under  their  own  vine;  insomuch  that  Francis 
Howgil,  coming  afterwards  to  visit  them,  found  ihnj  hud  no  need  of 
words;  for  they  were  sitting  under  their  teacher  Christ  Jesus;  in 
the  sense  whereof  he   sat  down  amongst  them,  without  speaking 


90  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

anything.  A  great  convincemcnt  there  was  in  Cumberland,  Bish- 
oprick,  Northumberhind,  Westniorehind,  Lancashire  and  Yorkshire, 
and  the  phants  of  God  grew  and  flourished,  the  heavenly  rain  descend- 
ing, and  God's  glory  shining  upon  theui :  many  mouths  were  opened 
by  the  Lord  to  his  praise;  yea,  to  babes  and  sucklings  He  ordained 
strength."  Finding  the  Society  increasing  in  numbers  so  rapidly, 
and  "  divers  young  convinced  ones  coming  daily  "  among  Friends, 
George  Fox  addressed  an  ei)istle  to  them  "  For  stirring  up  the  pure 
mind,  and  raising  an  holy  care  and  watchfulness  in  them  over  them- 
selves and  one  another,  for  the  honor  of  Truth." 

In  the  early  part  of  1654,  George  Fox  went  to  Drayton,  in  Lei- 
cestershire, to  visit  his  relations.  Here  he  again  met  with  priest 
Stevens,  who  had  been  pastor  over  him  in  his  youth.  They  soon 
got  into  a  dispute,  the  priest  having  invited  the  people  to  be  pres- 
ent. Stevens  finding  that  he  could  not  obtain  advantage  by  argu- 
ment, said  to  the  people,  "  This  is  the  business ;  George  Fox  is  come 
to  the  light  of  the  sun,  and  now  he  thinks  to  put  out  my  star-light." 
George  told  him,  he  would  iK^t  quench  the  least  measure  in  any,  if 
it  was  from  the  "  bi-ight  and  morning  Star;  but  that  he  must  speak 
the  truth  freely,  and  that  no  minister  of  Christ  could  take  tithes." 
Their  dispute  ended  I'or  the  present,  but  George  returniiig  to  the 
place  in  about  two  weeks,  Stevens  had  associated  with  himself  seven 
other  of  his  clerical  brethren,  and  the  dispute  was  renewed.  George 
refused  to  go  into  the  steeple-house,  and  having  James  Parnel,Thos. 
Taylor,  and  other  Friends  with  him,  they  went  a  little  distance  to 
the  top  of  a  hill.  The  priests  soon  gave  over  arguing,  and  the 
people  began  to  be  rude.  Several  men  suddenly  seized  George,  and 
lifting  him  up,  bore  him  off  to  the  porch  of  the  "  church,"  intending 
to  carry  him  in ;  but  the  door  was  fastened,  and  in  their  eagerness 
they  all  fell  down  together,  George  being  underneath.  Having 
extricated  himself  he  returned  to  his  friends,  and  as  the  priests  kept 
aloof,  he  preached  to  the  people  ;  showing  why  he  denied  those  priests 
and  all  hirelings,  and  declaring  the  spiritual  nature  of  the  Christian 
dispensation.  Many  were  convinced  that  day,  and  George's  father 
was  so  well  satisfied,  that  he  said,  "  Truly,  I  see  he  that  will  stand 
to  the  truth,  it  will  bear  him  out." 

The  priests,  baffled  in  their  efibrts  to  get  the  better  of  George  by 
disputation,  resolved  to  bring  the  secular  power  to  their  aid.  They 
arranged  to  have  soldiers  present  at  his  meetings,  who  should  take 
the  names  of  the  Friends  present,  and  have  them  sent  to  their  homes. 
The  first  attempt  fiiiled  ;  but  George  being  at  Whetstone,  and  about 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTUEY.  91 

to  hold  a  meeting,  there  came  seventeen  troopers  with  a  marshal 
of  Col.  Hacker's  regiment,  and  took  him  ;  leaving  the  other  Friends 
at  George's  request,  who  said  he  would  answer  for  them  all,  and  at 
night  brought  him  before  Col.  Hacker,  his  major  and  captains. 
After  some  reasoning  about  the  priests  and  the  meetings,  the  Colo- 
nel told  George  he  might  go  home,  if  he  would  stay  at  home  and  not 
go  abroad  to  meetings.  This  George  refused  to  do,  as  he  said  he 
had  done  nothing  for  which  he  should  make  his  home  his  prison, 
and  that  he  must  attend  meetings  as  the  Lord  should  order  him. 
The  Colonel's  son  said,  "  Father,  this  man  has  reigned  too  long,  it  is 
time  to  have  him  cut  off."  George  replied,  "  For  what  ?  What 
have  I  done,  or  whom  have  I  wronged,  from  a  child?  I  was  born 
and  bred  in  this  country,  and  who  could  accuse  me  of  any  evil  from 
a  child  ?  "  As  George  would  not  comply  with  the  conditions  pro- 
posed, the  Colonel  said,  "Well, _,then  I  will  send  you  to-morrow 
morning,  by  six  o'clock,  to  my  Lord  Protector,  by  Capt.  Drury,  one 
of  his  life-guard." 

That  night  George  was  kept  prisoner,  and  the  next  morning,  when 
Captain  Drury  was  about  to  start  with  him,  he  desired  that  he 
might  first  speak  with  the  Colonel.  Colonel  Hacker  had  not  yet 
risen,  and  George  being  taken  to  his  bedside,  the  Colonel  began  at 
once  to  bid  him  go  liome  and  hold  no  more  meetings.  George 
again  refusing  to  comply,  the  Colonel  said,  "  'J'hen  you  must  go  be- 
fore the  Protector."  Whereupon  George  knelt  at  the  bedside,  and 
"  Besought  the  Lord  to  forgive  him  ;  for  he  was  like  Pilate,  though 
he  would  wash  his  hands ; "  and  he  bid  him,  "When  the  day  of  his 
misery  and  trial  should  come  upon  him,  then  remember  what  he 
had  said  to  him."   [1G54.J 

Colonel  Hacker  was  afterwards  tried  and  condemned  to  death  for 
liaving  acted  as  one  of  the  judges  that  sat  in  judgment  upon 
Cliarles  I.,  and  the  day  before  his  execution,  on  being  reminded  of 
what  he  had  done  to  G.  Fox,  he  confessed  that  he  had  trouble  for  it. 

Captain  Drury  behaved  courteously  to  G.  Fox  on  their  way  to 
London,  allowing  him  to  go  and  visit  Wm.  Dewsbury  and  Marma- 
duke  Storr,  who  were  in  prison  at  Northampton,  but  tried  to  persuade 
him  to  comply  with  the  pro{)osal  to  go  home  and  hold  no  meetings. 
Arrived  in  London,  Captain  Drury  reported  to  the  Protector  that 
he  had  George  Fox  in  eust(jily.  The  Protector  bid  the  Cajjlain  tell 
George  that  he  required  him  to  promise  he  would  not  take  up  sword 
or  other  carnal  weapon  against  tlie  government.  Tiie  next  moiii- 
ing,  George  says,  "I  was  moved  of  the  Ivord  to  write  a  paper  to  the 


92  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

Protector,  by  the  name  of  Oliver  Cromwell  ;  wherein  I  did  in  the 
presence  of  the  Lord  God  declare,  that  I  did  deny  the  wearing  or 
drawing  of  a  carnal  sword,  or  any  other  outward  weapon,  against 
him  or  any  man.  And  that  I  was  sent  of  God  to  stand  a  witness 
against  all  violence,  and  against  the  works  of  darkness  ;  and  to  turn 
people  from  darkness  to  light;  to  bring  them  from  the  occasion  of 
war  and  fighting  to  the  peaceable  gospel,  and  from  being  evil-doers, 
which  the  magistrate's  sword  sliould  be  a  terror  to." 

In  the  coarse  of  a  short  time  he  was  taken  before  the  Protector, 
and  he  gives  this  account  of  their  interview  :  "  It  was  in  the;  morning, 
before  he  was  dressed ;  and  one  Harvey,  who  had  come  a  little 
among  Friends,  but  was  disobedient,  waited  upon  him.  When  I 
came  in,  I  was  moved  to  say,  '  Peace  be  in  this  house : '  and  I  ex- 
horted him  'to  keep  in  the  fear  of  God,  that  he  might  receive  wisdom 
from  Him ;  that  by  it  he  might  be  ordered,  and  with  it  might  order 
all  things  under  his  hand  unto  God's  glory.'  I  spoke  much  to  him 
of  truth  ;  and  a  great  deal  of  discourse  I  had  with  him  about  re- 
ligion :  wherein  he  carried  himself  very  moderately.  But  he  said. 
We  quarrelled  with  the  priests,  whom  he  called  ministers.  I  told 
him, 'I  did  not  quarrel  with  them,  they  quarrelled  with  me  and 
my  friends.  But,  said  I,  if  we  own  the  prophets,  Clirist,  and  the 
apostles,  we  cannot  hold  up  such  teachers,  prophets  and  shepherds, 
as  the  prophets,  Christ,  and  the  apostles  declared  against;  but  we 
must  declare  against  them  by  the  same  j)Ower  and  Spirit;  Then  I 
showed  him.  That  the  prophets,  Christ,  and  the  apostles  declared 
freely,  and  declared  against  them  that  did  not  declare  freely ;  such 
as  preached  for  filthy  lucre,  divined  for  money,  and  preached  for 
hire,  and  were  covetous  and  greedy,  like  the  dumb  dogs  that  could 
never  have  enough  ;  and  that  they,  who  have  the  same  Spirit  that 
Christ  and  the  prophet*,  and  the  apostles  had,  could  not  but  declare 
against  all  such  now,  as  they  did  then.'  As  I  spoke  he  several 
times  said,  It  was  very  good,  and  it  was  truth.  'I  told  him,  That 
all  Christendom  (so  called)  had  the  Scriptures,  but  they  wanted 
the  power  and  Sjiirit  that  those  had  who  gave  forth  the  Scriptures ; 
and  that  was  the  reason  they  were  not  iu  fellowship  with  the  Son, 
uor  with  the  Father,  nor  with  the  Scriptures,  nor  one  with  another.' 
Many  more  words  I  had  with  him  ;  but  people  coming  in,  I  drew  a 
little  back.  As  I  was  turning,  he  catched  me  by  the  hand,  and 
with  tears  in  his  eyes,  said,  '  Come  again  to  my  house ;  for  if  thou 
and  I  were  but  an  hour  of  a  day  together,  we  should  be  nearer  one 
to  the  other;'  adding,  'That  he  wished  me  no  more  ill  than  he  did 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  93 

to  his  own  soul.'  I  told  him,  '  If  he  did,  he  wronged  his  own  soul ; 
and  admonished  him  to  hearken  to  God's  voice,  that  he  might  stand 
in  his  counsel,  and  obey  it ;  and  if  he  did  so,  that  would  keep  him 
from  hanlness  of  heart ;  but  if  he  did  not  hear  God's  voice,  his  heart 
would  be  hardened.'  He  said,  it  was  true.  Then  I  went  out ;  and 
when  Captain  Drury  came  out  after  me,  he  told  me,  His  Lord  Pro- 
tector said,  I  was  at  liberty,  and  might  go  Avhither  I  would.  Then 
I  was  brought  into  a  great  hall,  where  the  Protector's  gentlemen 
were  to  dine.  I  asked  them,  What  they  brought  me  thither  for? 
They  said,  It  was  by  the  Protector's  order,  that  I  might  dine  with 
them.  I  bid  them  let  the  Protector  know,  I  would  not  eat  of  his 
bread,  nor  drink  of  his  drink.  When  he  heard  this,  he  said,  'Now 
I  see  there  is  a  people  risen,  that  I  cannot  win  either  with  gifts, 
honors,  offices,  or  places;  but  all  other  sects  and  people  I  can.'  It 
was  told  him  again,  'That  we  had  forsook  our  own,  and  were  not 
like  to  look  for  such  things  from  him.' 

"Being  set  at  liberty,  I  went  to  the  inn  where  Captain  Drury 
at  first  lodged  me.  This  captain,  though  he  sometimes  car- 
ried it  fairly,  was  an  enemy  to  me  and  to  truth,  and  opposed  it. 
When  professors  came  to  me,  while  I  was  under  his  custody,  and 
he  was  by,  he  would  scoff  at  trerabHng,  and  call  us  Quakers  ;  as  the 
Independents  and  Presbyterians  had  nicknamed  us  before.  But 
afterwards  he  came  and  told  me,  That,  as  he  was  lying  on  his  bed 
to  rest  himself  in  the  daytime,  a  sudden  trembling  seized  on  him, 
that  his  joints  knocked  together;  and  his  body  shook  so  that  he 
could  not  rise  from  his  bed:  he  was  so  shaken,  that  he  had  not 
strength  enough  left  to  rise.  But  he  felt  the  power  of  the  Lord 
was  upon  him  ;  and  he  tumbled  off  his  bed,  and  cried  to  the  Lord, 
and  said,  he  would  never  speak  against  the  Quakers  more,  such  as 
trembled  at  the  word  of  God." 

George  Fox  remained  in  London  during  the  succeeding  months  of 
that  year  [1654]  ;  busily  engaged  in  attending  the  meetings  of 
Friends,  preaching  to  the  multitudes  that  thronged  them,  and  also 
making  use  of  the  pen  to  express  his  opinions  and  feelings  on  many 
points.  He  put  forth  an  address,  "To  all  professors  of  Ciiristian- 
ity;"  another  to  "All  that  follow  the  World's  fashions."  He  also 
wrote  an  address  to  the  Commissioners  whom  Cromwell  had  ap- 
pointed to  be  "Triers  of  Ministers,"  and  an  exhortation  and  warn- 
ing to  the  Pope,  and  the  Rulers  of  Europe.  He  went  a  second 
time  to  Whitehall,  where  the  court  was;  and  to  those  of  the  liimily 
whom  he  saw,  to  the  officers,  and  those  that  "  were  called  Oliver's 


94  FRlENDSIJfTHE 

gentlemen,  who  were  of  lii.s  guard,"  he  "Declared  the  word  of  the 
Lord,  and  that  the  Lord  was  come  to  teach  his  people  himself." 
Some  in  the  family  were  convinced  ;  and  George  tried  to  have 
another  interview  with  Oliver,  but  failed. 

E.  Burrough,  F.  Howgil.and  several  other  ministers  of  note,  had 
been  lab(u-ing  assiduously,  and,  as  has  been  before  stated,  large 
numbers  had  been  gathered  to  the  principles  of  Friends,  and  many 
meetings  were  held  in  different  parts  of  the  city.  George  says,  "So 
great  were  the  throngs  of  people,  that  I  could  scarcely  get  to  and 
from  the  meetings  for  the  crowds,  and  the  truth  spread  exceedingly." 

Among  others  in  London  brought  under  the  convincing,  con- 
verting power  of  the  Spirit  of  Truth,  and  prepared  to  accept  the 
self-denying  doctrines  promulgated  by  Friends,  was  Humphrey 
Bache.  He  had  been  a  goldsmith,  but  finding  his  business  dimin- 
ished and  much  iuterfei'ed  with  after  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil 
war,  he  relinquished  it,  and  engaging  in  the  service  of  the  Parlia- 
ment, he  was  appointed  to  oversee  a  company  of  men  em{)l()yed  in 
throwing  up  fortifications  around  the  city.  He  appears  to  have 
been  a  man  of  good  character,  well-intentioned,  and  up  to  that  time 
strictly  honest. 

Having  discovered  that  others  in  similar  station  as  that  he  held, 
were  in  the  habit  of  defrauding  their  employers,  either  by  charging 
for  more  men  than  they  had  at  work,  or  by  adding  a  few  pence  to 
their  daily  wages,  with  or  without  their  knowledge,  and  pocketing 
the  surplus,  he  was  strongly  tempted  to  follow  their  example.  He 
saw  the  wrong  that  was  thus  done,  and  for  a  time  was  restrained  by 
his  sense  of  obligation  to  refi'ain  from  the  evil ;  but  by  tampering 
with  the  temptation,  his  perception  of  right  and  wrong  became  con- 
fused, and  after  a  hard  struggle  with  his  convictions,  he  yielded, 
and  sacrificed  his  integrity  and  peace  of  mind,  by  robbing  the  gov- 
ernment that  had  made  him  one  of  its  officers. 

The  satisfaction  he  had  once  had  in  his  honest  efforts  to  obtain  a 
livelihood,  was  now  destroyed  by  the  reproofs  of  instruction  ;  which, 
had  he  submissively  yielded  to  them,  would  have  proved  the  way  to 
renewed  spiritual  life;  but  he  turned  away  from  them,  and  strove 
to  satisfy  himself  with  reasoning  —  suggested  by  Satan,  who  was  a 
liar  from  the  beginning  —  that  as  the  money  taken  belonged  to  no 
one  in  particular,  there  was  but  little  harm  in  what  he  had  done, 
and  that  it  was  a  common  practice  with  others. 

Being  afterAvards  employed  in  the  custom-house,  he  there  found 
that  a  system  for  robbing  the  treasury  was  pursued  by  many  of  the 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTUTIY.  95 

officers,  by  taking  bribes  to  make  false  returns,  &c.  Though  he 
had  never  thoroughly  repented  of  the  sin  into  which  his  evil  covet- 
ousness  had  before  betrayed  him,  yet  he  remembered  the  bitterness  of 
the  remorse  that  had,  at  times,  harrowed  up  his  soul  for  taking 
that  which  did  not  belong  to  him,  and  for  a  time  he  steadily  turned 
away  from  the  temjjtations  presented.  But  the  grand  adversary  of 
man's  happiness  knows,  not  only  when  and  where  to  lay  his  baits, 
but  also  how  to  employ  those  whom  he  has  induced  to  yield  to  his 
wicked  suggestions,  as  emissaries  for  beguiling  others  into  his  service ; 
and  he  prompted  some  of  Humphrey's  fellow  officers,  who  were  in- 
creasing their  incomes  by  illicit  practices,  to  ply  him  with  plausi- 
ble arguments,  why  he  should  not  hesitate  to  conform  to  what  was 
so  customary. 

Instead  of  turning  a  deaf  ear  to  the  voice  of  the  tempter,  and 
seeking  strength  by  prayer  to  Him  who  is  a  present  help  in  every 
needful  time,  resolutely  to  withstand  the  covetousness  of  his  own 
heart,  and  the  wiles  of  the  deceiver,  he  again  listened  to  the  plead- 
ings of  the  worldly-wise  charmers,  and  fell  into  the  snare  set  for  his 
feet;  concluding  it  was  not  worth  while  for  him  to  attempt  being 
better  than  those  around  him.  Having  once  more  yielded  to  brave 
the  guilt  of  robbery  in  order  to  increase  his  means,  he  found  he  had 
not  strength  of  himself  to  stop  in  his  criminal  career,  and  he  joined 
hands  with  those  who  were  defrauding  the  revenue.  Nevertheless 
his  long  suffering  omniscient  Creator  left  him  not  without  the  con- 
victions and  pleadings  of  his  Holy  Spirit;  often  bringing  him  under 
a  sense  of  the  wickedness  of  the  course  he  was  pursuing,  and  filling 
his  heart  with  anguish  and  fear  as  to  the  final  consequences.  But 
instead  of  closing  in  with  these  visitations  of  light  and  mercy,  he 
strove  stoutly  against  them,  and  allowed  his  internal  strife  and 
dread,  to  sour  his  temper,  and  make  him  a  source  of  unhappiness 
to  his  wife,  and  in  his  whole  domestic  circle.  Such,  however,  became 
the  distress  under  wliich  a  sense  of  guilt  caused  him  to  pass  much 
of  his  time,  that  he  resolved  no  longer  to  partake  of  the  unrighteous 
gains ;  and  for  a  year  before  he  left  the  custom-house  he  scrupu- 
lously adhered  to  his  determination. 

It  was  about  the  time  of  his  coming  to  this  resolution,  that  he  was 
induced  by  curiosity  to  attend  a  meeting  held  in  London  by  Francis 
Ilowgil  and  Edward  Burrough.  It  does  not  appear  tliat  anything 
then  said  took  hold  of  him  ;  l)ut  lie  inclined  to  sw  and  hear  more 
of  the  much  talked  of  Quaker^.  Not  long  after  he  was  at  a  meet- 
ing Ik  Id  in  the  Bull-and-Mouth  meeting  house,  where  George  Fox, 


96  Fill  E  N  D  S  .  T  X    T  11  E 

E.  Burrou2:li,  and  F.  Howo;!!  wero  present.  One  of  these  Friends, 
in  the  course  of  his  sermon,  speaking  of  the  necessity  for  every  dis- 
ciple of  ('hrist  to  take  up  his  daily  cross  and  follow  Him,  said, 
"  The  carnal  mind  is  enmity  against  God.  As  any  one  comes  to 
stand  in  the  cross,  which  is  the  power  of  God,  this  enmity  is  broken 
down  and  reconciliati'.Mi  is  witnessed.  The  enmity  is  slain  by  the 
power  of  God;  by  that  which  crosseth  the  carnal  mind  —  the 
Light  of  Christ."  This  proved  to  be  an  arrow  that  struck  between 
the  joints  of  Humphrey's  harness,  and  the  swift  witness  for  God  in 
the  secret  of  his  soul,  testified  to  its  truth.  He  was  conscious  that 
light  had  repeatedly  shone  into  his  dark  heart  —  though  the  dark- 
ness comprehended  it  not — showing  him  his  sin,  and  reproving  him 
for  following  his  carnal  inclinations.  He  \vas  now  convinced  that 
this  was  the  Light  of  Christ,  and  that  his  salvation  depended  on  his 
obeying  its  discoveries  and  requirements,  however  much  these 
might  be  in  the  cross  to  his  natural  propensities ;  which  stood  op- 
posed to  the  government  of  Christ,  and  must  be  crucified  and  slain 
before  that  government  could  be  established  over  his  soul. 

Aroused  to  a  sense  of  his  lost  condition,  brought  to  realize,  in 
measure,  the  exceeding  sinfulness  of  his  manifold  sins,  and  his  own 
incapacity  to  extricate  himself  from  the  thraldom  into  which  he  had 
been  brought,  he  was  happily  made  willing  to  keep  his  attention 
fixed  on  the  measure  of  Divine  Grace  vouchsafed  to  his  soul ;  to 
wait  upon  that  as  the  only  means  of  obtaining  a  saving  knowledge 
of  God,  and  of  the  things  that  belong  to  his  everlasting  well-being, 
and  patiently  to  abide  under  the  transforming  power  of  Him,  whose 
right  it  was,  to  will  and  to  do  according  to  his  own  good  pleasure. 
As  his  sins  were  set  in  order  before  him  in  the  light  of  Christ  Jesus  the 
Saviour,  he  saw  with  anguish  how  deeply  he  had  violated  the  divine 
law,  by  taking  that  which  did  not  belong  to  him ;  and  also  that  he 
could  not  hope  for  peace,  unless  he  restored  all  that  he  had  unjustly 
obtained.  This  plunged  him  into  additional  conflict  and  distress. 
He  shrunk  from  the  exposure  of  his  former  dishonesty,  and  he  knew 
that  to  make  complete  restitution,  would  require  a  half  of  all  he 
possessed,  and  leave  but  little  for  the  support  of  his  wife  and  chil- 
tlren. 

It  was  a  remarkable  circumstance,  that  while  Humphrey  Bache 
was  struggling  under  these  deep  and  conflicting  exercises  of  mind, 
clearly  seeing  what  was  required  of  him,  by  Him  who  alone  could 
grant  forgiveness  of  his  sins,  but  held  back  by  the  pleadings  of  pride 
and  the  fears  relative  to  future  ability  to  provide  for  his  family, 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.-  97 

George  Fox  —  who  does  not  appear  to  have  had  previous  acquaint- 
ance with  him  —  felt  it  required  to  make  him  a  visit.  Humphrey 
soon  began  to  disclose  his  condition  to  George,  when  the  latter  said 
to  him,  "  He  that  confesseth  and  forsaketh  his  sins,  shall  find 
mercy."  The  poor  man,  sensible  that  G.  Fox  was  greatly  exercised 
on  his  account,  says,  "  The  Lord  reached  down  his  right  arm  of 
power,  touched  my  heart  with  his  grace,  and  made  me  willing  to 
submit  to  his  will,  and  give  up  the  sum  of  money  I  had  received 
unjustly.  Waiting  in  the  Light  this  was  made  plain  to  me  to  be 
near  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds.  But  it  lay  on  my  heart  to  re- 
store more  than  less.  So  I  was  made  free  by  the  power  of  the 
Lord,  and  did  give  back  at  the  excise  office  in  London,  one  hundred 
and  sixty  pounds.  Then  I  felt  the  truth  of  the  words  George  Fox 
spake  to  me :  '  He  that  confesseth  and  forsaketh  his  sins,  shall  find 
mercy  ; '  for  much  ease,  peace  and  refreshment  I  received  into  my 
soul." 

Humphrey  Bache  now  left  the  custom-house  and  returned  to  his 
former  business  of  a  goldsmith.  As  he  kept  upon  the  watch,  and 
continued  to  walk  in  obedience  to  the  requirements  of  Divine  Grace, 
he  found  that  his  growth  in  the  truth  depended  on  his  obedience  in 
what  many  called  small  and  foolish  things ;  as  using  the  plain  lan- 
guage of  thou  and  thee  to  a  single  person,  discarding  compliments, 
whether  in  speech  or  manner,  and  refusing  to  conform  to  the  vain 
fashions  and  customs  of  the  world.  This  cost  him  much,  and  he 
often  felt  the  power  of  temptation  to  turn  his  feet  out  of  the  straight 
and  narrow  way.  Faltering  or  turning  aside,  as  he  sometimes  did, 
always  marred  his  peace,  and  had  to  be  retraced  with  heartfelt 
repentance ;  but  as  he  kept  steadily  under  the  yoke  of  Christ, 
walking  in  the  light,  he  became  established  on  the  immutable 
foundation  of  prophets  and  apostles,  and  prepared  for  usefulness  in 
the  Church.  He  joined  in  membership  with  Friends,  and  in  1656 
a  meeting  was  regularly  held  at  his  house. 

In  carrying  on  his  business,  he  found  himself  restrained  from 
making  or  selling  rings  or  trinkets,  as  he  was  made  conscious  that 
they  merely  ministered  to  the  pride  of  the  human  heart. 

When,  in  1662,  the  storm  of  persecution  beat  so  vehemently  on 
the  defenseless  heads  of  Friends,  because  they  would  keep  up  their 
meetings  for  divine  worship,  H.  Bache  shared — as  he  had  repeatedly 
before  —  in  the  cruel  punishments  inflicted,  and  was  thrust  into  a 
prison  already  overcrowded  with  his  fellow  sufferers.  Here  close 
confinement  in  a  depraved  atmosphere,  so  preyed  upon  his  vital  en- 


98  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

eri;ies,  that  he  did  not  h)iig  survive  his  liberation  ;  l)ut  sliortly  after 
hiid  down  his  life  for  the  testimony  of  a  good  conscience,  and  entered 
upon  the  enjoyment  of  the  things  which  eye  hatii  not  seen  nor  ear 
heard,  neither  have  entered  into  the  heart  of  man,  but  which  God 
hath  prepared  for  them  that  love  him. 

Alexander  Parker  had  accompanied  G.  Fox,  when  he  was  sent  up 
by  Col.  Hacker,  and  remained  with  him  for  some  time.  In  a  letter 
to  Margaret  Fell,  dated  First  month,  IGoo,  he  says,  "  So  we  are  yet 
in  this  city,  and  for  a  while  continue  in  it.  There  are  many  Friends 
come  up,  as  F.  Howgil  and  E.  Burrough,  Thomas  Salthouse,  Miles 
Halhead,  William  Caton,  John  Stubbs,  and  many  others;  but  I  be- 
lieve we  shall  disperse  abroad  after  to-morrow.  We  do  not  want  for 
any  thing :  here  are  many  precious  Friends  in  the  city,  who  would 
do  anything  for  us,  or  let  us  have  anything;  but  George  is  not  very 
free,  but  rather  keeps  clear.  Our  horses  are  at  the  inn  where  we 
lay;  but  so  many  coming  to  see  George,  they  (^inukeepers)  rather 
grow  weary,  and  wish  us  to  take  another  place." 

George  and  Alexander  took  a  turn  out  into  Bedfordshire,  where 
resided  John  Crook,  a  justice,  at  whose  house  they  held  a  meeting^ 
and  the  people  uere  generally  convinced.  J.  Crook,  liin)self,  em- 
braced the  principles  of  Friends,  and  became  an  ui)proved  minister, 
suffering  much  for  the  truth  he  had  espoused. 

Returning  to  London,  they  again  entered  into  the  multiplied  and 
successful  labors  which  Friends  were  engaged  in  there.  Another 
letter  from  A.  Parker  to  M.  Fell,  will  give  the  reader  some  idea  of 
the  state  of  things  in  that. city  at  the  time,  and  the  field  of  service 
in  which  other  Friends  were  engaged.  "  Our  dearly  beloved  George 
Fox  is  yet  iu  this  city  (Third  month,  1655),  and  I  know  little 
at  present  of  his  removing.  The  work  is  great,  and  many  are  daily 
convinced.  We  have  seven  or  eight  meetings  on  First-day,  and  all 
are  pretty  quiet.  F.  Howgil  and  E.  Burrough  had  a  great  dispute 
with  the  chief  of  the  Baptists  on  the  Third-day  of  this  week,  and  on 
Fourth-day,  another  with  two  of  the  chief  of  the  Water  Baptists. 
Many  of  their  hearers  who  are  not  satisfied,  came,  and  sonie  Friends, 
and  the  power  of  the  Lord  was  over  them ;  though  they  are  a  very 
wise  and  subtle  generation,  yet  the  Lord,  by  his  wisdom  in  weak 
ones,  confounds  and  overturns  them.  A  great  shatter  is  among  all 
the  forms  and  gathered  Churches — as  they  are  called — and  many 
are  inquiring  after  truth."  "Concerning  our  Friends  in  North- 
ampton, they  all  continue  in  prison,  as  far  as  I  know;  Yorkshire 
Friends  have  latelv  been  with  them,  and  have  supplied  their  neces- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  99 

sities.  Those  in  Bedford,  likewise  coiitiime  [iu  prison].*  And  for 
Friends  at  Norwich,  they  are  all  released  but  Christopher  Atkin- 
son. John  Stubbs  and  William  Caton  were  with  us  last  week. 
They  are  sweetly  carried  on  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  and  are  much 
strengthened ;  they  went  back  again  towards  Dover.  John  Slee 
and  Thomas  Lawson  went  into  Sussex.  John  Wilkinson  and  John 
Story  are  going  westward.  Thomas  Salthouse  and  Miles  Malhead 
are  about  Bristol,  and  lack  nothing  ;  nor  any  Friends ;  for  as  they 
come  up  here,  if  any  want,  our  friends  Francis  and  Edward  supply 
them.  The  charge  truly  is  great,  but  our  desire  is  to  make  it 
as  easy  as  possibly  we  can.  Here  are  iu  this  city  many  precious 
Friends,  and  they  begin  to  know  George  ;  though  at  the  first  he  was 
strange  to  them,  and  one  thing  they  all  take  notice  of:  that  if  George 
be  in  the  comj^any,  all  the  rest  are,  for  the  most  part,  silent;  which 
they  did  much  wonder  at." 

"Our  brethren  Thomas  Aldani  and  Anthony  Pearson  came  into 
the  city  yesternight.  They  are  now  with  George.  Francis  and 
Edward,  and  Gervase  Benson  are  all  here,"  &c. 

Among  the  Friends  alluded  to  as  being  in  prison  in  Northamp- 
ton, was  William  Dewsbury,  who,  in  that  year  (1655),  had  been 
made  a  prisoner  on  complaint  of  a  priest,  who  had  publicly  accused 
him  of  things  which  he  could  not  prove.  William  called  on  him 
to  show  the  people  wherein  he  had  deceived  them,  but  he  could 
not ;  so  the  high  constable  seized  him  and  conducted  him  as  a 
criminal  to  the  market  place,  threatening  to  bring  a  charge  of  blas- 
jjhemy  against  him.  Nothing,  however,  was  proved  against  him, 
and  he  went  to  the  house  of  a  person  named  Ellington,  from  the 
upper  window  of  which,  he  preached  to  the  people  collected  below. 
Many  were  effectually  convinced,  among  whom  was  Francis  Elling- 
ton, who  afterwards  suffered  imprisonment  with  William  Dewsbury. 
William  was  arrested  the  next  day  on  the  charge  of  "  being  one 
who  is  commonly  called  a  Quaker;"  but  was  sent  to  prison  with  a 
mittimus  that  stated,  among  other  things,  that  he  had  s[)oken  blas- 
phemy. He  and  a  Friend  named  Joseph  Storr  —  who  was  charged 
with  nothing  but  being  present  at  the  examination  of  William — were 
put  into  a  dungeon,  twelve  steps  under  ground,  among  thieves  and 
murderers,  to  be  there  kept  until  the  assizes  ;  which  was  a  month  off. 
They  were  refused  a  copy  of  the  mittimus,  and  when  the  assizes 
came  on,  their  ciises  were  passed  by  without  trial  to  the  next  session, 

*  J.  Lancaster,  T.  Stubbs,  and  A.  Patrickson,  imprisoned  for  not  taking  off 
their  liats. 


100  FRTEXDS    IN    THE 

wliicli  \va>:  not  for  two  months.  Two  more  Friends,  F.  Elliiifrton 
and  IIcMirv  Williams,  w(>re  thrust  into  the  dismal  hole  with  them, 
the  latter  havintj^  been  dreadfully  beaten  ])reviou.sly. 

1(35").  When  the  as<izes  cam-;  rounrl  ai^iin,  they  were  all  brouiiht 
to  the  bar,  before  Judges  Matthew  Hale  and  H.  Wyudham.  Wil- 
liam Dewsbury  in  his  journal  gives  an  interesting  account  of  what 
took  place  during  their  examination.  Matthew  Hale  was  known  to 
be  a  religious  minded  man,  but  it  was  evident  that,  though  he 
knew  really  nothing  al)out  the  principles  of  Friends,  he  allowed 
himself  to  be  strongly  influenced  by  the  common  prejudice  against 
them.     Wyndham  had  l)(>fore  shown  himself  inimical  to  them. 

The  account  of  the  trial  is  too  long  to  be  given  here.  The  fore 
part  of  it  was  occupied  by  questions  and  answers  between  Judge 
Hale  and  William  Dewsbury ;  the  latter  on  behalf  of  himself  and 
his  fellow  sufferers  demanding  to  be  informed  what  law  thev  had 
broken ;  and  defending  the  doctrines  inculcated  by  Friends.  The 
prisoners  were  set  aside,  but  recalled  before  the  court  broke  up. 
Some  one  ordered  their  hats  to  be  taken  off",  but  when  about  to  take 
offDewsbury's,  Judge  Hale  bade  him  keep  it  on,  and  those  of  the 
other  Friends  returned  to  them.  x\fterwards  he  accused  W.  D.  of 
"not  being  the  man  he  pretended  to  be,"  and  commanded  him  as  a 
prisoner  to  take  off  his  hat. 

Judge  Hale. —  "Art  thou  judge,  that  thou  standest  covered,  and 
will  not  uncover,  as  other  prisoners  do? 

W.  D.  —  What  I  do,  God  is  my  witness,  I  do  it  not  in  contempt 
to  any  ;  but  in  obedience  to  the  power  of  God,  for  conscience'  sake. 

Judge. — If  you  will  not  stand  as  prisoners,  I  will  not  do  anything 
concerning  you  ;  but  here  I  found  you  and  here  I  shall  leave  you. 

W.  D. — We  have  been  above  ten  weeks  in  the  low-  jail,  and  no 
breach  of  any  law  found  against  us.  We  stand  subject  to  the  power 
of  God,  whatever  He  suffers  thee  to  do  with  us. 

Judge  Wyndham.  —  If  thou  and  Fox  had  it  in  your  power,  you 
would  soon  have  your  hands  imbrued  in  blood. 

W.  D. — It  is  not  so.  The  Spirit  of  Truth  which  we  witness  in 
us  is  peaceable,  and  neither  doth  violence  nor  sheds  blood  ;  and  the 
hands  of  all  that  are  guided  by  the  Spirit  of  Truth,  the  Liglit  and 
power  of  Christ,  are  bound  from  offering  violence  or  shedding  blood." 

As  all  the  Friends  declined  to  give  sureties  to  appear  at  the  next 
session  of  the  court,  unless  they  were  told  what  law  they  had  broken, 
they  were  sent  back  to  the  offensive  low  dungeon  where  they  had 
already  lain  so  long. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  101 

At  the  next  sessions  they,  and  other  Friends  who  had  been  im- 
prisoned with  them,  were  brought  before  Judge  Atkins.  No  indict- 
ment was  found  against  them.  So  frivolous  were  the  charges  made 
in  court  by  their  enemies,  that  the  judge  said  to  the  clerk  of  the 
court,  "  Why  do  you  trouble  me  with  that  which  there  is  no  matter 
of  fact  in  ?  I  much  wonder  you  should  trouble  the  judge  of  the  assize 
with  such  small  things,  and  not  end  them  in  your  own  sessions,  for 
we  come  hither  to  determine  greater  matters."  Nevertheless,  the 
Friends  were  not  allowed  to  plead  in  their  own  defence,  but  were 
told  they  showed  contempt  of  authority  in  not  taking  off  their  hats; 
and  as  they  would  not  give  surety  for  their  good  behavior,  or  to 
appear  voluntarily,  unless  they  were  told  for  what  they  were  to 
answer,  they  were  remanded  to  their  former  filthy  place  of  confine- 
ment, where  they  lay  six  months  longer,  until  discharged  by  an 
order  from  Oliver  Cromwell. 

In  this  day  of  enlightened  public  opinion  and  civil  freedom,  it 
seems  almost  incredible  that  the  rights  and  liberty  of  reputable  men 
could  have  been  so  sported  with  by  officials  sworn  to  execute  the  laws 
justly  and  impartially.  But  while  it  is  impossible  to  reconcile  the 
treatment  received  by  Friends  from  the  hands  of  the  judiciary,  with 
the  principles  of  justice  and  equity,  which  always  coincide  with  Chris- 
tian charity,  it  would  not  be  right  to  judge  them  by  the  recognized 
standard  of  the  present  day.  It  is  evident,  that  much  as  had  been 
done  and  suffered  throughout  the  nation  in  the  cause  of  civil  and 
religious  liberty,  neither  was  properly  understood  nor  rightly  esti- 
mated. Frequent  change  of  government  and  of  religious  profession, 
had  unsettled  law  and  undermined  its  force.  At  the  close  of  the 
long  and  sanguinary  contentions  that  had  shaken  down  the  throne 
and  immolated  its  incumbent,  the  minds  of  the  rulers  in  State  and 
church,  were  too  much  engrossed  with  efforts  to  use  the  power  tliey 
had  grasped,  for  securing  their  own  authority,  to  pay  much  regard 
to  individual  rights,  which  -lie  at  the  foundation  of  all  free  govern- 
ment. 

Cromwell  and  his  party  had  spoken  iiiirly  on  liberty  of  conscience  ; 
but  they  were  conscious  that  the  power  they  held  was  usurped,  and 
that  stealthy  and  embittered  enemies  were  constantly  on  the  watch, 
to  end)race  the  first  opportunity  presented,  that  promised  a  success- 
ful challenge  of  their  authority  and  effort  to  hurl  them  from  the 
position  th(!y  occupied.  Nothing  I)ut  theg(!nius  and  iron  will  of  the 
Protector,  kept  down  tlic  disc(>ntent  an<l  rebellious  liate  that  hiid 
sm(mld(M'iiig  iindei-  vaiioiis  guist's,  evi^r  ready   to  break   the  [x'uce, 


102  FRIENDS    IX    TIIK 

could  his  vii^ilant  and   piercing  eye  be  blinded  or  deceived  long 
enough  to  allow  of  a  hopeful  insurrection. 

AVhen  the  army  was  called  on  to  swear  allegiance  to  the  new 
government,  many  among  the  officers  declined  doing  so.  Some  of 
these,  it  was  known,  were  partially  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  prin- 
ciples held  by  Friends,  and  scrupled  to  take  an  oath  ;  — of  these  most 
afterwards  became  members  of  the  Society.  This  excited  the  jealousy 
and  perhaps  the  fears  of  those  in  power. 

As  regards  correctness  of  religious  belief,  there  hud  undoubtedly 
no  little  advance  been  made  since  the  dawn  of  the  Reformation. 
The  elements  of  reform  had  gone  on  removing  abuses  and  simpli- 
fying the  abstruseness  of  dogma,  and  complication  of  ritual.  The 
people,  nevertheless,  were  too  ignorant  of  the  simplicity  of  the  faith 
taught  in  the  New  Testament,  and  too  much  in  the  dark  respecting 
the  spirituality  of  the  Gospel  dispensation,  the  headship  of  Christ  in 
his  church,  and  the  brotherhood  of  all  its  true  members  to  escape 
from  the  specious  show,  and  the  selfish,  grasping,  subtle  spirit 
of  priestcraft.  The  distinction  between  clergy  and  laity,  was  so 
wide,  and  so  jealously  preserved,  that  any  interference  of  the  latter 
in  ecclesiastical  matters,  was  looked  upon  by  the  former  as  an  im- 
pertinent interference.  In  the  popular  mind,  the  "  ministry"  was  so 
immediately  and  inseparably  associated  with  the  "  church,"  that 
they  looked  on  them  as  identical  ;  and  as  the  "church"  had  long 
been,  and  still  was  considered  a  part  of  tke  State,  attacks  upon  the 
"ministei-s"  were  resented  by  the  government,  as  being  made  upon 
itself. 

Friends,  as  has  been  seen,  were  called  on  to  stand  as  witnesses  of  the 
great  truths  that  there  was  but  one  Head  in  the  church  and  all  true 
believers  stood  on  the  same  footing ;  that  none  should  attempt  to 
lord  it  over  the  heritage,  but  should  be  ensamples  to  the  flock  ;  that 
Christ  alone  made  the  ministers  in  his  church,  and  dispensed  other 
gifts  for  the  edification  of  the  body ;  that  as  He  died  for  all,  so  He 
also  had  given  to  every  one  a  measure  of  his  Spirit ;  which  was  for 
a  guide  and  rule,  and  which,  as  it  was  obeyed,  would  bring  salvation 
to  the  soul ;  that  the  Scriptures  were  the  words  of  God,  but  not  the 
Word  ;  that  the  true  knowledge  and  ai)plication  of  them  was  to  be 
known  only  through  the  Spirit  which  dictated  them  ;  and  that  the 
Gospel  must  be  freely  preached,  as  it  was  ireely  received  ;  therefore, 
that  tithes,  and  all  exactions  for  religious  services,  were  unlawful, 
and  unauthorized  by  Christ.  These  Gospel  truths  struck  at  the  root 
of  all  State  authority  and  all  exclusive  superiority  of  any  class  in 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  103 

the  church  militaDt ;  destroying  the  wide  distiuctiou  meu  liad  made 
between  clergy  and  laity. 

In  tho.«e  days  of  religious  disputation  and  latitudinarian  assump- 
tion, many  sects  had  sprung  up ;  some  of  which  avowed  licentious 
principles,  and  manifested  great  turbulence  and  disregard  of  civil 
government ;  claiming  to  be  restrained  by  nothing  but  their  own 
will  and  wishes.  These  differed  altogether  from  Friends,  who, 
while  they  taught  that  all  should  be  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God  in 
order  to  become  the  sons  of  God,  always  maintained  that  that  Spirit 
would  never  sanction  either  doctrines  or  practices  that  were  con- 
trary to  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  and  that  it  was  a  duty  to  yield  obedi- 
ence to  civil  government  in  everything  that  did  not  interfere  with 
the  allegiance  which  man  owes  to  his  Creator. 

But  their  principles  were  not  understood,  nor  yet  the  religious 
origin  of  their  testimony  against  the  ordinary  mode  of  salutation, 
the  refusal  to  take  off  the  hat  as  a  mark  of  respect  to  man,  and  the 
use  of  the  Scriptural  language  of  thou  and  thee  to  a  single  person. 
Therefore  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  that  many  goodly  men,  such  as 
Judge  Hale,  should  have  classed  them,  at  first,  with  other  sectaries 
which  were  really  inimical  to  the  government,  and  willing  to  promote 
disorder  throughout  the  country.  Judge  Hale  afterwards  came  to 
know  them  better,  and  to  esteem  them  very  differently ;  and  Justice 
Hotham,  who  was  no  Friend,  but  who  knew  how  many  were  run- 
ning into  extravagance  and  almost  unbridled  license  in  their  re- 
ligious professions,  declared  emphatically,  that  "  If  God  had  not 
raised  up  this  principle  of  Light  and  Life,  which  George  Fox 
preached,  the  nation  had  been  overrun  with  Ranterism,  and  all  the 
justices  in  the  nation,  could  not  have  stopped  it,  with  all  their  laws:" 
because,  said  he,  "  They  would  have  said  as  we  said,  and  done  as  we 
commanded,  and  yet  have  kept  their  old  principle  still;  but  this 
principle  of  Truth  overthrows  that  principle,  and  the  root  and 
ground  thereof." 

Although  there  is  no  memoir  of  Miles  Halhead  extant,  and  the 
accounts  of  his  religious  labors  incidentally  given  in  the  histories  of 
the  times,  and  the  journals  of  other  Friends,  are  but  meagre,  yet  suffi- 
cient has  been  preserved,  to  show  that  he  was  little,  if  any,  behind 
the  chiefest  of  the  band  of  zealous  jireachers,  who  during  the  rise  of 
the  Society  of  Frii'uds,  went  fortii  with  their  lives  in  tlieir  hands,  to 
proclaim  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  through  a  crucified  Saviour, 
by  obedience;  to  the  revelations  of  his  S[)irit  to  (he  soul. 


1 04  F  II  I  E  N  D  S     IN    T  IT  E 

The  place  of  his  nativity  was  probably  Uiiderbarrow,  in  West- 
moivland,  and  he  appears  to  have  been  (•onvinci'd  of  the  doctrines 
and  testimonies  of  the  gospel  as  held  by  Friends  ibiouiili  the  min- 
istry of  George  Fox,  in  the  commeueeinent  of  Ins  travels  to  spread 
them.  The  first  circuinstauce  related  concerning  him,  is  that  being 
on  his  way  to  attend  the  meeting  then  just  established  at  Swarth- 
moor  (1653),  he  met  on  the  road  the  wife  of  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
not  knowing  her,  he  passed  by  without  greeting  her  in  any  way,  which 
so  displeased  her,  that  she  sent  her  servant-man  to  beat  him,  which 
he  did.  AVhereupon  Miles,  turning  back  to  hei',  said,  "Thou  .Jeze- 
bel !  thou  proud  Jezebel!  couldst  thou  not  sutler  the  servant  of  the 
Lord  to  pass  by  thee  (piietly?"  8he  put  forth  her  hand  as  though 
intending  to  strike  him,  and  spit  in  his  face,  saying,  "  I  scorn  to 
fall  down  at  thy  Avords."  Miles  replied,  "  Thou  proud  Jezebel ! 
lliou  that  hardenest  thy  heart  and  brazenest  thy  face  against  the 
Lord  and  his  servant,  the  Loi-d  will  plead  with  thee  in  his  own  time, 
and  set  in  order  before  thee  the  things  that  thou  hast  done  this  day 
to  Ins  servant."     He  then  went  on  his  way. 

Al)()Ut  three  months  after  this  occurrence.  Miles  believed  it  re- 
quired of  him  to  go  to  this  same  woman  at  her  own  house,  and  went. 
Arriving  at  Houlker  Hall  —  the  place  of  her  residence  —  and  she 
being  at  the  door  and  not  recognizing  her,  he  asked  her  if  she  was  the 
mistress  of  the  house?  She  replied,  "No,  but  if  you  would  speak 
with  Mrs.  Preston,  I  will  entreat  her  to  come  to  you."  Going  in 
she  returned  with  another  woman  and  said,  "  Here  is  Mrs.  Preston." 
But  he,  immediately  becoming  sensible  of  the  deception,  said. 
"  Woman,  how  dar'st  thou  lie  before  the  Lord  and  his  servant?  Thou 
art  the  woman  I  came  to  speak  to."  She  being  silent,  he  proceeded, 
"  Woman,  hear  wdiat  the  Lord's  servant  hath  to  say  unto  thee:  O  ! 
woman,  harden  not  thy  heart  against  the  Lord  ;  for  if  thou  dost  He 
will  cut  thee  off  in  sore  displeasure;  therefore  take  warning  in  time, 
and  fear  the  Lord  God  of  heaven  and  earth,  that  thou  niay'st  end 
thy  days  in  peace."     Having  delivered  his  message  he  went  away. 

Some  three  years  after,  behig  in  the  same  neighborliood,  Miles 
met  a  man  on  the  road  who  accosted  him  and  said,  "  Friend,  I  have 
something  to  say  to  you  which  hatli  lain  upon  me  this  longtime.  I 
am  the  man  that,  about  three  years  ago,  at  the  command  of  my 
mistress,  did  beat  you  very  sorely  ;  for  which  I  have  been  very  much 
troul)led,  more  than  for  anything  I  ever  did  in  all  niy  life ;  ibr 
truly,  night  and  day  it  hath  been  often  in  my  heart  that  I  did  not 
well  in  beating;  an  innocent  man  that  never  did  me  any  hurt  or  harm. 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CENTUKY.  105 

I  pray  you  forgive  me,  and  pray  the  Lord  to  forgive  me,  that  I  may 
be  at  peace  and  quiet  in  my  miud."  Miles  answered,  "  Truly,  friend, 
from  that  time  to  this  day  I  never  had  anything  in  my  heart  against 
thee  nor  thy  mistress  but  love.  The  Lord  forgive  you  both.  I  de- 
sire that  it  may  never  be  laid  to  your  charge  ;  for  ye  knew  not  what 
ye  did." 

Believing  it  to  be  his  religious  duty  at  different  times  to  go  to 
places  of  worship  to  declare  the  word  of  Truth  given  to  him,  he  often 
met  with  grievous  abuse,  more  than  once  being  beaten  until  nearly 
deprived  of  life.  At  Stanley  chapel,  the  doors  being  closed 
against  him,  he  waited  patiently  in  the  yard  until  the  congregation 
came  out,  intending  to  address  them,  but  some  of  them  immediately 
fell  u[)on  liim  in  a  great  rage,  and  after  abusing  him,  one  took  him 
by  the  slioulders  and  another  by  the  legs  and  tossed  him  over  the 
wall.  So  exceedingly  bruised  was  he  by  the  fall,  that  he  could 
scarcely  get  home.  But  his  Lord  and  Master  had  promised  him  that 
he  should  be  healed  of  all  his  injuries  if  he  was  faithful  to  his  requir- 
ings,  and  his  promise  was  fulfilled  in  a  remarkable  manner.  [1(353.] 

Besides  several  other  circumstances  in  which  this  valiant  servant 
was  called  upon  to  do  and  to  suli'er,  Sewel  narrates  the  following : 
"  He  came  to  Furneiss,  in  Lancashire,  to  the  house  of  Captain 
Adam  Sands,  where  he  found  a  great  number  of  professors  gathered, 
and  priest  Lampit  preaching.  But  as  soon  as  Miles  entered,  Lam- 
pit  was  silent,  which  continuing  a  pretty  while,  Captain  Sands 
said  to  him,  '  Sir,  what  is  the  matter:  are  you  not  well  ?'  to  which 
the  priest  answered,  '  I  am  well,  but  I  shall  speak  no  more  as  long 
as  this  dumb  devil  is  in  the  house.'  '  A  dumb  devil,'  said  the  Cap- 
tain, '  where  is  he  ? '  '  This  is  he,'  said  the  priest,  pointing  with  his 
hand,  '  that  standeth  there.'  Then  the  Captain  said,  '  This  man  is 
quiet  and  saith  nothing  to  you :  I  pray  you,  sir,  go  on  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord;  and  if  he  trouble  or  molest  you  in  my  house,  I  Avill 
send  him  to  Lancaster  castle.'  But  the  priest  said  again,  '  I  shall 
not  preach  as  long  as  this  dumb  devil  is  in  the  house.'  Then  the 
Captain  said  to  one  Camelibrd,  a  priest  also,  '  I  pray  you,  sir,  stand 
up  and  exercise  your  gift,  and  I  will  see  that  you  be  not  disturbed.' 
But  this  priest  answered  as  the  other,  '  I  shall  not  speak  as  long  as 
this  dumb  devil  is  in  the  house,'  Then  the  people  cried,  '  Lord  re- 
buke thee,  Satan  ;  Lord  rebuke  thee,  Satan  ;  what  manner  of  Si)irit 
is  this  that  stops  our  ministers'  mouths?'  Then  the  (yaptain  came 
to  Miles,  and  taking  him  l)y  the  hand,  led  him  out  of  the  house. 
In  all  that  time  he  had  not  spoken  a  word,  and  saw  now  the  accom- 


106  FRIENDS     IN    THE 

plishment  of  what  he  had  been  persuaded  of  before,  viz.,  that  an  in- 
visible power  would  confound  by  him  the  wif^dom  of  the  priests, 
wlien  he  spoke  never  a  word. 

"  Lampit  and  Camelford  had  been  active  in  the  barbarous  treat- 
ment of  George  Fox  at  Ulverstone  and  Cockan. 

1653.  "  This  year  Miles  Ilalhoad  came  to  Berwick  in  Northum- 
berland, and  went  to  the  Mayor  of  that  town,  and  spoke  to  him  in  liis 
shop  thus  :  '  Friend,  hear  what  the  servant  of  the  Lord  hath  to  say 
unto  thee.  Give  over  persecuting  the  Lord's  servants,  whom  He  doth 
send  in  love  to  this  town  of  Berwick,  to  show  you  the  way  that  leads 
to  life  eternal.  I  charge  thee,  O  man,  touch  not  the  Lord's  anointed, 
nor  do  his  prophets  any  harm,  lest  thou  procure  the  anger  of  the 
living  eternal  God  against  thee.'  This  bold  language  so  offended 
the  Mayor,  that  he  sent  Miles  to  prison,  where  he  was  about  ten 
weeks,  and  then  was  brought  to  the  sessions,  where  a  bill  drawn  up 
against  him,  was  read  in  open  court :  but  he  denied  the  contents 
thereof,  yet  said,  '  But  what  I  said  to  the  Mayor  of  this  town,  1  will 
not  deny.'  And  then  he  related  the  aforesaid  words  he  spoke  to  the 
Mayor.  Whereupon  the  Recorder  said,  '  Sirs,  as  I  understand  by 
his  own  words,  if  he  cannot  i)rove  the  Mayor  of  this  town  a  perse- 
cutor, in  my  judgment  he  hath  wronged  him.'  To  this  Miles 
answered,  'If  the  Mayor  of  this  town  of  Berwick,  dare  say  in  the 
presence  of  the  Lord,  whose  presence  is  here,  that  he  is  no  perse- 
cutor, but  the  persecuting  nature  is  slain  in  him,  I  will  be  willing 
to  abide  the  judgment  of  the  court.'  Then  the  clerk  of  the  court 
said,  '  Mr.  Mayor,  if  you  will  say  that  you  are  no  persecutor,  but 
the  persecuting  nature  is  slain  in  you,  he  is  willing  to  abide  the 
judgment  of  the  court.'  To  this  the  Mayor  answered,  '  I  know  not 
what  to  do  ;  I  would  I  had  never  seen  him  ;  I  pray  you,  let  him  go, 
and  let  us  be  no  more  troubled  with  him.'  Then  Miles  said  that  he 
would  prove  this  Mayor  of  Berwick  the  greatest  persecutor  in  town 
or  country.  '  I  was  once  [thus  he  went  on],  committed  to  prison  in 
this  town  before,  by  some  of  the  Justices  that  are  now  in  this  court ; 
but  thou,  O  man,  hast  exceeded  them  all ;  thou  hast  committed  me, 
and  kept  me  in  close  prison,  for  about  ten  weeks,  for  speaking  to 
thy  own  person,  in  thy  own  shop.  Now  I  make  my  appeal  to  the 
Recorder  of  this  town  of  Berwick,  as  I  am  a  free-born  Englishman, 
whether  my  imprisonment  be  legal,  according  to  the  law  of  tliis 
nation,  or  not  ? '  Then  the  Recorder  of  the  town  stood  up  and  said, 
'  It  is  not  very  legal  for  any  minister  of  the  law  to  imprison  any 
man  in  his  own  cause.'     Then   tlie  court  cried,  '  Take  him  away.' 


SEVENTEEXTH    CEXTURY.  107 

The  chief  priest  of  the  town  then  stood,  and  desired  the  court  that 
he  might  ask  Miles  one  question  ;  to  this  Miles  said,  '  The  Lord 
knows  thy  heart,  O  man,  and  at  this  present  has  revealed  thy 
thoughts  to  his  servant ;  and  therefore,  now  I  know  thy  heart  also, 
thou  high  priest,  and  the  question  thou  wouldst  ask  me ;  and  if 
thou  wilt  promise  me  before  the  court,  that  if  I  tell  thee  the  ques- 
tion thou  wouldst  ask  me,  thou  wilt  deal  plainly  with  me,  I  will  not 
only  tell  thee  thy  query,  but  I  Avill  answer  it.'  Then  the  priest  said 
he  would.  Then  Miles  proceeded  :  '  Thy  question  is  this :  thou 
wouldst  know  whether  I  own  that  Christ  that  died  at  Jerusalem,  or 
not  ?  '  To  this  the  priest  wondering  said,  '  Truly,  that  is  the  ques- 
tion.' Then  Miles  said,  'According  to  my  promise,  I  will  answer 
it  before  this  court;  in  the  presence  of  the  Lord  God  of  heaven,  I 
own  no  other  Christ  than  He  who  died  at  Jerusalem,  and  made  a 
good  confession  before  Pontius  Pilate,  to  be  the  Light  and  Way  that 
leads  fallen  man  out  of  sin  and  evil  up  to  God  eternal,  blessed  for- 
ever more.'  More  questions  were  not  asked  him,  but  the  jailer  was 
comtnanded  to  take  him  away.  Yet  within  a  short  time  the  court 
gave  orders  to  release  him." 

There  were  frequent  efforts  made  to  give  currency  to  tlie  state- 
ment that  the  only  Christ  which  Friends  believed  in  was  what  they 
claimed  to  be  the  Spirit  of  Christ  in  themselves,  and  therefore  that 
they  rejected  Jesus  Christ  who  died  at  Jerusalem,  as  the  Saviour  of 
the  world.  Friends  again  and  again  refuted  this  slander,  and  set 
forth  as  plainly  as  words  could  express,  their  full  belief  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ ;  his  eternal  Divinity,  his  propitiatory  sacrifice  for  the 
sins  of  the  whole  world,  his  resurrection  and  ascension  into  heaven, 
his  now  appearing  there  as  the  Meditator  between  God  and  man, 
and  his  coming  the  second  time,  without  a  sin  offering,  unto  salva- 
tion, by  his  Holy  Spirit;  which  the  apostle  designates  as  "Christ 
within  the  hope  of  glory."  But  it  suited  the  persecuting  feelings 
and  views  of  those  who,  in  that  day,  desired  their  suppression  as 
living  witnesses  to  the  truth,  as  it  has  suited  the  Socinian  belief  of 
some  in  the  present  day,  to  disregard  their  clear  declarations  of  the 
contrary,  and  to  endeavor  to  fasten  upon  tluMu  sentiments  they  re- 
pudiated and  abhorred. 

In  a  work  designed  to  be  limited,  as  this  is,  room  cannot  be 
spared  to  give  many  extracts  from  the  declarations  of  faith  fre- 
quently made  by  Friends,  nor  from  the  journals  of  the  more  noted 
members,  both  in  the  early  days  of  the  Society  and  since,  wherein  is 
plainly  set  forth  their  full  and   uncMjuivocal   belief  in  the  Deity  of 


108  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

Christ,  iind  the  Atonement  nitide  by  him  for  sin.*  George  Fox's 
journal,  like  that  of  other  Friends,  bears  frequent  and  unmistaka- 
ble testimony  to  this;  a  few  extracts  will  be  incidentally  given 
hereafter. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Tiitroiliu'tion  of  Quakerism  into  Scotland  —  Friends  travelling  there  in  1654  — 
Jolm  Stiibhs  — William  (Jaton  —  Dover  —  Luke  Howard  —  Samuel  Fisher — 
L.  Howard  convinces  S.  Fisher  of  the  general  impropriety  of  Psalm  Sing- 
ing —  J.  Stubbs  and  W.  Caton  at  Maidstone  —  Ireland  —  William  Edmund- 
son —  Religious  Convincement  and  Progress  —  Travels  with  J.  Tiffin  —  W. 
Edmundson  visits  G.  Fox  —  E.  Burrougii  and  F.  Ilowgil  in  Ireland  —  Other 
Ministers  in  Ireland — A  Bishop  and  his  Wife  —  Priests  petition  against 
Friends  —  Order  issued  against  them  —  E.  Burrough  and  F.  Ilowgil  banished 
the  Island  —  B.  Blaugdone  in  Ireland  —  Identity  of  Religious  Princii)les  and 
Practices  embraced  by  Friends  everywhere — Instance  of  trial  of  W.  Edmund- 
son's  faith  in  Divine  Revelation  —  W.  E.  takes  up  land  in  order  to  bear 
testimony  against  tithes  —  SuH'ering  endured  by  Friends  in  Ireland. 

rilHERE  are  no  particulars  preserved  of  the  labors  of  the  min- 
J-  isters  among  Friends  who  first  travelled  into  Scotland  in  order 
to  spread  a  knowledge  of  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gospel.  Early  in 
the  year  1654,  Christopher  Fell,  George  Wilson  and  John  Grave 
were  drawn  to  visit  Scotland  and  to  labor  there,  but  how  long  they 
stayed,  and  how  extensively  they  travelled  does  not  appear.  Prior, 
however,  to  any  Friends  arriving  in  Scotland,  several  earnest  seekers 
after  truth  through  the  inshining  of  the  Holy  Spirit  on  their  under- 
standings, had  become  burdened  with  the  formality  and  will-worship 
which  prevailed  in  that  country  among  the  professors  of  religion, 
and  engaged  to  search  for  more  substantial  good,  so  as  to  know 
their  souls  more  fully  redeemed  from  the  world,  and  more  given  up 
to  serve  the  Creator  of  all  things.  These  had  withdrawn  from  the 
public  preachers,  and  assembled  together  to  seek  after  ability  to 
worship  God  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  As  they  felt  the  refreshing, 
strengthening  effect  of  thus  waiting  on  the  Lord,  they  were  anxious 
that  their  friends  should  partake  with  them  ;  and  as  the  number 

*  Full  evidence  of  this,  may  be  seen  in  a  work  entitled,  "An  Exposi- 
tion of  the  Faith  of  the  Religious  Society  of  Friends,  commonly  called 
Quakers,"  by  Thomas  Evans. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  109 

enlarged,  two  meetings  were  set  up,  and  held  as  was  the  practice 
among  Friends.  John  Barclay  states  there  were  at  least  two  such 
meetings ;  one  held  at  Drumbowy  and  one  at  Heads.  It  also  ap- 
pears that  there  had  been  ministers  raised  up  among  them  who 
spoke  to  edification :  their  names  were  William  Osborne,  a  Colonel 
in  the  army ;  Richard  Rae  and  Alexander  Hamilton.  These  meet- 
ings had  been  held  for  a  year  before  any  Friends  from  England 
visited  them. 

Besides  those  whose  names  are  already  mentioned,  Miles  Halhead 
and  James  Lancaster  went  into  Scotland  in  1654,  and  also  Catharine 
Evans  and  Sarah  Chevers.  When  at  Dumfries,  the  last  named 
men  Friends,  went  to  a  place  of  worship  where  the  people  were 
making  much  lamentation  on  account  of  their  sins.  They  stayed 
quietly  until  their  worsliip  w^as  over,  when  Miles  began  to  deliver 
the  message  he  believed  called  for  by  his  Master.  The  hearers  soon 
became  enraged,  and  drove  both  Friends  out  of  the  town,  intending 
to  stone  them  when  they  got  to  the  near  river  side ;  but  they  waded 
througli  the  water  and  so  escaped.  From  there  they  went  to  Edin- 
burgh and  Leith,  calling  the  people  to  repentance,  and  obedi- 
ence to  the  convictions  of  Divine  Grace  in  the  secret  of  their  hearts. 
They  also  visited  the  garrisons,  preaching  to  the  officers  and 
soldiers.  In  his  communication,  on  one  occasion.  Miles  told  the 
officers  and  soldiers,  who  appeared  to  be  much  affected,  "  That  the 
anger  of  the  Lord  was  kindled  against  them,  because  they  had  not 
performed  their  promises,  which  they  had  made  Him  in  the  day  of 
their  distress  ;  when  their  enemies  encompassed  them  on  every  side; 
for  then  the  Lord  delivered  them,  and  gave  them  victory:  but  they 
had  returned  Him  evil  for  good,  and  committed  violence  against 
those  He  sent  to  declare  his  word  among  them."  He  afterwards 
went  to  Glasgow  and  Stirling,  but  tarried  not  long,  returning  to 
England. 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  labors  of  any  of  the  Friends  then  in 
Scotland  were  attended  with  much  convincement.  In  1655  William 
Caton  and  John  Stubl)s  arrived  at  Edinburgh,  where  they  found  that 
some  disorder  had  crept  in  among  the  little  company  of  Friends,  in 
consequence  of  the  unfaithfulness  of  some  who  had  been  convinced. 
Their  gospel  labors  were  blessed  to  the  restoring  of  good  order,  and 
to  the  edification  of  the  church.  W.  Caton  went  to  the  princi))al 
place  of  worship  in  tin;  city,  but  was  not  allowed  to  say  much  ;  the 
multitude  attacking  liiin  and  carrying  liiiu  into  tiic  street.  Here 
he  was  rescued   l)y  a  guard   of  soldiers,   wlio  cdiiihictiMl   him    with 


no  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

drawn  swords  to  the  place  lie  desired  to  reach.  He  had  an  inter- 
view with  General  ^lonk,  who  at  that  time  had  command  of  the 
army  in  Scotland. 

John  Stubbs  has  been  mentioned  already.  He  was  convinced  by 
George  Fox  while  George  was  confined  in  Carlisle  jail  [165.'3].  He 
had  been  an  officer  in  the  army,  and  when  Cromwell  reijnired  all  of 
them  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  government,  lu;  felt  it 
wrong  to  swear,  and  so  he  left  the  army.  He  was  a  learned  man, 
and  a  linguist,  being  well  versed  in  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew,  and 
having  likewise  considerable  knowledge  of  several  of  the  Oriental 
languages.  Embracing  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel  as  preached  by 
G.  Fox,  and  coming  under  the  searching,  cleansing  operation  of 
the  measure  of  the  Holy  Spirit  vouchsafed  to  him,  his  conduct 
and  conversation  soon  became  consistent  with  the  principles  he  pro- 
fessed, and  it  was  not  long  before  he  was  entrusted  with  a  gift  in 
the  ministry,  and  he  became  an  able  minister  of  the  new  covenant. 
He  and  Wm.  Cat  on  travelled  much  together. 

Wra.  Catou  had  been  taken  into  Judge  Fell's  family  to  reside 
when  he  was  about  fourteen  years  of  age ;  being  companion  to  the 
Judge's  son,  and  receiving  the  same  school  instruction  as  he.  He 
appears  to  have  been  a  fixvorite  with  the  Judge,  his  wife  and 
daughters.  The  singular  plainness  of  George  Fox's  address  and 
manners  wdien  on  his  first  visit  to  Swarthmoor  [1652],  attracted  the 
lad's  attention  to  him,  and  when  he  heard  him  declare  the  truths  of 
the  gospel,  in  the  family  circle  and  at  their  place  of  worship,  they  sank 
deep  into  his  mind.  The  doctrine  of  the  inward  Light  or  measure 
of  Divine  Grace  appealed  to  his  own  consciousness,  for  he  had  often 
been  reproved  by  it  for  evil,  and  being  convinced,  he  resolved  to 
regulate  his  future  life  thereby.  Hence  he  soon  found  himself,  young 
as  he  was,  obliged  to  deny  himself  of  many  things  he  had  before 
thought  allowable,  if  not  commendable;  to  take  up  his  daily  cross  and 
follow  the  leadings  of  Him  who  now  became  his  Lord  and  Master,  In 
all  these  exercises  and  close  trials,  he  found  Margaret  Fell  a  wise 
adviser  and  nursing  mother.  He  was  then  about  seventeen  years 
of  age.  As  he  gained  one  victory  after  another,  over  his  spiritual 
enemies,  his  heart  was  often  filled  with  joy  and  gratitude  to  the 
Lord  on  high,  who  had  shown  him  his  mercy  and  loving-kindness, 
and  brought  hira  to  enjoy  the  liberty  of  the  sons  of  God. 

As  he  became  more  firmly  established  in  the  right  way  of  the 
Lord,  the  duty  was  laid  upon  him  to  go  to  places  of  worship 
and  to  market-places,  to  preach  repentance  to  the  people,  l)y  turn- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  Ill 

ing  to  the  light  of  Christ  in  their  breasts,  and  being  willing  to  obey 
its  manifestations.  For  this  he  soon  had  to  endure  scorn,  beating, 
and  other  ill  treatment,  which  he  endured  with  meekness  and  pa- 
tience. Believing  that  he  was  called  to  go  forth  into  the  harvest- 
field  of  the  world  and  labor,  he  became  anxious  to  be  released  from 
his  engagement  with  Judge  Fell.  At  first  the  Judge  was  unwilling 
to  part  with  him,  but  his  wife,  being  sensible  that  a  gift  in  the  min- 
istry had  been  conferred  on  William,  and  that  his  Master  was  call- 
ing him  to  service  abroad,  persuaded  her  husband,  and  he  at  last 
consented  to  his  going.  He  left  the  family  near  the  close  of  the 
year  1654;  being  then  in  the  nineteenth  year  of  his  age. 

After  travelling  through  several  different  shires  in  the  northern 
and  middle  sections  of  England,  he  arrived  in  London,  where  he 
joined  John  Stubbs.  When  clear  of  their  religious  service  in  that 
city,  they  went  together  to  Dover.  Hei-e  they  separately  attended 
places  of  worship  resorted  to  by  Baptists  and  Independents.  Their 
awakening  ministry  produced  such  eflTect,  that  they  were  haled  be- 
fore the  magistrates,  who  having  questioned  them,  ordered,  under  a 
penalty,  that  no  one  should  entertain  them.  A  shoemaker  of  the 
name  of  Luke  Howard,  however,  took  them  into  his  house,  where 
they  held  a  meeting.  The  Mayor  sent  four  constables  to  the  house, 
with  an  order  that  Luke  should  deliver  them  up,  that  they  might 
be  sent  out  of  the  town.  But  the  doors  being  shut,  he  refused 
to  allow  the  officers  to  enter  his  house,  or  to  obey  the  order,  as  it  was 
not  lawful.  They  continued  some  days  as  his  guests,  during  which 
time  he  became  convinced  of  the  doctrines  they  preached,  and  soon 
joined  the  Society.  At  a  place  called  Lydd  they  were  instrumental 
in  bringing  Samuel  Fisher  to  see  more  clearly  the  error  in  which 
he  had  long  been  involved,  and  to  introduce  him  into  communion 
with  Friends.  He  had  been  educated  at  the  University,  ordained 
a  priest  in  the  "Church  of  England;"  and  obtained  a  "living"  at 
Lydd.  It  was  a  singular  circumstance  that  Luke  Howard,  some- 
time before  he  knew  anything  about  Friends,  became  dissatisfied 
with  singing  psalms  in  public  worship,  and  Samuel  Fisher,  as  a 
learned  minister,  was  requested  to  visit  him,  and  try  to  convince 
him  of  the  error  he  was  under.  In  the  course  of  the  conversation 
between  them,  Luke  said,  "  That  God  was  a  spirit,  and  must  be 
worshipped  in  spirit  and  in  truth  ;  and  that  it  was  conlniry  to  trutli 
lor  a  proud  man  to  sing,  '  He  was  not  jjufied  u})  in  mind  ;  lie  iiad  no 
scornful  eye,  and  did  not  exercise  himself  in  things  loo  high,'  when 
he  lived  in   pride,  wherein  (iod  beheld  him  ul'ar  oil";  or,  for  him  to 


112  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

eiiig,  'Rivers  of  tears  run  down  my  eyes,  because  otlicr  men  kee]i 
not  thy  laws;'  when  he  never  knew  true  sorrow  or  repentance  for 
his  own  sins." 

The  conversation  resulted  in  convincing  S.  Fisher  that  Tjuke  was 
right,  and  so  he  ceased  having  the  psalms  given  out  to  his  congre- 
(-•ation  to  sing.  Becoming  more  and  more  uneasy  with  the  ceremo- 
nies and  practices  used  in  liis  "  church,"  he  gave  up  his  "  living," 
and  resigned  his  commission  as  a  priest  to  the  bisho]).  He  then 
joined  tlie  Baptists,  and  became  a  preacher  among  them.  When 
J.  Stubbs  and  W.  Caton  came  to  Lydd,  he  received  them  into  his 
familv,  and  also  received  the  truth  and  lived  up  to  it. 

1654.  Continuing  their  gospel  labors,  J.  S.  and  W.  C.  arrived  at 
Maidstone,  and  entered  on  the  service  assigned  them.  "  J.  Stubbs 
was  taken  at  the  steeple-house,  and  W.  Caton,  the  day  following, 
from  his  inn,  and  both  were  sent  to  the  house  of  correction,  wliere 
they  were  searched,  and  their  money,  ink-horns,  and  Bibles,  &c., 
taken  from  them.  Afterwards  tliey  were  stripped,  and  tlieir  necks 
and  arras  put  in  the  stocks,  and  in  tliat  condition  were  desperately 
whipped.  A  hard  encounter  indeed,  especially  for  such  a  young 
man  as  W.  Caton  was  ;  but  they  were  supported  by  an  invisil)le 
hand.  Afterwards  means  were  used  to  compel  them  to  work  ;  and 
it  was  told  them,  he  that  would  not  work  should  not  eat.  But  they 
were  not  free  to  consent  thereto,  because  they  esteemed  this  demand 
unjust,  not  being  guilty  of  the  breach  of  any  law.  Thus  they  were 
kept  without  victuals  for  some  days,  only  a  little  water  once  a  day 
was  allowed  them.  In  the  meanwhile  the  malefactors  that  were 
there,  would  have  given  them  of  their  bread  ;  yea,  the  women  of  the 
house  being  moved  with  compassion,  would  have  given  them  some- 
thing privately  ;  but  they  were  not  free  to  accept  of  eith(>r.  Now 
the  report  of  this  cruelty  being  spread  in  the  town,  many  began  to 
be  offended  at  it;  so  that  an  officer  was  sent  to  make  restitution  of 
some  of  their  things,  which  had  been  taken  from  them,  and  then 
they  bought  victuals  with  their  own  money.  Not  long  after  they 
were  parted,  and  witli  officers  conveyed  out  of  the  town,  one  at  the 
one  end  of  it,  and  the  other  at  the  other." 

Some  time  after.  Win.  Caton  went  over  to  Calais,  in  France,  where 
he  had  an  opi)ortunity  to  speak  to  a  number  of  the  chief  men  of  that 
city;  a  Scotch  lord  who  was  there,  acting  as  interpreter  for  him. 
Returning  thence,  he  again  met  with  J.  Stubbs,  and  they  embarked 
for  Holland,  where  they  were  engaged  in  religious  service  for  some 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  113 

time,  and  coining  back  to  England,  travelled  into  Scotland,  as  has 
been  already  mentioned. 

There  is  no  account  of  Ireland  having  been  visited  by  any  Friend, 
prior  to  Wm.  lOdraundson  going  there  for  the  purijose  of  trade;  and 
as  he  afterward  became  a  principal  instrument  in  the  Lord's  hand, 
to  raise  uj)  and  settle  meetings  of  Friends  in  that  island,  some  ac- 
count of  him  may  be  interesting. 

He  Avas  bora  in  Westmoreland,  in  1G27,  being  the  son  of  John 
aud  Grace  Edmundson.  He  became  an  oi-phan  when  eight  years 
of  age,  and  was  unkindly  used  by  his  uncle,  to  whose  care  he  was 
confided,  having  to  endure  many  hardships.  When  of  suitable  age, 
he  was  jjJaced  apprentice  to  a  cai-penter,  with  whom  he  lived  several 
years.  He  states  that  from  early  life,  he  was  sensible  of  the  strivings 
of  the  Lord's  holy  Spirit  with  him,  bringing  him  under  a  sense  of  his 
sins,  and  creating  longing  desires  after  salvation.  But  he  knew  not 
what  it  was  that  was  thus  visiting  him,  nor  how  to  find  the  way  to 
the  Phj^sician  of  value.  When  of  age,  he  entered  the  Parliament 
army,  and  after  the  overthrow  of  the  royal  troops,  marched,  under 
Cromwell,  into  Scotland.  He  records  tiiat  in  his  many  dangers  aud 
narrow  escapes  from  death,  he  was  repeatedly  brought  under  great 
condemnation  for  his  wickedness,  and  fear  seized  on  him,  at  the 
thought  of  what  would  become  of  his  soul,  if  cut  off;  and  he  made 
many  resolutions  to  turn  to  the  Lord  by  repentance;  but  as  they 
were  in  his  own  will,  they  were  f  )rgotten  when  temptation  again 
presented. 

He  was  in  the  sanguinary  battle  at  Worcester,  where  the  Scotch 
army  wa.s  routed.  After  being  quartered  in  Derbyshire,  he  says, 
"The  common  discourse  was  of  the  Quakers,  and  various  reports 
were  of  them  ;"  strange  stories  were  told  of  them,  '*  but  the  more  I 
heard  tlie  more  I  loved  them,  yet  had  not  an  opportunity  to  speak 
with  any  of  them."  Having  charge  of  some  recruits  for  the  army, 
he  marched  with  them  into  Scotland  ;  soon  after  which,  he  left  mili- 
tary life  altogether.  On  returning  to  England,  lu;  married,  and 
having  a  brother  in  the  army  in. Ireland,  he  and  his  wife  conclu(k'd 
to  go  there  and  ojien  a  store.  Accordingly  they  went,  taking  the 
goods  with  tlicni.  They  were,  however,  disappointed  in  getting  to 
the  place  where  they  had  expected  to  settle;  but  went  with  his 
brother  to  the  north  of  the  island  and  settled  at  Antrim. 

Having  sold  the  merchandise  he  had  taken  with  him,  he  returned 


114  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

to  England  to  renew  his  stock,  iiiid  being  in  the  north,  wlien  George 
Fox  and  some  other  Friends  were  in  the  neighborhood  where  his 
relations  resided,  he  heard  that  James  Nayh)r  was  to  have  a  meet- 
ing near  by.  To  this  meeting  he  went,  with  liis  elder  brother  and 
another  kinsman,  and  they  were  all  convinced  of  the  truth  by  the 
powerful  ])reaehing  of  J.  N.     This  was  in  KMo. 

Describing  the  mental  conflicts  through  which  he  passi'd,  after  he 
had  come  fully  to  realize  the  truth  of  what  he  had  heard,  and  the 
inshining  of  the  measure  of  the  Lord's  Spirit  to  his  soul,  he  says, 
"I  knew  it  was  the  Truth  which  led  into  all  truth, agreeably  to  the 
Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Law  and  Prophets,  Christ  and  his  apos- 
tles, and  I  thought  all  that  heard  it  declared  must  own  it,  it  was 
so  plain  to  me.  A  few  days  after  I  was  thus  far  convinced  of  the 
blessed  truth,  the  Lord's  power  seized  on  me,  througli  his  Spirit; 
whereby  I  was  brought  under  great  exercise  of  mind,  yea,  all  my 
parts  came  under  this  exercise  ;  for  the  Lord's  hand  was  mighty  upon 
me,  in  judgments  mixed  with  mercy,  so  that  my  former  ways  were 
hedged  up.  But  I  loved  the  Lord's  judgments,  for  I  knew  I  had 
sinned  against  Him,  and  must  be  purged  through  judgment.  And 
though  under  this  exercise  of  conscience  towards  God,  yet  I  did  ray 
business  in  England,  and  shipped  my  goods  to  be  landed  at  Belfast 
or  Carrickfergus." 

Embarking  with  his  goods,  he  was  strongly  tempted  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  his  brother's  troop  being  at  Belfast,  and  by  their  aid  to 
land  his  merchandise  without  paying  duty.  He  successfully  resisted 
this,  and  on  meeting  his  brother  after  landing,  he  found  hiniself 
obliged  to  omit  all  the  customary  forms  of  complimentary  address, 
and  use  nothing  but  the  plain  language  of  thou  and  thee.  When 
about  to  laud  his  goods,  the  officers  required  the  ordinary  oath  re- 
specting the  bills  of  lading,  and  William  telling  them  he  could  not 
violate  Christ's  command  by  swearing,  they  refused  to  allow  them 
to  come  ashore.  The  great  change  in  his  nmnner,  the  singularity 
of  his  language  and  demeanor,  and  the  unheai'd  of  scrupulousness 
about  taking  an  oath,  excited  the  wonder  of  all  with  whom  he  came 
in  contact,  causing  much  talk  about  the  Quakers,  and  about  William 
in  particular.  After  some  time,  however,  he  was  allowed  to  bring 
his  parcels  to  the  custom-house. 

He  continued  to  pass  through  many  deep  baptisms.  "The  Lord's 
hand,"  he  says,  "  was  heavy  upon  me  day  aud  night,  so  that  I  tra- 
vailed under  great  conflict  between  flesh  and  Spirit,  aud  was  much 
cast  down  with  sorrow  and  trouble  of  mind  ;  but  none  there  under- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  115 

stood  the  cause  of  any  sorrow  and  trouble,  or  gave  a  word  of  com- 
fort to  ease  me."  The  people  thought  he  was  bewitched,  or  going 
crazy.  While  in  this  state,  a  Major  Bousfield  came  to  his  house, 
but  he  was  absent  from  home.  On  hearing  on  his  return  that 
the  Major  had  been  there,  and  that  he  professed  to  hold  Friend's 
principles,  and  was  acquainted  with  G.  Fox,  who  had  been  at  his 
house ;  so  ardently  did  William  thirst  for  some  advice  and  conso- 
lation, that  might  get  him  out  of  his  struggling  condition,  that  he 
immediately  mounted  horse  and  rode  twelve  miles  to  meet  with  him. 
When  together,  the  Major  talked  much  of  his  religious  experience ; 
of  his  unity  with  G.  Fox  and  J.  Naylor ;  and  then  advised  William 
to  be  cheerful  and  merry,  and  not  look  at  those  inward  troubles 
that  bowed  him  down,  and  would,  if  he  gave  way  to  them,  lead  him 
to  despair.  He  told  him  it  was  evident  that  God  loved  him,  to 
make  of  him  a  chosen  vessel,  and  He  would  love  him  to  the  end, 
as  nothing  could  frustrate  his  will. 

William  says,  "  This  doctrine  healed  me  without  the  cross  of 
Christ,  which  answered  my  will  and  cai'ual  desires ;  for  I  loved  the 
truth  I  was  convinced  of,  and  would  have  had  it,  with  my  carnal- 
ities, fleshly  liberties,  worldly  pleasures  and  profits.  So  when  the 
Lord's  power  would  arise  to  bow  me  down  under  his  cross,  I  would 
reason  against  it  with  the  arguments  afore  mentioned,  and  thereby 
would  get  from  under  judgment."  But  his  gracious  Lord  in  mercy 
to  his  soul,  did  not  leave  him  to  perish  in  this  false  rest.  Again,  he 
says,  "  The  Lord  would  not  leave  me  so,  praised  be  his  Name  for- 
ever ;  whose  merciful  hand  preserved  me,  and  his  power  took  fresh 
hold  of  my  heart  and  inward  parts  ;  which  bowed  me  under  his 
judgments,  and  opened  the  eye  of  my  understanding  ;  plainly  show- 
ing me  there  was  that  still  alive  in  me,  which  must  be  crucified, 
which  opposed  the  will  of  God."  Giving  himself  up  to  the  thorough 
heart-cleansing,  transforming  bajitisnis  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  fire, 
in  due  time  he  experienced  what  it  was  to  be  brought  uj)  out  of  the 
horrible  pit,  and  out  of  the  miry  clay  ;  to  have  his  feet  i)la('etl  finnly 
on  the  Hock,  Christ  Jesus ;  to  have  his  goings  established,  and  a 
new  song  put  into  his  mouth,  even  praises  unto  his  God. 

Having  removed  to  Lurgan  in  the  county  of  Armagh,  he  kept 
a  store,  and  also  followed  grazing.  His  plain  aj)peHrance  and  lan- 
guage, and  refusing  to  take  off  his  hat  as  a  token  of  respect,  at- 
tracted much  attention,  so  that  lie  became  "  the  talk  and  gazing 
stock  of  the  people;  "  while,  he  says,  "  Professors  watched  me  nar- 
rowly, to  find  occasion  against  me  and  the  principles  of  Truth." 


116  F  R  I  E  N  D  S    I  X    T  H  E 

Biit.:iltIioui;li  lie  \va<  :it  times  subjected  to  scorn, invectives, and  blows, 
tlie  Lord  preserved  iiini  ;  and  tbou^h  at  first  people  did  not  undei- 
stand  why  be  always  kept  to  one  i)rice  in  selling  his  goods,  they  were 
not  long  in  being  convinced  of  its  justice;  and  his  trade  increased 
so  much,  that  he  became  uneasy  with  it,  fearing  lest  he  would  be- 
come rich  ;  he  therefore  declined  entering  as  largely  into  it  as  the 
many  opportunities  presented  inviti'd  him  to. 

1G54.  It  was  at  his  house  in  Lurgan,  that  the  first  meeting  of 
Friends  was  established  in  Ireland.  William,  his  wife  and  brother 
met  for  sometime  together,  for  the  purpose  of  waiting  ou  and  worship- 
ping the  Most  High,  and  ere  long  four  more  converis  joined  them. 
Their  meetings  were  long  held  in  silence,  but  such  was  the  evidence 
of  the  presence  of  the  Head  of  the  church  in  their  midst,  that  their 
numbers  went  on  increasing,  and  in  course  of  time  William  had  a  few- 
words  to  offer.  A  gift  in  the  ministry  having  been  conferred  upon 
him,  and  a  Friend  of  the  name  of  John  Tiffin  coming  over  from 
England  on  religious  service,  William  joined  him,  and  they  travelled 
in  the  north  of  Ireland,  holding  meetings  where  they  could.  8uch 
were  the  fidse  and  fearful  stories  spread  abroad  throughout  the 
country  respecting  the  Quakers,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  these  two 
Friends  could  find  any  willing  to  receive  them  into  their  liouses. 
At  one  place  where  they  had  been  promised  they  should  have  a 
house  to  hold  a  meeting  in,  on  coming  to  it  they  were  refused  ; 
so  the  three,  J.  Tiffin,  William,  and  his  brother,  seated  themselves 
where  three  lanes  met,  and  held  their  meeting.  Though  it  does  not 
appear  there  was  much  preaching,  yet  much  inquiry  was  excited, 
and  opportunity  afforded  to  spread  a  knowledge  of  the  truths  of 
the  Gospel  as  held  by  Friends. 

Feeling  drawn  to  visit  George  Fox,  William  crossed  to  England, 
and  going  into  Leicestershire  he  met  him  at  Badley,  where  a  great 
meeting  of  Friends  from  several  parts  was  held.  After  the  meet- 
ing, George  and  William  walked  into  an  i)rcliard  together;  the 
former  kneeled  down  and  prayed,  and  "The  Lord's  heavenly  power 
and  presence  were  there,"  and  George  "was  tender  over"  this 
thoroughly  converted,  but  comparatively  inexperienced  minister. 
George  wrote  an  epistle  to  those  in  Ireland  who  had  joined  the 
Society ;  which  William  on  his  return  read  to  them,  and  he  says, 
"  The  power  of  the  Lord  seized  on  us,  whereby  wc  were  might  ily 
shaken  and  broken  into  tears  and  weeping." 

In  the  fourth  month  of  this  year  (1655),  E.  Burrough  and  F.  How- 
gil  arrived  in  Dublin.     Though  separated  by  religious  service  for  a 


SEVENTEENTH     CP^NTUEY.  117 

short  time  while  in  Englaud,  each  without  the  other  knowing  it, 
had  felt  it  required  of  him  to  go  to  Ireland.  They  met  in  London, 
and  from  there  started  for  this  new  field  of  labor.  Their  first  meet- 
ing in  Dublin  was  at  the  house  of  a  Captain  Rich,  and  the  next  at 
the  residence  of  a  Captain  Alan.  They  had  a  number  of  pretty  full 
meetings  in  succession,  but  though  several  were  caught  in  the 
gospel  net,  the  convincement  was  not.  extensive.  After  laboring 
together  for  about  three  weeks,  F.  Howgil  felt  himself  called  to 
travel  towards  Cork,  leaving  E.  B.  in  the  city.  The  separation  was 
a  severe  trial  to  both,  but  believing  it  to  be  in  the  will  of  their 
Divine  Master,  they  sought  for  resignation.  In  a  letter  to  Margaret 
Fell,  Edward  says,  "  With  heaviness  of  spirit  I  write  unto  thee,  yea, 
and  with  my  eyes  filled  with  tears ;  for  I  am  separated  outwardly 
from  my  dear  beloved  brother  F.  Howgil." 

F.  Howgil  had  a  companion  when  he  left  Dublin,  named  Edward 
Cook,  who  was  a  cornet  in  the  Protector's  own  troop,  but  wbo, 
with  others,  had  adopted  the  peaceable  principles  of  the  gospel,  and 
determined  to  east  in  his  lot  with  the  Quakers. 

Elizabeth  Fletcher  and  Elizabeth  Smith,  two  ministers  from 
England  had  gone  over  to  Ireland  in  the  year  preceding  that  in 
whicJi  F.  Howgil  and  E.  Burrough  arrived  there,  and  the  former 
was  probably  the  first  Friend  who  held  a  meeting  in  Dublin. 

Miles  Halhead,  James  Lancaster,  and  Miles  Batemau  had  also 
travelled  pretty  extensively  through  several  of  the  Provinces,  hold- 
ing meetings  and  embracing  Qxery  opportunity  to  promulgate  the 
truths  of  the  gospel ;  with  great  success  in  many  places.  This  was 
in  1654. 

E.  Burrough  remained  several  weeks  in  Dublin  and  then  went  to 
the  North,  laboring  among  the  people  generally  as  he  passed  along. 
He  was  arrested  and  tried  as  a  vagabond  and  again  as  a  Jesuit,  but 
was  not  detained  long  either  time.  In  the  Eleventh  month  of  1055, 
he  went  southward  and  joined  his  friend  F.  Howgil,  at  Cork.  The 
latter  liad  been  industriously  engaged  in  tlie  work  assigned  to  him, 
and  many  had  been  converted  by  his  ministry.  They  went  to- 
gether to  Limerick,  ])ut  were  not  allowed  to  have  any  meeting 
there,  and  were  ordered  out  of  the  city.  E.  Burrough  preached 
to  the  people  from  the  horse's  back,  as  he  rode  out ;  and  when  they 
IkuI  passed  the  gate,  they  both  addressed  the  multitude  that  had 
iollowed  them.  At  Kinsale,  the  wife  of  a  priest  named  Edward 
Worth  was  convinced,  and  ]w.r  husband  being  afterward  ma<le 
b;.-hoj),  she  sufiiered  much  at  his  hands,  because  she  would  not  uive 


118  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

up  hei' conscientious  c()nvu'tit)iis.  The  prii-sts  in  difierent  parts  of 
the  country,  finding  that  many  from  among  their  congregations 
were  leaving  tliem  and  joining  with  friends,  hecame  alarmed  f )r 
their  revenues  and  authority,  and  deputized  a  pretty  large  nundx-r 
of  their  craft  to  go  u])  to  Dublin  and  obtain  some  action  from 
the  Lord  De])Uty  antl  council,  by  which  a  stop  would  be  put  to 
the  labors  of  Friends.  Accordingly  the  Lord  Deputy  —  wiio  was 
Cromwell's  son  Henry  —  and  his  council  issued  an  onUr  to  the 
magistrates  to  send  "  All  that  were  called  Quakers,"  to  Dublin.  This 
order  was  delivered  to  the  governors  of  Cork  and  Kinsale,  but  the 
former  refused  to  be  instrumental  in  executing  it,  and  said  openly, 
that  the  Friends  who  had  been  there,  had  done  more  good,  "  than 
all  the  priests  in  the  country  had  done  for  a  hundred  years." 

E.  Burrough  and  F.  Howgil  returning  to  Cork,  the  high  Sheriff 
arrested  them,  and  placing  them  under  a  guard  of  soldiers,  they 
were  forwarded  from  garrison  to  garrison  until  they  arrived  in 
Dublin  ;  the  soldiers  behaving  very  civilly  to  them,  and  allowing 
them  to  speak  to  the  people  as  they  passed  along.  Being  brought 
before  the  council  they  were  exaniiued,  but  no  charge  was  made 
against  them  ;  nevertheless  they  were  kept  closely  in  prison  until 
they  were  banished  from  the  island.  [1655.] 

The  day  on  which  these  two  Friends  were  sent  away,  Barbara 
Blaugdone  arrived  at  Dublin,  and  went  directly  to  the  Lord 
Deputy's  mansion,  and  with  some  difficulty  obtained  admittance  to 
his  apartments.  While  in  the  outer  drawing-room,  an  attempt  was 
made  to  impose  upon  her.  As  they  knew  she  had  never  seen  the 
Lord  Deputy,  a  number  of  his  attendants  went  into  the  room  whei-e 
she  was  sitting,  all  of  them  bare-headed  but  one,  who  wore  his  hat. 
She  looked  at  them,  and  an  internal  intimation  was  given  her,  that 
no  one  present  was  the  person  for  whom  she  had  a  message.  One 
of  the  attendants  said  to  her,  "  Why  do  you  not  speak  to  our  Lord?  " 
She  replied,  "  When  I  see  your  lord,  I  shall  deliver  my  message  to 
him."  Soon  after  a  person  came  in  and  took  a  seat.  Barbara  im- 
mediately arose  and  addressed  him,  warning  him  against  fighting 
against  God  and  persecuting  his  serv^ants,  and  advising  him  to  take 
the  advice  given  by  Gamaliel,  &c.,  &c.  She  was  not  molested,  and 
leaving  the  city,  she  went  to  Cork.  During  her  stay  in  Ireland, 
she  was  repeatedly  imprisoned  ;  but  her  preaching  was  attended 
by  so  much  power,  that  many  were  convinced  by  her. 

Meetings  were  now  settled  in  many  parts  of  the  island,  and  several 
ministers  were    raised    uj)  from    among   the    members.     The  doc- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  119 

trine  of  tlie  indwelling  of  Divine  Grace  in  the  heart  of  man,  and  its 
sufficiency,  if  obeyed,  to  bring  salvation,  began  to  be  more  generally 
understood,  and  many  were  found  willing  to  receive  it,  to  come 
under  its  regenerating  power,  and  to  endure  the  self-denial  and 
weaning  from  the  world  and  its  spirit,  into  which  it  led;  being  made 
willing  to  suffer  affliction  with  the  people  of  God,  rather  than  to 
enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season.  The  sufferings  of  Friends, 
however,  increased  greatly,  very  many  being  put  in  wretched  prisons, 
on  account  of  not  paying  tithes. 

In  Ireland,  as  in  England  and  Scotland,  those  who  joined  the 
Society  by  convincement,  found  themselves  called  on  to  walk  in  the 
same  strait  and  narrow  way.  As  they  came  individually  to  yield 
obedience  to  the  inspeaking  word  of  Divine  Grace  in  their  souls, 
they  learned  day  by  day  to  distinguish  between  the  voice  of  the 
true  Shepherd  and  that  of  the  stranger,  and  thus  came  to  know  of 
the  doctrine;  and  they  all  sjioke  the  same  language.  They  saw  that 
the  friendship  of  the  world  was  enmity  with  God,  and  as  witnesses 
of  the  purity  and  spirituality  of  the  religion  of  Christ,  they  dare  not 
shrink  from  open,  unyielding  opposition  to  the  corrupt  priuciples  and 
practices  that  prevailed  in  civil  society,  and  in  the  so-called  Church. 
They  could  not  comply  with  the  changeable  fashions,  the  language, 
or  the  complimentary  address  of  the  community  around  them. 
Knowing  the  origin  of  all  true  gospel  ministry,  and  that  it  was 
freely  received  through  the  immediate  inspiration  of  the  Head  of  the 
Church,  they  declared  there  could  be  no  compulsory  compensation 
for  its  exercise,  nor  could  it  ever  be  made  merchandise  of,  or  a  means 
for  obtaining  a  livelihood. 

Having  experienced  that  the  "  one  ba])tism  "  which  saveth,  was 
not  the  putting  away  the  filth  of  the  flesh,  l)ut  that  administered 
by  Christ  himself;  whereby  the  soul  itself  is  washed  and  made 
clean  —  the  effectual  washing  of  regeneration  and  renewing  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  —  and  that  })artaking  of  the  flesh  and  blood  of  Christ, 
was  inward  and  spiritual,  when  He  (H)ndescended  to  come  into  the 
soul  and  sup  with  it,  and  allowed  it  to  feed  on  Him,  the  living 
bread,  they  dare  not  substitute  any  ceremonials  therefor,  aTid  felt 
bound  to  bear  testimony  against  them,  as  shadows  which  drew  away 
the  attention  from  the  substance,  that  alone  administered  life.  Hence 
here,  as  in  England,  they  were  continually  brought  into  collision 
with  the  hireling  priests;  and  on  account  of  tiieir  pi'omulgatinu 
these  truths,  of  their  refusing  to  pay  tithes,  and  because,  in  obeying 
the  command  of  Christ,  they  could  not  swt^ar,  they  were  often  r.i)n- 


120  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

signed  to  noisome  prisons  or  dungeons,  wliere  great  cruelty  was 
habitually  practised  on  them.  As  their  sutferings  increased  on  ac- 
count of  their  faithfulness,  and  the  malice  of  their  (nieraies  urged 
them  on  to  make  their  persecution  more  barbarous,  so  the  arm  of 
the  Holy  one  of  Israel  was  made  bare  for  thcii-  supi)()rt  and  conso- 
lation ;  and  in  the  midst  of  their  afflictions,  they  could  adopt  the 
language  of  the  Psalmist,  "Oh!  how  great  is  thy  goodness,  which 
thou  hast  laid  up  for  them  that  fear  thee;  which  tlmu  hast  wrought 
for  them  that  trust  in  thee  before  the  sons  of  men." 

William  Edmundson,  who  had  been  assiduously  attending  to  the 
work  wliennmto  his  Master  called  him,  met  with  divers  circum- 
stances —  as  he  travelled  from  place  to  place  preaching  the  word,  and 
laboring  to  strengthen  his  brethren  and  build  them  up  on  the  most 
holy  foith  —  which  confirmed  the  truth  and  reality  of  the  doctrine  of 
the  gift  to  man  of  a  measure  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  designed  to  guide 
him  into  all  truth,  and  preserve  him  from  all  error.  On  one  occa- 
sion, as  he  was  travelling  towards  his  home,  it  was  clearly  made 
known  to  him  that  on  the  night  of  that  day  an  effort  would  be  made 
to  rob  his  house.  As  he  prepared  to  hasten  on,  he  felt  himself  stoj)- 
ped  from  going,  and  a  clear  intimation  that  he  must  return  to 
Clough,  a  town  which  he  had  left  far  behind  ;  though  the  service  he 
was  to  perform  there  was  not  made  known.  After  a  severe  conflict, 
lest  he  might  be  deluded,  he  was  enal)lod  to  resign  himself,  his  wife, 
children  antl  property  into  the  Lord's  hand,  and  in  simple  obedience, 
to  turn  about  and  go  towards  the  little  town  in  which  he  felt  his 
presence  was  required  ;  his  gracious  Master  assuring  him  that  He 
would  protect  his  house  and  family.  Arriving  there  the  next  day, 
he  found  two  women  Friends,  lately  come  from  England,  who,  hav- 
ing been  travelling  from  place  to  pla(«,  on  foot,  owing  to  the  depth 
of  the  mud  through  which  they  had  to  wade  during  their  last  day's 
journey,  had  become  so  exhausted  that  one  of  them  was  taken  to  her 
bed,  and  losing  faith,  had  given  way  to  despair  ;  consequently  plung- 
ing the  other  into  great  distress.  William  was  made  the  instrument 
of  administering  to  their  spiritual  needs,  and  so  efl^ectual  was  the 
word  given  him  to  communicate  to  them,  that  the  next  day  they 
were  able  to  leave  the  place,  and  he,  placing  them  both  on  his  horse, 
walked  beside  them  to  Carrickfergus  ;  where  leaving  them,  he  went 
home.  Here  he  learned,  that  on  the  night  of  the  day  in  which  it 
had  been  revealed  to  him  that  an  effort  would  be  made  to  rob  his 
house,  some  persons  attempted  to  get  in  through  the  window;  but 
the  window  fell  into  the  room,  with  so  much  noise,  that  it  alarmed 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CEXTUEY.  121 

the  family,  and  the  robbers  were  frightened  away.  Thus  the  word 
of  the  Lord  unto  liiui  was  confirmed,  and  he  enabled  to  reyoice  that 
he  had  been  wnlling  to  walk  by  faith  and  not  by  sight. 

In  1656,  feeling  it  laid  on  him  to  take  up  land  in  order  that  he 
might  bear  a  more  practical  testi-mony  against  the  unchristian  im- 
position of  tithes,  William  Edmundson  gave  up  his  store,  and  removed 
into  the  county  of  Cavan,  where  in  a  little  time  a  meeting  of  Friends 
was  settled,  and  their  numbers  continued  to  increase.  Spoiling  of 
goods,  and  painful  imprisonments  were  the  lot  of  many  who  ap])eared 
to  be  the  most  likely  instruments  to  spi-ead  abroad  a  knowledge  of 
the  principles  of  truth  and  righteousness ;  but  the  Word  of  God 
could  not  be  bound,  and  W.  Edmundson  says,  "Truth  was  much 
spread  and  meetings  settled  in  several  places  ;  and  many  being  con- 
vinced and  brought  to  a  knowledge  of  God,  were  added  to  Friends." 

A  mere  profession  among  Friends  of  the  spiritual  religion  which 
belongs  to  the  Christian  dispensation,  was  then  of  little  or  no  account. 
They  were  known  wherever  they  appeared  by  the  fruits  produced 
by  their  transforming  religion,  and  their  sincerity  was  tested  by 
the  fire  of  persecution.  Despised  and  rejected  as  they  were  by  the 
men  of  this  world,  the  life  derived  from  the  inexhaustible  Foun- 
tain of  light  and  life  circulated  freely  among  them  ;  and  the  love 
that  bound  them  together  as  children  of  one  Father,  was,  if  possi- 
ble, strengthened  and  deepened  by  the  fellowship  of  suffering.  W.  E. 
says,  "  In  those  days  the  world  and  the  things  of  it,  were  not  near 
our  hearts;  but  the  love  of  God,  his  truth  and  testimonies,  lived  in 
our  hearts.  We  were  glad  of  one  another's  company,  though  some- 
times our  outward  fare  was  very  mean,  and  our  lodging  on  straw. 
We  did  not  mind  high  things,  but  were  glad  of  one  another's  wel- 
fare in  the  Lord,  and  his  love  dwelt  in  us." 

Gough  in  his  history,  spieaking  of  Ireland  about  the  close  of  16r)6, 
say^,  "By  a  general  account  published  about  this  time,  it  appears 
that  for  speaking  the  truth  in  steeple-houses,  markets,  and  other 
places,  ninety-four  persons  of  this  [Friends']  Society  had  been  suf- 
ferers by  fines,  whij)ping,  putting  in  stocks,  imprisonment,  and  loss 
of  goods.  That  nineteen  persons  had  been  imprisoned  for  meeting 
to  worship  God  in  their  own  houses;  and  that  twelve  had  been 
stopped  as  they  were  passing  along  the  streets  or  highways  on  their 
lawful  occasions,  and  committed  to  prison." 


122  FRIENDS    IN    THE 


CHAPTER  VIIT. 

E.  Bnrrougli  writes  to  Cromwell  —  Friends  iiicrciise  in  London  —  Anne  Dow- 
ner— Ciilbcrt  Latey  —  Rebecca  Tr.i  vers  and  James  Naylor — G.  Fox  arrested 
by  order  of  Major  Ceely  —  Committiil  to  .I:;il  for  not  taking  the  oath  of  Ab- 
juration—  Trial  —  False  charge  Ijronght  by  Major  Ceely  —  G.  Fox's  De- 
fence —  A  second  charge  from  Ceely  —  Injustice  <m  the  Bench  —  Character 
of  the  Prisons  and  Jailers  —  Prisonei's  in  "  Doomsdale" — Suffering  — 
Friends  increase  in  Number  —  G.  Fox  and  others  kept  shut  up  without 
Trial  —  Released  without  Trial  —  The  cruel  Jailer's  Recompense  —  James 
Naylor  —  Convinceimnt — An  account  of  his  Preaching  —  Charged  with 
denying  theMaidiood  of  Christ — Cleared  but  Imprisoned  —  Personal  Ap- 
pearance and  Floipience  of  J.  Naylor  —  Circumstances  connected  witii  liis 
Fall  —  G.  Fox's  interview  with  J.  N.  —  His  Trial  and  Punisiiment  —  His 
Repentance  —  Acknowledgment  —  Restoration  —  Death. 

IN  this  year  [1655]  E.  Burrough  being  in  London,  and  seeing 
how  Cromwell  winked  at  the  persecution  of  Friends  by  those  who, 
having  got  possession  of  the  benefices  and  places  formerly  occupied 
by  the  Episcopal  clergy,  were  determined,  if  possible,  to  put  down 
all  opposition  to  their  ministry  and  exactions,  —  addressed  a  letter 
to  him,  in  which  he  told  him  plainly,  That  he  had  given  himself  up 
to  pride  and  vain  glory;  had  broken  or  disregarded' the  vows  he 
had  made  to  the  Lord  ni  the  days  of  his  liumility  and  distress,  and 
was  allowing  his  subordinates  to  commit  grievous  opjjression  and 
cruelty,  in  his  name,  on  the  Lord's  people  ;  and  therefore  if  he  did 
not  repent  and  change  his  course,  the  judgments  of  the  Lord  would 
come  upon  him.  Cromwell  had  just  before  got  the  Parliament,— 
composed  of  his  own  picked  men, —  to  sanction  the  oath  of  abjura- 
tion against  Charles  Stuart,  the  son  of  Charles  I.  ;  and  it  was  made 
much  use  of  to  harass  Friends  and  send  them  to  prison. 

The  number  of  Friends  in  London  continued  to  increase,  and 
among  those  who  joined  the  Society  were  several  who  became  highly 
valued  and  useful  members.  Anne  Downer  was  the  first  woman 
Friend  convinced  there,  who  had  a  gift  in  the  ministry  conferred 
on  her.  Site  travelled  much,  not  only  when  called  forth  to  preach 
the  everlasting  Gospel,  but  often  in  going  from  place  to  place  to 
succor  the  afflicted  brethren  or  sisters  who  were  in  bonds  and  suffer- 
ing. Her  gospel  labors  were  blessed  to  the  convincement  of  many. 
She  was  first  married  to  a  Friend  named  Greenwell,  but  he  did  not  live 
long,  and  sometime  after  being  left  a  widow  she  became  the  wife  of 


SEVEXTEENTH    CENTURY.  '  123 

George  Wliitehead.  The  testimonies  and  memorial  respecting  her, 
speak  of  her  as  not  only  adorning  the  doctrines  she  preached,  by 
her  life  and  conversation,  but  that  she  often  suffered  severely  and 
cheerfully  for  the  blessed  cause  she  had  espoused. 

Gilbert  Latey  who,  when  young,  had  come  to  London  from  Corn- 
wall to  reside,  liad  followed  his  business  with  great  success.  He 
was  a  tailor,  and  acquiring  a  high  reputation,  he  was  employed  l)y 
the  fashionable,  and  by  others  of  the  first  rank  in  the  nation.  But 
in  his  prosperity  he  was  not  unmindful  of  the  things  that  belonged 
to  his  everlasting  peace.  He  was  a  seeker  after  a  knowledge  of  the 
truth  ;  going  to  hear  all  who  were  considered  eminent  as  teachers  of 
the  way  of  salvation;  but,  as  he  afterwards  testified,  "it  was  like 
seeking  the  living  among  the  dead."  Hearing  that  some  men  who 
had  come  out  of  the  north,  were  to  have  a  meeting  at  the  house  of 
a  widow  who  lived  in  Whitecross  street,  he  went  thither.  It  so 
happened  that  E.  Burrough  was  there  at  that  time,  and  such  was 
the  baptizing  power  with  which  he  preached  the  truths  of  the  Gos- 
pel, and  to  the  states  of  the  audience,  that  Gilbert  was  fully  con- 
vinced thereby  ;  and  not  consulting  with  flesh  and  blood,  he  at  once 
gave  up  to  the  operation  of  the  Grace  of  God  on  his  soul ;  to  which 
he  had  been  directed.  Dwelling  under  the  convicting,  converting- 
power  of  this  heavenly  gift,  he  became  regenerated  and  gradually 
grew  in  the  Truth,  from  the  state  of  a  child  to  that  of  a  strong  man, 
and  was  endowed  with  a  quick  discerning,  and  sound  judgment; 
which  made  him  very  serviceable  in  settling  the  church  in  good 
order  and  purity. 

When  he  had  enlisted  under  the  banner  of  the  cross,  and  I)een 
made  willing  to  practise  self-denial  and  to  stand  in  opposition  to  the 
spirit  of  the  world,  he  found  himself  brought  under  close  trial  on 
account  of  his  business.  His  best  customers  were  men  of  rank,  and 
others  who  were  accustomed  to  have  their  clothes  made  in  the 
fashion,  with  much  cost  for  lace  and  other  superfluities.  He  felt 
that  he  couUl  no  longer  be  an  instrument  for  thus  gratifying  their 
l>ride  and  vanity.  He  therefore  decided  that,  let  the  consecjuences 
be  what  they  might,  he  c(juhl  work  for  such  no  more,  nor  yet  allow 
any  of  those  employed  by  him  to  do  that  which  he  clearly  saw  was 
wrong.  Some  who  had  heretofore  patronized  him,  now  said  he  wan 
deranged;  and  his  pai'ents  were  so  dis])leased,  that  they  i)anished 
him  from  their  house,  while  his  brothers  and  sisters  derided  him. 
His  customei's  left  him,  and  he  was  obliged  to  dischargi;  his  working- 
men  ;  s(j  that  it  looked  probable,  he  would  himself  havi;  to  hii'e  out 


124  FRIEXDS     IX    THE 

as  a  journeyman,  to  do  such  work  as  he  was  easy  with.  Severe  as 
the  trial  was  he  bore  it  contentedly,  esteeming  the  reproach  of  Christ 
greater  riches  than  the  treasures  of  Egypt ;  and  preferring  to  give 
up  outward  gain  and  comfort,  rather  than  lose  the  enjoyment  of 
that  peace  with  which  the  Lord  replenished  His  soul.  His  divine 
Master  was  round  about  and  protected  him,  enabling  him  to  bear  all 
He  permitted  to  come  upon  him,  with  meekness  and  resignation, 
and  proved  himself  to  be  a  rich  rewarder  for  obedience  to  his  re- 
quirings.  Soon  after  the  time  in  which  he  passed  through  this  trial, 
he  was  commissioned  by  his  Master  to  })roclaim  the  glad  tidings  of 
salvation  to  the  people ;  and  it  was  not  long  before  he  found  him- 
self sharing  with  his  fellow  believers  in  the  abuse  and  sutlering 
heaped  upon  those  valiant  sons  and  daughters  of  the  morning.  He, 
with  fifteen  or  sixteen  other  Friends,  were  on  one  occasion  com- 
mitted to  Gatediouse  prison,  in  Westminster,  for  having  met  together 
for  the  purpose  of  Divine  worship.  The  whole  sixteen  were  thrust 
into  a  dungeon  or  hole,  which  was  about  ten  feet  wide  and  eleven 
feet  long,  and  so  dark  that  at  mid-day  they  could  sse  but  little  better 
than  at  mid-night.  The  walls  were  constantly  wet,  and  the  space 
being  so  small,  in  order  to  take  rest  or  sleep,  a  few  only  could  lie 
on  the  cold  ground,  while  the  others  were  forced  to  stand  :  and  such 
was  the  cruelty  of  the  jailer,  that  he  would  not  allow  the  straw  tluit 
was  brought  for  their  use  to  be  given  to  them.  But  the  Lord  sup- 
})orted  them  under  all  the  suffering  which  He  permitted  to  be  in- 
flicted on  them,  for  the  trial  of  their  faith  and  patience,  and  in  course 
of  time  delivered  them  out  of  the  hands  of  their  oppressors. 

Rebecca  Travers  was  a  gentlewoman  who  was  thought  of  account 
in  that  day  of  religious  excitement  and  high  profession.  She  had 
received  a  good,  religiously  guarded  education,  and  was  a  zealous 
professor  among  the  Baptists.  The  many  reports  that  had  reached 
her  of  the  Quakers  in  the  north,  had  prejudiced  her  strongly  against 
them.  She  looked  upon  them  as  worthless,  uncivil  fanatics,  who 
were  very  uncomely  in  their  appearance,  their  manners  and  car- 
riage;  with  whom  those  who  stood  fair  in  church  or  State  could 
wisirto  have  little  or  nothing  to  do. 

James  Naylor  having  come  to  London  in  1 655,  preached  with  so 
much  eloquence  that  many  of  the  higher  rank  flocked  to  hear  him, 
and  some  of  the  Baptist  pastors  challenged  him  to  dispute  with 
them,  A  time  and  place  was  agreed  on,  and  there  was  no  little 
interest  excited  among  very  many.  Rebecca  Travers  having  been 
invited  by(jneof  her  friends  to  accompany  her  to  hearthis(lispute,cou- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  125 

sented  to  go,  fully  prepared  —  as  she  afterwards  said  —  to  witness  the 
defeat  of  the  rustic  Q,uaker  by  the  learned  ministers  of  her  own 
Society.  But  greatly  was  she  surprised  and  confounded,  when  the 
"countryman,"  rising  on  a  platform  opposite  to  the  ministers,  after 
they  had  spoken,  poured  out  such  a  stream  of  Scriptural  argument  as 
overturned  all  the  objections  that  had  been  brought  forward  against 
the  principles  of  Friends,  and  showed  that  those  principles  were 
based  on  the  immutable  tbundation  of  truth.  Two  of  the  Baptist 
ministers  said  they  were  sick,  and  went  away,  while  the  other 
failed  to  show  how  the  texts  he  quoted  sanctioned  the  opinions  he 
advanced. 

Though  mortified  at  the  result  of  the  dispute,  Rebecca  was  curious 
to  hear  J.  Naylor  preach,  and  the  next  First-day  went  to  the  Bull- 
and-Mouth  meeting,  where  he  spoke  so  convincingly,  that  she  re- 
marked, "  She  could  not  but  declare,  that  if  she  had  lived  in  the 
apostles'  days,  she  could  not  have  heard  truth  more  plainly,  nor  in 
greater  power  and  demonstration  of  the  Spirit,  than  she  had  that  day." 
From  that  time  she  became  a  constant  attender  at  the  meetings  of 
Friends;  but  still  she  found  it  a  hard  matter  fully  to  act  up  to  the 
doctrines  she  knew  to  be  true.  There  were  many  things  to  be  given 
up  hard  to  poj't  with,  and  her  former  habits  of  religious  profession 
prompted  to  seek  for  that  knowledge  in  divine  things,  which  could 
be  obtained  by  the  natural  understanding  alone.  Some  time  after, 
having  been  invited  to  dine  in  company  with  J.  Naylor,  a  person 
present  who  was  a  high  professor,  put  many  curious  questions  to 
him.  James  answered  him  with  wisdom,  but  with  great  caution; 
but  not  so  as  to  gratify  the  strong  desire  she  felt  to  hear  him  dis- 
course of  these  sacred  mysteries.  Presently  J.  Naylor,  reaching 
across  the  table,  took  her  by  the  hand  and  addressing  her,  said, 
"Feed  not  on  knowledge  ;  it  is  as  truly  forbidden  to  thee,  as  ever  it 
was  to  Eve :  it  is  good  to  look  upon  ;  but  not  to  feed  on  ;  for  who 
feeds  on  knowledge,  dies  to  the  innocent  life."  This  was  siKiken 
with  i)ower,  and  carried  conviction  to  her  soul.  She  gave  up  her 
own  willing,  and  searching  into  hidden  mysteries,  became  emptied 
of  her  self  knowledge,  and  taking  up  the  daily  cross,  she  found  that 
as  a  babe  in  Christ,  all  that  was  necessary  for  her  to  know  of  those 
things  hidden  from  the  wise  and  piaident,  was  revealed  to  her  by 
the  Sj)irit  of  her  Father  in  heaven.  She  became  an  acceptable 
minister  in  the  Society;  suffered  much  for  witnessing  to  the  truth, 
and  did]  l)eloved,  in  a  good  old  ag(!. 

In  the  early  part  of  1G5(J,  George  Fox  wrote  an  address  to  the 


126  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

inhabit'uits  of  England,  in  order  to  sliow,  that  in  tliis  last  dispensa- 
tion, Christ  by  his  Holy  Spirit  was  come  to  teach  the  people  him- 
self. &c.  A  copy  of  this  paper  accidentally  coming  into  the  hands 
of  Peter  Ceely,  a  major  in  the  army,  and  justice  of  the  peace,  wlio 
lived  at  St.  Ives,  in  Cornwall  county,  when  George  Fox,  who  was 
travelling  in  that  neighborhood,  with  Edward  Pyot  and  William 
Salt,  came  there,  he  had  them  arrested  and  brought  before  him.  The 
Major  producing  the  address,  asked  George  whether  he  wrote  it? 
to  which  he  replied  in  the  affirmative.  He  then  tendered  the  three 
Friends  the  oath  of  abjuration.  George  handed  to  him  the  answer 
which  he  had  written  to  that  oath,  showing  the  reason  why  Friends 
could  not  take  it,  nor  any  other  oath  ;  and  which  answer  George 
told  him  had  been  given  to  the  Protector  himself.  But  the  Major 
committed  them  to  Lauuceston  jail,  sending  them  there  under  a 
guard  of  horsemen.  The  mittimus  stated  that  they  pretended  their 
habitations  were  at  Bristol,  Drayton  and  London  ;  but  "  They  were 
going  under  the  notion  of  Quakers,  and  acknowledged  themselves 
to  be  such,"  that  they  had  spread  papers  tending  to  disturb  the 
peace,  and  refused  to  give  sureties  for  their  good  behavior,  &c. 

They  were  kept  in  close  confinement  for  nine  weeks  before  the 
court  sat,  at  which  they  were  to  be  tried.  Such  was  the  excitement 
and  curiosity  aroused  by  the  rumors  spread  abroad  concerning 
them,  that  many  from  far  and  near  came  to  see  the  prisoners  while 
in  jail.  This  atlbrded  them  an  opportunity  to  speak  to  their  visitors 
respecting  the  doctrines  they  held,  and  occasionally  to  preach  to  the 
people  generally ;  so  that  many  were  convinced  by  them. 

1656.  When  the  assizes  came  on,  the  crowd  that  came  to  see  them 
and  hear  the  trial  was  so  great,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  the  soldiers 
and  sherift"s  officers  could  get  them  through  the  stress  and  into  the 
court  room.  The  expectation  was  that  they  would  be  hanged. 
Chief  Justice  Glyn  was  on  the  bench,  and  when  they  entered 
G.  Fox  said,  "  Peace  be  amongst  you."  The  Judge  ordered  them 
to  take  off  their  hats,  but  G.  F.  asked  him  where  was  the  law 
that  commanded  prisoners  to  take  off  their  hats ;  and  where  was 
there  any  instance  mentioned  in  the  Scripture  of  persons  being  com- 
manded to  take  off  their  hats.  The  Judge  growing  angry,  said, 
"  Take  him  away  —  prevaricator  —  I  '11  ferk  him."  They  were  then 
thrust  into  the  dock  with  the  thieves.  Presently  the  Judge  ordered 
them  brought  up  again  ;  which  being  done,  "  Come,"  said  the  Judge, 
addressing  G.  Fox,  "  where  had  any  hats,  from  Moses  to  Daniel  ? 
Come,  answer  me;  I  have  you  fast  now."     G.  Fox  replied,  "Thou 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  127 

raay'st  read  in  the  third  of  Daniel,  that  the  three  cliildren  were 
cast  into  the  fiery  furnace,  by  Nebuchadnezzar's  command,  with 
their  coats,  their  hose  and  their  hats  on."  The  Judge  finding  no  re- 
])ly  that  he  could  make,  cried  out,  "  Take  them  away,  jailer  ;  "  and 
so  they  were  kept  a  while  among  the  thieves,  and  then  taken  back 
to  prison.  In  the  afternoon,  being  brought  up  again,  G.  Fox  handed 
a  paper  which  he  had  written  against  swearing,  to  the  jurymen. 
The  Judge  getting  the  paper,  asked  George  whether  he  had  written 
that  seditious  paper  ?  George  requested  it  might  be  read  in  open 
court,  and  then  he  could  say  whether  he  wrote  it  or  not.  The 
Judge  objected,  but  George  insisting,  the  clerk  read  it  aloud,  and 
George  owned  it  was  his  production  ;  and  as  it  was  very  much  in 
the  language  of  Scripture,  he  did  not  see  how  they  could  deny  its 
truth.  That  subject  was  then  dropped,  and  the  jailer  was  ordered 
to  take  off  the  prisoners'  hats.  The  prisoners  then  asked  the  court 
why  they  had  been  kept  in  prison  nine  weeks,  and  now  there  was 
nothing  alleged  against  them  but  not  taking  oflf  their  hats.  They 
desired  the  Judge  to  do  them  justice  for  their  false  imprisonment. 

Instead  of  I'ighting  them,  an  indictment  was  read  against  them 
for  "  coming  into  court  by  force  of  arms  and  in  an  liostile  man- 
ner." They  denied  it  being  true,  and  demanded  to  have  justice 
done  them  for  imprisonment  without  cause  shown. 

Then  Major  Ceely  —  who  had  committed  them,  and  was  sitting 
on  the  bench  as  a  justice  —  rose,  and  addressing  the  judge,  said, 
"  May  it  please  you,  my  Lord,  this  man  —  pointing  to  George  Fox  — 
went  aside  with  me  and  told  me  how  serviceable  I  might  be  for  his 
design  ;  that  he  could  raise  forty  thousand  men  at  an  hour's  warn- 
ing, and  involve  the  nation  in  blood,  and  so  bring  in  King  Charles; 
and  I  would  have  aided  him  out  of  the  country  but  he  would  not 
go.  And  if  it  please  you,  my  Lord,  I  have  a  witness  to  swear  to  it." 
The  Judge  perceiving  that  this  was  a  lie,  was  not  forward  to  ex- 
amine the  witness.  G.  Fox  then  desired  that  his  mittimus  should 
be  read,  that  he  miglit  know  of  what  he  was  accused  :  "  For,"  said 
he,  "if  I  have  done  anything  worthy  of  death  or  of  bonds,  let  all 
the  country  know  it."  The  Judge  would  not  permit  it  to  be  read, 
and  sent  George  away. 

On  being  again  brought  into  court  G.  Fox  repeatedly  requested 
that  the  mittimus  should  be  read,  and  as  the  people  were  very 
desirous  to  hear  it,  one  of  his  fellow  prisoners  read  it.  George  Fox 
then  addressed  the  Judge  and  Justices  thus,  "Thou  that  sayest  thou 
art  Chief  Justice  of  Lngland,  and  you  that  be  Justices,  ye  know 


128  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

that  ii'  I  liad  put  in  sureties  I  ini-lit  have  gone  whither  I  pleased, 
and  have  cari-ied  on  the  design,  it'  1  had  one,  whicli  Major  Ceely 
has  c'liarged  me  with.  And  if  I  had  spoken  those  words  to  liini, 
which  he  hath  dechired  here,  then  judge^'c,  whether  hail  or  main- 
l)rize  could  have  been  taken  in  that  case."  Then  addressing 
himself  to  Major  Ceely,  he  said,  "When  or  where  did  I  take 
thee  aside?  Was  not  thy  house  full  of  rude  people,  and  thou 
as  rude  as  any  of  them,  at  t)ur  examination,  so  that  I  asked  for  a 
constable,  or  otlier  officer  to  keep  the  people  civil  ?  But  if  thou  art 
my  accuser,  why  sittest  thou  on  the  bench  ?  That  is  not  the  place 
for  thee  to  sit  in  ;  for  accusers  do  not  use  to  sit  with  judges:  thou 
ought  to  come  down  and  stand  by  me,  and  look  me  in  the  face. 
Besides  I  would  ask  the  Judge  and  Justices  this  question :  whether  or 
not  Major  Ceely  is  not  guilty  of  the  treason  which  he  charges  against 
me,  in  concealing  it  so  long  as  he  hath  done?  Doth  he  understand 
liis  place,  either  as  a  soldier  or  a  justice  of  the  peace?  For  he  tells 
you  here,  that  I  went  aside  with  him,  and  told  him  what  a  design  I  had 
m  hand ;  and  how  serviceable  he  might  be  for  it:  that  I  could  raise 
forty  thousand  men  in  an  hour's  time,  and  bring  in  King  Charles, 
and  involve  the  nation  in  blood.  Moreover,  that  he  would  have 
aided  me  out  of  the  country,  but  I  would  not  go;  and  therefore  he 
committed  me  to  prison  for  want  of  sureties  for  good  behavior, 
as  the  mittimus  declares.  Now  do  not  ye  see  plainly,  that  Major 
Ceely  is  guilty  of  this  plot  and  treason  that  he  talks  of,  and  hath 
made  himself  a  party  to  it,  by  desiring  me  to  go  out  of  the  country, 
and  demanding  bail  of  me;  and  not  charging  me  with  this  pretended 
treason  till  now,  nor  discovering  it?  But  I  deny  and  abhor  his 
words,  and  am  innocent  of  his  devilish  design." 

"  The  Judge  by  this,  seeing  clearly  that  Ceely,  instead  of  ensnaring 
G.  Fox,  had  ensnared  himself,  let  fall  that  business.  But  then 
Ceely  got  up  again,  and  said  to  the  Judge,  '  If  it  i)lease  you,  my 
Lord,  to  hear  mo;  this  man  struck  me,  and  gave  me  such  a  blow, 
as  I  never  had  in  my  life.'  G.  Fox  smiling  at  this,  said,  'Major 
Ceely,  art  then  a  justice  of  peace,  and  a  Major  of  a  troop  of  horse, 
and  tells  the  Judge  here,  in  the  face  of  the  court  and  country,  that  I, 
who  am  a  prisoner,  struck  thee;  and  gave  thee  such  a  blow,  as  thou 
never  hadst  the  like  in  thy  life?  What!  art  thou  not  ashamed? 
Prithee,  Ma,)or  Ceely,  where  did  I  strike  thee;  and  who  is  thy  wit- 
ness for  that?  Who  was  by?'  To  this  Ceely  said  it  was  in  the 
castle-green,  and  th.at  Cautaiu  Bradden  was  standing  by  when  G. 
Fox  struck  him  ;  who  then  desired  the  Judge  to  let  him  produce  his 


SEVEXTEE.NTH    CENTURY.  129 

witness  for  that:  aud  lie  called  again  upon  Ceely,  to  come  down 
from  off  the  bench  ;  telling  him  it  was  not  fit  that  the  accuser  should 
sit  as  judge  over  the  accjased.  Ceely  then  said,  Captain  Bradden 
was  his  witness  :  which  made  G.  Fox  say  to  Captain  Bradden,  who  was 
present  there,  '  Didst  thou  see  me  give  him  such  a  blow,  and  strike 
him  as  he  saith  ? '  Bradden  made  no  answer,  but  bowed  his  head, 
G.  Fox  then  desired  him  to  speak  up,  if  he  knew  any  such  thing : 
but  he  only  bowed  his  head  again.  '  Nay,'  said  G.  Fox,  '  speak  up, 
and  let  the  court  and  country  hear,  and  let  not  bowing  of  the  he^d 
serve  the  turn.  If  I  have  done  so,  let  the  law  be  inflicted  on  me. 
I  fear  not  sufferings,  nor  death  itself;  for  I  am  an  innocent  man 
concerniug  all  his  charge.'  But  Bradden  would  not  testify  to  it. 
And  the  Judge,  finding  those  snares  would  not  hold,  cried,  '  Take 
him  away,  jailer ; '  and  fined  the  prisoners  twenty  marks  apiece,  for 
not  putting  off  their  hats,  and  to  be  kept  in  prison  till  they  paid  the 
fine :  and  so  they  were  brought  back  to  jail  again. 

"  At  night  Captain  Bradden  came,  with  seven  or  eight  justices,  to 
see  them ;  and  they  being  very  civil,  said,  they  did  not  believe  that 
either  the  Judge,  or  any  in  the  court,  believed  those  charges  which 
Major  Ceely  had  made  upon  G.  Fox.  And  Bradden  said,  Major 
Ceely  had  an  intent  to  have  taken  away  G.  Fox's  life,  if  he  could 
have  got  another  witness.  '  But,'  said  G.  Fox,  '  Captain  Bradden, 
why  didst  not  thou  witness  for  me  or  against  me,  seeing  Major  Ceely 
produced  thee  for  a  witness,  that  thou  sawest  me  strike  him  ?  And 
ft-hen  I  desired  thee  to  speak  either  for  me,  or  against  me,  according 
to  what  thou  sawest  or  knewest,  thou  wouldst  not  speak.'  '  Why,' 
said  he,  '  when  Major  Ceely  and  I  came  by  you,  as  you  were  walk- 
ing in  the  castle-green,  he  put  off  his  hat  to  you,  and  said,  "  How  do 
you  do,  Mr.  Fox?  Your  servant,  sir."  Then  you  said  to  him, 
Major  Ceely,  take  heed  of  hypocrisy,  and  of  a  rotten  heart ;  for 
when  came  I  to  be  thy  master,  or  thou  my  servant?.  Do  servants 
use  to  cast  their  masters  into  prison  ?  This  was  the  great  blow  he 
meant  that  you  gave  him.'  G.  Fox  hearing  this,  called  to  mind 
that  as  they  were  walking  by,  Ceely  had  spoken  the  aforesaid  words, 
and  that  he  himself  indeed  made  such  an  answer,  as  is  mentioned; 
and  he  thought  he  said  nothing  amiss,  since  Ceely  so  openly  had 
manifested  his  hypocrisy  and  rotten-heartedness,  when  he  com- 
plained of  this  to  the  Judge  in  open  court,  and  would  have  made  all 
believe  that  G.  Fox  gave  him  a  stroke  outwardly  with  his  hand. 
A  report  of  this  trial  being  spread  abroad,  divers  people,  of  whom 
some  were  of  account  in  the  world,  came  far  and  near  to  see  him 
9 


130  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

and  his  friends  in  prison,  which  tcnchMl  to  tlie  convinconient  of 
some." 

This  account  of  tlie  trial  is  taken  from  Sewel,  and  is  of  interest 
as  showing  the  character  of  the  charges  often  preferred  against 
Friends,  and  how  grossly  violating  all  the  principles  of  justice  and 
law,  was  the  treatment  received  hy  them  from  Judges  and  Courts. 

It  remains  to  be  seen  what  was  the  measure  of  ])unis]iment  in- 
flicted on  these  innocent  men,  because  under  a  sense  of  religious  duty, 
they  could  not  take  off  their  hats  as  a  token  of  reverence  or  honor 
to  the  Judge  and  Justices.  Truly,  as  William  Penn  sailh,  these 
testimonies  against  the  pride  of  the  human  heart,  which  some  make 
light  of  as  being  of  no  worth,  were  "a  close  and  distinguishing  test 
upon  the  spirits  of  those  whom  they  [Friends]  came  among;  show- 
ing their  insides,  and  what  predominated,  notwithstanding  their 
high  and  great  profession  of  religion." 

It  is  one  of  the  curious  evidences  of  the  laxity  in  that  day,  of 
care  or  oversight  of  the  prisons  so  much  used,  and  the  prison  dis- 
cipline exercised  therein,  that  the  one  in  which  these  Friends  had 
been  confined,  and  were  now  sent  back  to,  without  any  prospect  of 
release,  belonged  to  a  Baptist  preacher  who  was  a  C'olonel  in  the 
array  ;  and  having  purchased  it,  placed  in  it  as  jailer  whomsoever  he 
chose.  The  present  incumbent  of  the  office  had  been  burnt  in  the 
hand  and  on  the  shoulder  for  theft;  the  under  jailer,  as  well  as  the 
wives  of  both,  had  also  been  branded  as  thieves ;  so  that  there  was 
little  ground  for  hope  that  the  prisoners  would  escape  the  brutal 
treatment  usually  bestowed  on  those  who  were  placed  in  the  power 
of  such  wicked  custodians.  In  prospect  of  their  long  detention,  the 
three  Friends  informed  the  jailer  they  could  no  longer  pay  him 
board  for  themselves  and  horses,  but  must  have  a  free  prison.  Ex- 
asperated at  the  loss  of  the  opportunity  to  fleece  them,  he  resolved 
to  make  them  suffer  for  it  as  severely  as  he  could.  He  therefore 
put  them  into  a  dungeon,  called  Doomsdale,  where  convicts  awaiting 
execution  were  usually  kept.  It  was  "  a  nasty,  stinking  place,  so 
noisome  that,  it  was  observed,  few  that  went  into  it,  ever  came  out 
again  in  health."  It  had  not  been  cleaned  out  for  a  long  time,  and 
tlie  filth  covering  its  floor  was  nearly  ankle  deep.  Although  the 
effluvia  arising  from  it  was  so  abominable  as  to  sicken  nearly  every 
one  at  first  going  into  it,  yet  the  wicked  jailer  would  not  allow  the 
Friends  to  clean  it  out,  nor  to  spread  straw  over  the  bottom.  In 
the  evening,  some  friendly  person  brought  them  a  little  straw  and  a 
candle,  and  they,  hoping  to  diminish  the  sickening  smell,  set  fire  to 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  131 

the  straw.  But  the  room  directly  over  their  heads  was  occupied  by- 
prisoners  and  the  head  jailer,  and  the  smoke  found  its  way  through 
the  wide  cracks  of  the  floor  ;  whereupon  the  jailer,  in  a  rage,  poured 
down  upon  them  through  the  cracks  whatever  filth  he  could  collect, 
"  Till  we  were  so  bespattered  that  we  could  not  touch  ourselves,  nor 
one  another."  In  this  condition  they  were  obliged  to  stand  all 
night ;  for  such  was  the  condition  of  the  bottom  of  the  dungeon, 
they  could  not  sit  down.  George  Fox  says,  "  A  great  while  he  kept 
us  after  this  manner  before  he  would  let  us  cleanse  the  place,  or  suf- 
fer us  to  have  any  victuals  brought  in,  but  what  we  got  through  the 
grate." 

But  all  this  cruelty  failed  to  break  the  spirit  or  weaken  the  hands 
of  these  "  good  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ,"  in  the  work  whereunto  He 
had  called  them.  He  supplied  them  with  a  strength  which  their 
adversaries  could  neither  weary  out  nor  comprehend.  He  was  with 
them, as  with  the  three  children  in  the  fiery  furnace,  and  when  reviled 
and  abused  for  his  name's  sake.  He  spread  a  table  for  them  in  the 
presence  of  their  enemies,  which  the  latter  could  neither  withhold 
from  them  nor  partake  of  themselves. 

Hoping  to  frighten  the  Friends,  the  jailer  told  them  that  Dooms- 
dale  was  haunted  by  the  spirits  of  those  who  had  died  within  its 
walls.  But  "I  told  them,"  says  George  Fox,  "  that  if  all  the  spirits 
and  devils  in  hell  were  there,  I  was  over  them  in  the  power  of  God, 
and  feared  no  such  thing;  for  Christ,  our  Priest,  would  sanctify  the 
walls  of  the  house  to  us,  He  who  bruised  the  head  of  the  devil. 
The  priest  was  to  cleanse  the  plague  out  of  the  walls  of  the  house 
under  the  law,  which  Christ,  our  Priest,  ended  ;  who  sanctifies  both 
inwardly  and  outwardly  the  walls  of  the  house,  the  walls  of  the 
heart,  and  all  things  to  his  people." 

Many  came  to  visit  the  Friends  in  their  dungeon,  and  the  word  of 
the  Lord  went  forth  from  them  to  the  convincing  of  not  a  few,  some 
of  whom  were  persons  of  note  in  the  parts  of  the  country  whence 
they  came.  So  that  one  of  the  Lord  Protector's  chaplains  told  him, 
"They  could  not  do  George  Fox  a  greater  service  for  the  spreading 
of  his  principles  in  Cornwall,  than  to  imprison  him  there."  The 
assizes  coming  round  again,  the  three  Friends  sent  a  statement  of 
their  suffering  condition  to  the  court ;  whereupon  an  order  was  issued 
that  "Doomsdale  door  should  be  opened,  and  that  they  should  have 
liberty  to  clean.se  it,  and  to  buy  their  meat  in  the  town."  A  full 
recital  of  their  ca.se,  and  of  the  cruelties  practised  on  them,  was 
al.so  sent  to  Cromwell,  who,  after  perusing  it,  sent  an  order  to  the 


132  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

Governor  of  Pendennis  Castle,  to  make  inquiry  whether  any  of  the 
military  officers  or  the  soldiers  had  been  accessory  to  the  abuse  of 
Friends.  The  Governor  instituted  the  inquiry,  and  two  or  three 
being  brought  before  him  who  had  treated  G.  Fox  with  inhumanity, 
they  were  severely  reprimanded  and  threatened;  so  that  the  fear 
caused  by  this  interference  tended  to  lessen  the  great  imposition 
practised  on  Friends. 

Although  a  large  number  of  the  ministers,  both  men  and  women, 
were  now  shut  up  in  jails  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  yet  the 
Society  continued  to  increase  rapidly,  and  its  principles  spread 
through  Cornwall,  Devonshire,  Dorsetshire  and  Somersetshire,  as 
they  had  done  in  most  other  parts  of  England.  In  some  parts  of 
the  country  the  magistrates  appointed  '•  Watchers,"  who  watched 
the  roads,  pretending  to  be  looking  for  beggars  and  tramps,  but  in 
reality  to  stop  any  Friends  who  might  be  travelling  abroad.  Many 
instances  occurred  of  highly  respectable  men  and  women,  well  off 
as  to  this  world's  goods,  but  who,  being  Friends,  were  taken  up  and 
severely  whipped  as  vagabonds. 

Another  assizes  came  round  and  passed  by,  without  George  Fox 
and  his  companions  being  brought  to  trial,  who,  though  let  out  of 
Doomsdale,  were  kept  close  prisoners.  Several  other  Friends  were 
sent  to  prison  by  the  Justices,  for  not  taking  off  their  hats  in  obeisance 
to  them ;  and  a  general  warrant  was  issued  from  the  court  at  Exon 
'*  For  apprehending  all  Quakers." 

In  the  meantime  the  prisoners  were  not  idle.  Edward  Pyot,  who 
had  been  a  captain  in  the  array,  and  was  well  acquainted  with  law, 
prepared  and  sent  to  the  Chief  Justice  Glynne,  a  closely  reasoned 
presentment  of  their  case ;  showing  how  grievously  they  were 
oppressed  and  deprived  of  the  rights  of  every  Englishman,  by  the 
coui"se  pursued  towards  them,  under  his  cognizance  and  authority, 
and  asking  for  a  fair  trial ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  George  Fox 
wrote  and  had  printed  an  examination  and  reply  to  the  warrant 
issued  at  Exon,  showing  its  injustice  and  unchristian  character.  He 
wrote  a  warning  to  the  priests  and  professors  of  Christianity  in 
England ;  also  an  Exhortation  to  Friends  in  the  ministry ;  and 
several  other  papers,  addressed  to  different  classes,  calling  upon  them 
to  turn  from  the  evil  of  their  ways  and  to  practise  the  religion  they 
professed.  Large  numbers  of  people  continued  to  visit  the  prisoners, 
some  from  evil  and  some  from  good  motives,  and  not  a  few  were 
reached  by  their  ministry,  Avere  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the 
doctrines  for  which  they  suffered,  and  joined  the  Society. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  133 

It  was  no  doubt  a  close  trial  to  many  of  the  members  of  the  re- 
cently gathered  Society,  that  so  highly  gifted  and  favored  a  minister 
and  leader  as  George  Fox,  should  be  imprisoned  for  so  long  a  time, 
and  several  used  every  means  in  their  power  to  have  him,  and 
the  Friends  committed  with  him,  either  discharged,  or  brought  be- 
fore a  court  for  trial.  One  Friend  went  to  Oliver  Cromwell,  and 
offered  himself — body  for  body  —  to  lie  in  Doomsdale  in  place  of 
George  Fox,  if  he  could  thereby  be  released.  Cromwell  refused  to 
accept  the  offer;  but  turning  to  the  officers  of  the  Council,  who 
were  around  him,  he  asked,  "  Which  of  you  would  do  so  much  for 
me,  if  I  were  in  the  same  condition  ?  "  and  though  he  did  not  then 
attempt  to  interfere,  he  was  much  affected  with  this  evidence  of 
self-sacrifice  and  love  existing  among  Friends.  Sometime  after,  he 
commissioned  General  Desborough  to  examine  into  the  case,  and 
if  Friends  "  would  go  home  and  preach  no  more,"  to  set  them  at 
liberty. 

Desborough  took  but  little  interest  in  their  hard  case,  and  when 
iie  found  that  the  prisoners  would  not  make  the  promise  which  he 
endeavored  to  exact,  he  betook  himself  to  different  kinds  of  recrea- 
tion, and  left  the  whole  matter  in  the  hands  of  Major  Bennet,  the 
Baptist  preacher  and  owner  of  the  jail.  Bennet  sent  for  the 
Friends  to  meet  him  at  an  Inn,  and  there  offered  to  release  them  if 
they  would  pay  the  jailer  the  fees  he  demanded.  But  they  refused, 
on  the  ground  that  they  had  been  imprisoned  illegally,  and  most 
barbarously  maltreated  during  great  part  oi'  their  incarceration, 
and  neither  the  jailer  nor  any  one  else  had  any  just  claim  on  them  : 

they  were  still  detained.  "  At  hist  "  —  to  use  the  words  of  G.  Fox 

"  the  power  of  the  Lord  came  so  over  him  [Bennet]  that  on  the  loth 
of  the  Seventh  month,  1656,  we  were  set  at  liberty."  They  had 
been  closely  immured  in  that  dreadful  dungeon  for  six  months.  The 
wicked  jailer,  who  had  treated  them  with  so  great  cruelty,  havino- 
perpetrated  some  fresh  crime,  for  which  the  law  took  hold  of  him, 
was  shut  up  in  Doomsdale,  the  same  dungeon  wherein,  of  his  own 
will,  he  had  kept  George  Fox  and  his  fellow  prisoners  closely  con- 
fined ;  was  ironed  and  beaten  by  the  man  who  succeeded  him  in 
office,  and  bid  rememberhow  he  had  treated  those  "good  men,"  whom 
without  any  just  cause;  he  had  thrust  into  that  vile  hole :  here 
he  died. 

But  in  this  year  [IGoG],  Friends  met  with  a  trial  that  grieved 
them  much  more  deeply  than  all  the  bodily  suffering  infficted  by 
imprisonment,  whipping,  or  other  means  of  toiture  could  do.     This 


134  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

was  the  fall  of  one,  who  liad  been  an  eminently  t^fifted  minister  and 
much  loved  fellow-laborer  in  the  great  work  wliich  the  Lord  had 
begun,  and  was  carrying  on,  in  the  nation.  James  Naylor  came  out 
of  Yorkshire,  being  born  at  Ardesley,  near  Wakefield,  about  the 
year  1616.  His  parents  were  of  good  repute  and  possessed  of  a 
competent  estate.  He  appears  to  have  received  a  fair  English  edu- 
cation,'and  his  writings  show  that  he  profited  by  it.  When  about 
twenty-two  years  of  age  he  married  and  removed  to  Wakefield  ; 
where  he  continued  to  reside  until  1641,  when  he  entered  the  Parlia- 
mentary array,  in  which  he  continued  for  eight  or  nine  years,  and 
was  promoted,  first  under  Fairfax  and  afterwards  under  Lambert, 
becoming  Quartermaster  under  the  latter.  His  health  failing,  he 
left  the  army  and  returned  home.  He  professed  with  the  Inde- 
pendents, and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  his  mind  was  early 
much  enlightened  in  regard  to  the  s})iritual  nature  of  the  Christian 
religion. 

George  Fox  coming  to  Wakefield,  in  1051,  James  Naylor,  in  com- 
pany with  others,  went  to  see  him,  and  from  the  conversation  that 
ensued,  James  was  fully  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  doctrine  which 
George  preached.  This  was  near  the  time  when  William  Dewsbury 
and  wife,  R.  Farnsworth,  Thomas  Aldam  and  others,  were  convinced 
by  George  Fox.  In  1652,  while  following  the  plough,  James  believed 
that  it  was  clearly  made  known  to  him,  by  divine  revelation,  tiiat 
he  must  leave  all,  and  go  forth  in  the  service  of  his  Master,  dei)end- 
ing  entirely  on  Him  to  supply  all  his  needs  ;  with  the  promise  that 
he  sliould  lack  nothing.  At  first  he  rejoiced  that  the  Almighty  had 
condescended  thus  to  communicate  his  will  to  him,  and  he  prepared 
to  go;  but  the  cross  was  so  great,  to  leave  his  home  and  kindred, 
that  he  held  back,  and  at  last  concluded  to  remain  where  he  was. 
He  now  was  brought  under  great  condemnation  and  distress  for  his 
disobedience,  so  that  it  seemed  for  awhile  that  his  life  would  be 
taken  from  him.  After  a  time  he  was  made  willing  to  submit  to  the 
divine  will  concerning  him,  and  started  on  foot,  travelling  to  the 
West.  As  he  travelled  from  place  to  place,  it  soon  became  mani- 
fest ihat  he  had  received  an  extraordinary  gift  in  the  ministry,  and 
marvellous  was  the  effect  often  produced  by  his  ])reaching. 

That  faithful  minister  of  the  Gos])el,  James  Wilson,  received  the 
following  account  from  an  officer  under  Cromwell.  "  After  the  battle 
of  Dunbar,  as  I  was  ridinsr  in  Scotland,  at  the  head  of  my  troop, 
I  observed  at  some  distance  from  the  road,  a  crowd  of  people  and 
one  higher  than  the  rest ;  u})on  which  I  sent  one  of  my  men  to  see, 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  135 

and  bring  me  word  what  was  the  meaning  of  this  gathering.  Seeing 
him  ride  up  and  stay  there,  without  returning  according  to  my 
order,  I  sent  a  second  who  stayed  in  like  manner,  and  then  I  de- 
termined to  go  myself.  When  I  came  thither  I  found  it  was  James 
Naylor  preaching  to  the  people,  but  with  such  power  and  reaching 
energy,  as  I  had  not,  until  then,  been  witness  of  T  could  not  help 
staying  a  little,  although  I  was  afraid  to  stay  ;  for  I  ivas  made 
a  Quaker;  being  forced  to  tremble  at  the  sirjht  of  myself.  I  was 
struck  with  more  terror  by  the  preaching  of  James  Naylor,  than  I 
was  at  the  battle  of  Dunbar,  when  we  had  nothing  else  to  expect, 
but  to  fall  a  prey  to  the  swords  of  our  enemies,  without  being  able 
to  help  ourselves.  I  clearly  saw  the  cross  to  be  submitted  to  ;  so  I 
durst  stay  no  longer,  but  got  off,  and  carried  condemnation  for  it 
in  my  own  breast.  The  people  there,  in  the  clear  and  powerful 
opening  of  their  states,  cried  out  against  themselves,  imploring 
mercy,  a  thorough  change,  and  the  whole  work  of  salvation  to  be 
ettected  in  them."  George  Fox  frequently  mentions  James  Naylor 
in  the  first  part  of  his  journal,  as  being  united  with  him  in  religious 
labor,  and  the  service  he  rendered  in  promoting  the  good  cause 
they  both  had  so  deeply  at  heart.  He  was  a  frequent  sufferer  for 
the  testimony  of  Jesus,  and  while  he  kept  humble,  and  little  in  his 
own  eyes,  his  Master  clothed  him  with  divine  authority  and  a  dis- 
cerning spirit;  teaching  his  hands  to  war,  and  his  fingers  to  fight 
with  the  weapons  that  are  mighty,  through  God,  to  the  pulling  down 
of  strongholds. 

In  1652,  when  holding  a  njeeting  at  Orton,  or  Overton,  a  small 
town  in  Westmoreland,  he  was  set  upon  by  five  priests,  who,  after 
he  had  retired  to  a  Friend's  house,  sent  for  him  to  come  to  them  in 
a  field ;  where  they  pressed  him  with  many  questions  ;  which  he 
replied  to  so  wisely,  that  they  could  not  find  ground  for  the  arrest 
and  punishment  they  desired  to  inflict  on  him.  They,  however,  fol- 
lowed him,  and  subsequently  drew  up  three  petitions  against  him, 
to  be  presented  to  the  Justices ;  accusing  him  of  denying  tlie  man- 
hood of  Christ,  of  saying  that  Christ  was  in  him,  and  that  there  was 
but  one  Word  of  God.  There  was  a  long  examination  by  the  four 
Justices,  in  which  one  of  them  asked  him  —  "Is  (Jhrist  in  thee?" 

J.  N. — "I  wittu'ss  him  in  me,  and  if  I  should  deny  hiiu  before 
men.  He  would  deny  me  before  my  Father,  who  is  in  heaven. 

Justice. —  Spiritual,  you  mean?     J.  N. —  Yea,  spiritual. 

Justice. —  By  faith,  or  how?     J.  N. —  By  faith." 

He  was  examined  on  the  other  j)()ints,  ami  such  were  his  answers, 


136  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

that  at  the  close,  Justice  Pearson,  w'no  was  on  the  bonch,  declared 
that  the  words  spoken  by  J.  Nayh)r,  "  Were  neither  within  the  Act 
against  bhis[)lieniy,  nor  against  any  U\w."  Nevertheless,  two  of  the 
Justices  succeeded  in  having  him  committed  to  the  jail  at  Appleby, 
where  he  was  kept  prisoner  for  twenty  weeks.  Two  of  the  Justices 
who  examined  him  were  Anthony  Pearson  and  Gervase  Benson  ; 
both  of  whom  afterwards  joined  Friends. 

After  being  released  from  prison  in  1653,  James  Naylor  travelled 
through  different  parts  of  England,  diligently  exercising  his  gift, 
and  meeting  with  the  like  fare  as  his  brethren  and  sisters  in  the 
household  of  fiiith.  Near  the  close  of  1654,  or  the  beginning  of 
1655,  he  arrived  in  London,  which,  he  afterwards  said,  Ixe  entered 
with  a  presentiment  that  some  ill  awaited  him  there. 

He  is  represented  as  being  a  man  of  fine  personal  appearance, 
with  a  remarkably  placid  and  sweet  countenance,  gifted  with  an 
extraordinary  silvery,  melodious  voice,  and  an  eloquence  that  not 
only  clothed  the  deep  and  solemn  truths  he  wished  to  impress,  in 
a[)propriate  and  fluent  language,  but  enabled  him  to  arrest  and 
captivate  the  attention  of  the  learned,  as  well  as  of  those  of  rank 
and  fashion.  How  far  the  popularity  which  these  characteristics 
had  already  obtained,  had  drawn  him  off  from  that  close  watch- 
fulness and  humble  dependence  upon  the  Shepherd  of  the  sheep,  in 
which  alone  is  safety,  before  coming  into  London,  cannot  be  known. 
As  has  been  already  related,  F.  Howgil,  E.  Burrough,  and  other 
ministers,  had  been  successfully  laboring  within  the  walls  of  that 
city,  and  had  gathered  very  many  iiito  the  fold  ;  so  that  a  consid- 
erable number  of  meetings  of  Friends,  were  regularly  held  in 
houses  situated  in  various  sections. 

In  the  short  account  of  Rebecca  Travers,  mention  has  been  made 
of  some  of  the  services  rendered  to  the  good  cause  by  J.  Naylor,  in 
London  ;  and  Sewel  says,  "  He  preached  in  such  an  eminent  manner, 
that  many  admiring  his  great  gift,  began  to  esteem  him  much  above 
his  brethren  ;  which  as  it  brought  him  no  benefit,  so  it  gave  occa- 
sion for  some  difference  in  the  Society;  and  this  ran  so  high,  that 
some  forward  and  inconsiderate  women,  assumed  the  boldness  t-j 
dispute  with  F.  Howgil  and  E.  Burrough  openly,  in  their  preach- 
ing. Whereupon  they,  who  were  truly  excellent  ministers,  did  not 
fail,  according  to  their  duty,  to  reprove  this  indiscretion."  Stung 
by  this  deserved  reproof,  these  forward  and  weak-minded  women, 
determined  to  seek  support  in  their  pernicious  course;  and  one  of 
them,  named  Martha  Simmons,  went  'io  J.  Naylor  and  strove  to  set 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  137 

him  against  his  two  brethren,  and  thus  make  a  party  in  their  favor. 
James,  however,  had  not  yet  lost  his  power  of  discernment,  nor 
allowed  his  feelings  of  love  and  respect  for  his  worthy  companions  and 
fellow  sufferers,  to  be  blunted, so  as  to  desire  to  draw  a  party  to  himself 
at  their  expense;  and  he  declined  giving  a  judgment  against  them. 
Disappointed  in  producing  the  effect  she  desired,  M.  Simmons  gave 
way  to  a  kind  of  hysterical  moaning  and  weeping,  which  so  affected 
James,  that  he  became  dejected  and  disconsolate.  It  is  probable 
that  the  conflicting  emotions  called  forth  by  the  circumstances  and 
people  with  which  he  was  surrounded,  so  preyed  upon  him,  as  to 
deprive  him  measurably  of  the  right  use  of  his  reason.  Be  that  as 
it  may,  from  that  time  he  became  greatly  changed  ;  estranged  him- 
self from  his  true  and  judicious  friends,  and  listening  to  the  flat- 
teries of  the  shallow  and  flighty  women  and  men  who  gathered  around 
him,  allowed  spiritual  pride  to  take  possession  of  his  heart,  to  puff 
him  up  above  the  restraining  power  of  the  Witness  for  Truth,  and 
finally  to  betray  him  into  assumptions  or  expressions  that  amounted 
to  blasphemy. 

How  long  J.  Naylor  continued  in  London  does  not  clearly  ap- 
pear, but  during  the  time,  the  infatuation  of  his  followers  increased, 
and  his  own  spiritual  understanding  became  more  darkened.  Let- 
ters were  sent  to  him  by  some  of  the  former,  in  which  he  was 
addressed  as  the  "  Everlasting  Son  of  Righteousness ; "  the  "  Prince 
of  Peace  ;  "  the  "  only  begotton  Son  of  God  ;  "  the  "  Fairest  among 
Ten  Thousand,"  and  abounding  with  other  extravagant  and  im- 
pious expressions.  Towards  the  middle  of  the  year  1656,  he  left 
London,  professedly  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  George  Fox,  who 
was  then  in  Launcestou.  He  appears  to  have  been  accompanied  by 
several  of  his  deluded  votaries.  At  Exeter  they  were  arrested  by 
the  "watchers"  as  vagrants,  and  the  magistrates  sent  them  to  tlic 
common  prison,  where  many  Friends  were  already  incarcerated  ; 
Naylor  being  fined  twenty  marks  for  not  taking  off  his  hat.  While 
shut  up  here,  the  women  who  were  of  Ntiylor's  company,  ran  into 
great  extravagances;  kneeling  before  him  and  kissing  his  feet. 

George  Fox,  as  already  mentioned,  had  been  liberated  from  Laun- 
cestou jail  in  the  Seventh  month  of  this  year  [1656],  and  had  again 
entered  on  his  arduous  labors  as  a  gospel  minister.  Coming  to 
Exeter  he  went  to  the  prison  to  vi.^it  his  friends,  who  were  there 
under  bonds.  Here  he  met  with  J.  Naylor,  and  he  gives  the  fol- 
Icwing  account  of  what  passed  : 

"The  night  that  we  came  to  Exeter,  I  spoke  with  James  Naylor: 


138  FRIEXDS    IX    THE 

for  I  saw  he  was  out,  and  wrong,  and  so  was  his  company.  The 
next  day,  being  First-day,  we  went  to  visit  the  prisoners,  and  had  a 
meeting  with  them  in  the  prison  ;  but  James  Naylor,  and  some  of 
them,  could  not  stay  the  meeting.  There  came  a  corporal  of  horse 
into  the  meeting,  who  was  convinced,  and  remained  a  very  good 
Friend.  The  next  day  I  spoke  to  James  Xaylor  again  ;  and  he 
slighted  what  I  said,  was  dark,  and  much  out ;  yet  he  would  have 
come  and  kissed  me.  But  I  said,  '  Since  he  had  turned  against  the 
power  of  God,  I  could  not  receive  his  show  of  kindness.'  The  Lord 
moved  me  to  slight  him,  and  to  'set  the  power  of  God  over  him.' 
So  after  I  had  been  warring  with  the  world,  there  was  now  a  wicked 
spirit  risen  among  Friends  to  war  against.  I  admonished  liini  and 
his  company." 

J.  Naylor  and  his  company  having  been  liberated  by  order  of 
the  Council,  after  they  had  been  imj^risoned  about  three  mouths, 
travelled  on  towards  Bristol,  and  during  their  progress  their  fanati- 
cism reached  its  greatest  height  of  absurdity  and  impiety.  They 
entered  Bristol,  J.  N.  on  horseback,  his  horse  led  by  one  of  the 
women,  and  a  man  bareheaded  walking  before,  while  others  of  the 
company  spread  scarfs,  handkerchiefs,  &e.,  in  the  way,  which  was 
deep  with  mud,  and  the  whole  company  sang,  "Holy,  holy,  holy  is 
the  Lord  God  of  Hosts  !  Hosannah  in  the  highest."  Thus  they  pro- 
ceeded as  far  as  the  high  cross  in  the  city,  when  they  were  stopped 
and  taken  before  the  Mayor,  who  committed  them  to  prison. 

J.  Xaylor  having  been  sent  up  to  London,  and  his  case  reported 
to  the  Parliament,  then  sitting,  a  committee  was  appointed  by  it  to 
examine  into  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  and  report  their  judg- 
ment thereon.  After  three  days  this  committee  reported  the  charges 
against  him  proved.  This  report  was  received  on  the  5th  of  tlie 
Twelfth  month  [1656],  and  Parliament  debated  upon  the  case  for 
thirteen  days,  and  then  convicted  James  Naylor  guilty  of  blasphe- 
my, and  declared  him  to  be  an  impostor.  Upon  a  motion  that  his 
punishment  should  be  death,  the  votes  stood  eighty-two  yeas  and 
ninety-six  nays.  On  the  17th  of  the  month  the  following  sentence 
was  carried,  and  ordered  to  be  executed : 

"That  James  Naylor  be  set  on  the  pillory,  with  his  head  in  the 
pillory,  in  the  Palace-yard,  Westminster,  during  the  space  of  two 
hours,  on  Thursday  next,  and  be  whipped  by  the  hangman  through 
the  streets,  from  Westminster  to  the  Old  Exchange,  London  ;  and 
there  likewise  be  set  on  the  pillory,  with  his  head  in  the  pillory,  for 
the  space  of  two  hours,  bet^veeu  the  hours  of  eleven  and  one,  on 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  139 

Saturday  next,  in  each  place  wearing  a  paper  containing  an  in- 
scription of  his  crimes ;  and  that  at  the  Old  Exchange  his  tongue 
be  bored  through  with  a  hot  iron,  and  that  he  be  there  also 
stigmatized  in  the  forehead  with  the  letter  B ;  and  that  he  be  after- 
wards sent  to  Bristol,  and  be  conveyed  into,  and  through  the  said 
city  on  horseback,  with  his  face  backward,  and  there  also  publicly 
whipped  the  next  market-day  after  he  comes  thither;  and  that 
thence  he  be  committed  to  prison  in  Bridewell,  London,  and  there 
restrained  from  tlie  society  of  all  people,  and  there  to  labor  hard 
till  he  shall  be  released  by  Parliament;  and  during  that  time  he  be 
debarred  the  use  of  pen,  ink  and  paper,  and  shall  have  no  relief 
but  what  he  earns  by  his  daily  labor." 

This  sentence  breathes  of  that  fierce  spirit  of  cruelty  and  intoler- 
ance which,  in  that  day,  actuated  many  who  professed  to  be  disci- 
ples of  the  meek  and  holy  Redeemer,  who  laid  down  his  life  for  the 
sins  of  the  world.  It  overshot  the  mark  aimed  at ;  for  while  it  was 
hoped  that  it  would  inspire  the  people  with  a  salutary  dread  of  the 
crime  of  which  J.  Naylor  was  adjudged  to  be  guilty,  and  tend  to 
prevent  them  from  giving  countenance  to  the  "  Quakers,"  on  whora 
it  was  hoped  to  reflect  the  guilt  and  opprobrium,  its  barbarity 
excited  commiseration  for  the  victim,  and  led  men  to  reflect  rather 
on  the  character  of  the  religion  which  could  allow  its  professors  to 
so  far  violate  all  the  best  feelings  of  humanity,  to  gratify  their 
vindictiveness. 

The  Speaker  being  authorized  to  issue  his  warrant  to  the  several 
ofiicers  to  carry  the  sentence  into  efiect,  James  Naylor  was  brought^ 
to  the  bar  of  the  House,  and  as  the  Speaker  was  about  to  pronounce 
the  sentence,  James  observed,  that  he  did  not  know  what  was  his 
ofience ;  to  which  the  Speaker  replied,  he  should  know  his  offence 
by  his  punishment.  At  the  close  of  the  sentence,  James  was  about 
to  speak,  but  was  prevented  ;  when  he  said,  "  I  pray  God,  He  may 
not  lay  it  to  your  charge." 

"The  18th  of  December,  J.  Naylor  suffered  part  of  the  sentence  ; 
and  after  havmg  stood  full  two  hours  with  his  head  in  the  pillory, 
was  stripped,  and  whipped  at  a  cart's  tail,  from  Palace-yard  to  the 
()ld  Exchange,  and  received  three  hundred  and  ten  stripes  ;  and  tlie 
executioner  would  have  given  him  one  more,  (*as  he  confessed  to  the 
Sheriff*,)  there  being  three  hundred  and  eleven  kenjiels,  but  his  foot 
slipping,  the  stroke  fell  upon  his  own  hand,  which  hurt  him  much. 
All  this  Naylor  bore  with  so  much  patience  and  quietness,  thai  it 
astonished  many  of  the  beholders,  though  his  body  was  in  a  most 


140  FRIENDS    IN     THE 

pilil'ul  condition  :  lie  was  also  much  hurt  with  horses  treading  on 
his  feet,  whereon  the  print  of  the  nails  was  seen.  R.  Travis,*  a 
gi'ave  person,  wlio  washed  his  wounds,  in  a  certificate  which  was 
presented  to  the  Parliament,  and  afterwards  printed,  says,  '  There 
was  not  the  space  of  a  man's  nail  free  from  stripes  and  blood,  from 
his  shoulders,  near  to  his  waist,  his  right  arm  sorely  striped,  his 
hands  much  hurt  with  cords,  that  they  bled,  and  were  swelled  ; 
the  blood  and  wounds  of  his  back  did  very  little  a|)pear  at  first 
sight,  by  reason  of  abundance  of  dirt  that  covered  them,  till  it  was 
washed  off.'  Nay,  his  punishment  was  so  severe,  that  some  judged 
his  sentence  would  have  been  more  mild,  if  it  had  been  present 
death :  and  it  seemed  indeed  that  there  was  a  party,  who  not  being 
able  to  prevail  so  far  in  Parliament  as  to  have  him  sentenced  to 
death,  yet  strove  to  the  utmost  of  their  power  to  make  him  sink 
uudt'r  the  weight  of  his  punishment;  for  the  20th  of  December  was 
the  time  a])p()iuted  for  executing  the  other  part  of  the  sentence,  viz., 
borinii  throutrh  his  tongue,  and  stigmatizing  in  his  forehead;  but  bv 
reason  of  the  most  cruel  whipping,  he  was'  brought  to  such  a  low 
ebb,  that  many  persons  of  note,  moved  with  compassion,  presented 
petitions  to  the  Parliament  on  his  behalf,  wdio  respited  his  further 
punishment  for  one  week."  f 

Several  hundred  persons  of  different  religious  denominations  now 
petitioned  Parliament  to  remit  the  remaining  part  of  the  sentence ; 
but  it  was  soon  apparent  that  no  mercy  was  to  be  extended  from 
its  members.  Application  was  then  made  to  the  Lord  Protector, 
who  sent  a  communication  to  the  House,  and  the  subject  was 
debated ;  but  as  the  time  for  carrying  out  the  other  part  of  the 
sentence  was  close  at  hand,  the  "ministers,"  who  were  particularly 
active  in  the  case,  succeeded  in  baffling  every  eflTort  to  save  the 
victim. 

On  the  27th,  James  stood  on  the  pillory  and  had  his  tongue  bored 
with  a  hot  iron.  Neal,  in  the  Appendix  to  his  History  of  the  Puri- 
tans, inserts  an  account  of  this  cruel  infliction,  as  given  in  Sayer's 
History  of  Bristol ;  from  which  the  following  is  taken  :  "  He  having 
stood  till  two  (in  the  pillory),  the  executioner  took  him  out,  and 
having  bound  his  arms  with  cords  to  the  pillory,  and  he  having  put 
forth  his  tongue,  whieh  he  freely  did,  the  executioner,  with  a  red  liot 
iron,  about  the  bigness  of  a  quill,  bored  the  same,  and  by  order  from 
the  Sheriff',  held  it  in  a  small  space,  to  the  end  that  the  beholders 
might  see  and  bear  witness  that  thesentence  was  thoroughly  executed. 

*  She  wlio  was  convinced  by  hun  in  London.  f  Sewel. 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CENTURY.  141 

Then,  having  taken  it  out  and  pulled  the  cap  off  that  covered  his 
face,  he  put  a  handkerchief  over  his  eyes,  and  putting  his  left  hand 
to  the  back  part  of  his  head,  and  taking  the  red  hot  iron  letter  in 
his  other  hand,  put  it  to  his  forehead  'till  it  smoked  :  all  which  time 
James  never  so  much  as  winced ;  but  bore  it  with  astonishing  and 
heart-melting  patience."  .  .  .  .  "  This  also  was  very  remarkable, 
that  notwithstanding  there  might  be  many  thousands  of  people,  yet 
they  were  very  quiet,  few  being  heard  to  revile  him,  or  seen  to 
throw  anything  at  him.  And  when  he  was  burning,  all  the  people 
before  him  and  behind,  and  on  both  sides  of  him,  with  one  consent, 
stood  bare-headed." 

When  able  to  be  moved  he  was  taken  to  Bristol,  to  be  there 
whipped  through  the  streets  at  the  cart  tail ;  which  was  done  ; 
though  the  executioner,  it  was  said  by  command,  used  but  very  little 
force  in  applying  the  lash,  respecting  which  Sayer  remarks,  "A 
trait  of  mercy,  in  the  midst  of  such  brutality,  which  ought  to  be 
recorded  to  the  credit  of  the  magistracy  of  Bristol." 

Great  was  the  glorifying  of  the  enemies  of  Friends  at  the  fall  of 
poor  James  ISTaylor.  He  was  known  to  have  been  an  eminent  instru- 
ment among  them,  and  it  was  hoped  that  after  what  had  occurred. 
Friends  would  no  longer  dare  to  propagate  their  doctrines,  and  the 
Society  would  soon  disappear.  No  effort  was  spared  to  make  Friends 
responsible  for  the  wrong  doing  of  those  infatuated  professors  ;  but 
Friends  —  knowing  that  it  sprung,  not  from  the  truth  of  the  Gospel 
as  professed  by  them,  but  from  a  wide  departure  therefrom  ;  and  in- 
stead of  giving  heed  to  the  warning,  preserving  manifestations  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  to  the  soul,  allowing  the  affections  to  be  captivated 
by  that  which  ministers  to  the  gratification  of  the  carnal  mind,  and 
the  judgment  to  become  perverted  by  self-exaltation  —  kept  on  in 
the  even  tenor  of  their  way,  and  while  they  mourned  over  the  loss 
of  tiieir  fallen  brother,  and  bore  an  unequivocal  testimony  against 
his  errors,  they  suffered  it  not  to  shut  up  their  hearts  against  him, 
nor  to  induce  them  faithlessly  to  relax  in  godly  zeal  for  the  promo- 
tion of  truth  and  righteousness. 

In  the  course  of  the  two  years'  confinement  of  J.  Naylor  in  Bride- 
well, it  pleased  the  Lord  again  to  visit  him  with  the  Day-spring 
from  on  high,  by  which  the  fhirkness  that  had  shrouded  his  spirit- 
ual vision  was  dispelled,  and  he  brought  to  see  how  grievously  he 
had  departed  from  the  way  of  the  Lord,  and  involved  himself  and 
others  in  guilt  and  wretchedness.  The  gift  of  that  repentance  not 
to  be  repented  of,  was  mercifully  vouchsafed  to  him,  and  in  abased- 


142  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

ness  and  t>incei-ity,  he  was  enabled  to  confess  his  sin  and  receive  for- 
giveness. He  wrote  many  acknowledgments  of  his  departure  from 
the  truth,  which  he  had  once  known,  deploring  the  dishonor  his 
conduct  had  brought  upon  it,  and  upon  the  Society  to  which  he  be- 
longed, and  condemning  in  the  strongest  terms  the  course  he  had 
pursued. 

The  following  from  one  of  those  affecting  documents,  is  very  in- 
structive ;  as  showing  that  the  most  eminent  gifts  are  held  in  frail 
earthen  vessels  ;  and  that  there  is  no  safety,  even  for  the  most  favored 
instrument,  unless  the  injunction  of  Christ  is  continually  observed, 
"  AVhat  I  say  unto  you,  I  say  unto  all,  Watch,  watch  and  pray  lest 
ye  enter  into  temptation."  "  Not  minding  in  all  things  to  stand  single 
and  low  to  the  motions  of  that  endless  life,  by  it  to  be  led  in  all 
things  within  and  without ;  but  giving  away  to  the  reasoning  part, 
as  to  some  things  which  in  themselves  had  no  seeming  evil,  by  little 
and  little  it  drew  out  my  mind  after  trifles,  vanities  and  persons, 
which  took  the  affectionate  part,  by  which  my  mind  was  drawn  out 
from  the  constant  watch,  and  pure  fear,  into  which  I  once  was  be- 
gotten.    Thus  having  in  a  great  measure  lost  my  own  guide,  and 
darkness  being  come  upon  me,  I  sought  a  place  where  I  might  have 
been  alone  to  weep  and  cry  before  the  Lord,  that  his  face  I  might 
find,  and  my  condition  recover.     But  then  my  adversary,  who  had 
long  waited  his  opportunity,  had  got  in  and  bestirred  himself  every 
way,  so  that  I  could  not  be  hid ;  and  divers  messages  came  to  me, 
some  true,  some  false,  as  I  have  seen  since.     So  I,  knowing  some  to 
be  true,  to  wit,  how  I  had  lost  my  condition,  with  this  I  let  in  the 
false  message  also ;  and  so  letting  go  that  little  of  the  true  light 
which  I  had  yet  remaining  in  myself,  I  gave  up  myself  wholly  to 
be  led  by  others ;  whose  work  was  then  to  divide  me  from  the  chil- 
dren of  light,  which  was  done  :  though  much  was  done  by  divers  of 
them  to  prevent  it,  and  in  bowels  of  tender  love  many  labored  to 
have  stayed  me  with  them.     And  after  I  was  led  out  from  them, 
the  Lord  God  of  my  life  sent  divers  of  his  servants  with  his  word 
after  me,  for  my  return  ;  all  which  was  rejected ;  yea,  the  provoca- 
tion of  that  time  of  temptation  was  exceeding  great  against  the  pure 
love  of  God ;  yet  He  left  me  not ;  for  after  I  had  given  myself  under 
that  power,  and  darkness  was  above,  ray  adversary  so  prevailed, 
that  all  things  were  turned  and  perverted  against  my  right  seeing, 
hearing,  or  understanding ;  only  a  secret  hope  and  faith  I  had  in 
my  God,  whom  I  had  served,  that  He  would  bring  me  through  it, 
and  to  the  end  of  it,  and  that  I  should  again  see  the  day  of  my  re- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  143 

demption  from  under  it  all ;  and  this  quieted  my  soul  in  my  greatest 
tribulation." 

To  Friends  whom  he  had  so  deeply  grieved,  on  account  of  the 
reproach  he  had  brought  on  the  precious  truth  they  professed,  he 
wrote :  —  "  Dear  bi'ethreu :  My  heart  is  broken  this  day,  for  the 
offence  that  I  have  occasioned  to  God's  truth  and  people,  and  espe- 
cially to  you,  who  in  dear  love  followed  me,  seeking  me  in  faithful- 
ness to  God,  which  I  rejected  ;  being  bound  wherein  I  could  not 
come  forth,  till  God's  hand  brought  me,  to  whose  love  I  now  confess: 
and  I  beseech  you,  forgive  wherein  I  evilly  requited  your  love  in 
that  day.  God  knows  my  sorrow  for  it,  since  I  see  it,  that  ever  I 
should  offend  that  of  God  in  any,  or  reject  his  counsel ;  and  now 
that  paper  you  have  seen  lies  much  upon  me,  and  I  greatly  fear 
further  to  offend,  or  do  amiss,  whereby  the  innocent  truth,  or  peo- 
ple of  God  should  suffer,  or  that  I  should  disobey  therein. 

"  Unless  the  Lord  himself  keej:)  you  from  me,  I  beseech  you  let 
nothing  else  hinder  your  coming  to  me,  that  I  might  have  your  help 
in  the  Lord :  in  the  mercies  of  Christ  Jesus  this  I  beg  of  you,  as  if 
it  was  your  own  case;  let  me  not  be  forgotten  of  you. 

"  And  I  entreat  you,  speak  to  Henry  Clarke,  or  whoever  else  I 
have  most  offended  ;  and  by  the  power  of  God,  and  in  the  Spirit  of 
Christ  Jesus,  I  am  willing  to  confess  the  offence,  that  God's  love 
may  arise  in  all  hearts,  as  before,  if  it  be  his  will,  who  only  can  re- 
move what  stands  in  the  way ;  and  nothing  thereof  do  I  intend  to 
cover  :  God  is  witness  herein." 

He  also  sent  an  address  to  Parliament,  declaring  that  Christ 
Jesus  —  the  Immanuel,  of  w'hose  sufferings  the  Scriptures  declare  — 
was  Him  alone  whom  he  confessed  before  men ;  "and  that  to  ascribe 
this  name,  power,  or  virtue  to  James  Naylor,  or  for  that  to  be  exalted 
or  worshipped,  to  me  is  great  idolatry,  and  with  the  Spirit  of  Christ 
Jesus  in  me,  it  is  condemned  ;  which  Spirit  leads  to  lowliness,  meek- 
ness and  long  suffering." 

Sayer,  in  his  history  of  Bristol,  says,  that  after  J.  Naylor's  dis- 
charge from  Bridewell,  he  returned  to  that  city,  and  in  a  meeting 
with  his  friends  there,  made  a  recantation  of  his  errors  in  so  affecting 
a  manner,  that  they  were  convinced  of  the  sincerity  of  his  repentance. 
Sewel  also  records,  "  This  is  certain,  that  James  Naylor  came  to 
very  great  sorrow,  and  deep  humiliation  of  mind  ;  and  therefore, 
because  God  forgives  the  transgressions  of  the  penitent,  and  blotteth 
them  out,  and  remembereth  them  no  more,  so  could  James  Naylor's 
friends  do  no  other  than  forgive  his  crime,  and  thus  take  back  the 


144  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

lost  sheep  into  their  Society.  He  having  afterwards  obtained  his 
liberty,  behaved  himself  as  became  a  Christian,  honest  and  blame- 
less in  conversation;  and  patiently  bore  the  reproach  of  his  former 
crimes." 

How  long  he  remained  in  Bristol  does  not  appear,  but,  probably, 
not  long.  He  returned  to  London,  and  while  there,  wrote  and  had 
printed  a  reply  to  "  The  Fanatic  History  ;  "  a  work  published  by 
one  Richard  Blorne,  but  generally  understood  to  have  been  ])ut  forth 
under  the  patronage  of  a  nunil^er  of  ministers;  the  drift  of  which 
was,  to  bring  Friends  and  their  principles  into  disre})ute;  to  effect 
which,  J.  Naylor's  case  was  referred  to. 

In  the  Eighth  month  of  1660,  he  left  London  on  foot  for  the 
North,  intending  to  go  to  his  native  place  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Wakefield.  After  getting  a  few  miles  beyond  Huntingdon,  he  was 
taken  sick ;  and  was  found  near  evening  in  a  field,  bound  ;  having 
been  robbed.  Being  taken  to  the  house  of  a  Friend  at  Holm,  he 
received  medical  advice  and  attention,  for  which,  and  the  kindness 
of  those  about  him,  he  expressed  his  gratitude,  saying,  "You  have 
refreshed  my  body,  the  Lord  refresh  your  souls."  He  lived  not 
many  days  ;  dying  in  the  forty-fourth  year  of  his  age.  A  few  hours 
before  his  death,  he  uttend  the  following  beautiful  language,  in  the 
presence  of  several  who  were  waiting  upon  him  : 

"There  is  a  spirit  which  I  feel,  that  delights  to  do  no  evil,  nor  to 
revenge  any  wrong,  but  delights  to  endure,  all  things  in  hope  to 
enjoy  its  own  in  the  end.  Its  hope  is  to  outlive  all  wrath  and  con- 
tention, and  to  weary  out  all  exaltation  and  cruelty,  or  whatever  is 
of  a  nature  contrary  to  itself.  It  sees  to  the  end  of  all  temptations. 
As  it  bears  no  evil  in  itself,  so  it  conceives  none  in  thought  to  any 
other :  if  it  be  betrayed,  it  bears  it ;  for  its  ground  and  spring  are  the 
mercies  and  forgiveness  of  God.  Its  crown  is  meekness,  its  life  is 
everlasting  love  unfeigned,  and  takes  its  kingdom  with  entreaty, 
and  not  with  contention,  and  keeps  it  by  lowliness  of  mind.  In 
God  alone  it  can  rejoice,  though  none  else  regard  it,  or  can  own  its 
life.  It  is  conceived  in  sorrow,  and  brought  forth  without  any  to 
pity  it;  nor  doth  it  murmur  at  grief  and  oppression.  It  never  re- 
joiceth  but  througii  sufferings;  for  with  tlie  world's  joy  it  is  mur- 
dered. I  found  it  alone,  being  forsaken.  I  have  fellowship  therein 
with  them  who  lived  in  dens,  and  desolate  places  of  the  earth,  who 
through  death  obtained  this  resurrection,  and  eternal  holy  life." 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  145 


CHAPTER  I^. 

Ct.  Fox  and  O.  Cromwell  —  E.  Bnrrough  and  O.  Cromwell  —  Wales  —  George 
Fox  in  Scotland  —  Curses  —  Persecution  in  Scotland  —  Visits  to  the  Con- 
tinent —West  Indies  —  Mary  Fisher  —  First  instance  of  Whipping  a  Friend 
— Anne  Austin  —  Colony  of  Massachusetts — Roger  Williams — Anne  Hutch- 
inson—  M.Fisher  and  A.  Austin  land  at  Boston  —  Witches  —  Mary  Fisher 
and  the  Sultan — Eight  more  Friends  at  Boston  —  Imprisonment  —  Laws 
passed  against  Quakers  —  Curiosity  Excited — Nicholas  Upshai — Mary  Dyer 
and  Ann  Burden  in  Boston  —  Emharkation  of  Eleven  Friends  for  America 
—  John  Copeland  and  Christopher  Holder  in  Massaciiusetts  —  Whippings 
— Misrepresentations  —  First  Declaration  of  Friends'  Faitli  published  in 
America  —  A  new  Law  against  Quakers  —  Murmurs  of  the  People. 

AFTER  being  released  fi-om  Launceston  jail  in  1(356,  Geo.  Fox 
found  it  laid  upon  him  to  travel  throughout  England  ;  not  only 
to  continue  to  spread  a  knowledge  of  the  truth,  but  also  to  confirm 
those  who  had  been  converted  thereto,  in  obedience  to  the  manifes- 
tations of  Divine  Grace,  and  in  faithfulness  to  the  several  duties 
required  of  them.  Coming  up  to  London,  when  near  Hyde  Park, 
observing  a  crowd,  he  rode  up  and  found  that  the  Lord  Protector 
was  passing  by.  George  guided  his  horse  along  side  of  him,  Crom- 
well ordering  the  guard  not  to  keep  him  away.  They  entered  into 
conversation,  and  he  embraced  tlie  opportunity  to  speak  to  the  Pro- 
tector respecting  the  sufferings  Friends  were  undergoing ;  to  bring 
home  to  him  the  responsibility  resting  on  him,  for  what  was  being 
done  in  his  name,  and  to  exhort  him  to  put  a  stop  to  that  vdiich  was 
so  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  Christ  and  to  Christianity. 

Shortly  after  G.  Fox  and  E.  Pyot  had  an  interview  with  Crom- 
well and  some  of  his  Council  at  Whitehall ;  in  which  the  sufferings 
of  Friends  were  again  laid  before  him,  and  the  doctrine  of  the 
Light  of  Christ  in  the  soul  ftilly  explained  and  enforced.  But 
Cromwell  said  it  was  but  a  natural  light,  and  behaved  in  a  light 
and  trifling  manner.  But  George  reproved  him,  and  says,  "Tlie 
power  of  the  Lord  God  arose  in  me,  and  in  it  I  was  moved  to  bii| 
him  to  lay  down  his  crown  at  the  feet  of  Jesus." 

George  Fox,  who  had  observed  with  much  sorrow,  that  not  only 
were  Friends  cruelly  persecuted  for  their  adherence  to  the  religion 
of  Christ,  but  that  indulgence  in  the  spirit  of  intolerance  and  malice 
was  hardening  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  rendering  them  more 
and  more  irreligious  and  ripe  for  licentious  iiidulgeuce,  was  con- 
10 


146  F  R  I  P:  X  D  S    I  N    T  II  E 

vinced  that  tin-  (government  would  not  he  aUowed  to  stand.  He 
says,  in  1658,  *'  I  had  a  sight  and  sense  of  the  king's  return  a  good 
while  before,  and  so  had  some  others.  I  wrote  to  Oliver  several 
times,  and  let  him  know,  that  while  he  was  persecuting  God's  people, 
they  whom  he  accounted  his  enemies  were  preparing  to  come  uj)()n 
liim.  When  some  forward  spirits,  that  came  among  us,  would 
have  bought  Somerset-house,  that  we  might  have  meetings  in  it,  I 
forbade  them  to  do  so  :  for  I  then  foresaw  the  king's  coming  in  again. 
Besides,  there  came  a  woman  to  me  in  the  Strand,  who  had  a  proph- 
ecy concerning  King  Charles's  coming  in,  three  years  before  he 
came;  and  she  told  me,  she  must  go  to  him  to  declare  it.  I  advised 
her  to  wait  upon  the  Lord,  and  keep  it  to  herself;  for  if  it  should 
be  known  that  she  went  on  such  a  message,  they  would  look  upon 
it  to  be  treason  ;  but  she  said,  she  must  go  and  tell  him,  that  he 
should  be  brought  into  England  again.  I  saw  her  prophecy  was 
true,  and  that  a  great  stroke  must  come  upon  those  in  power:  for 
they  that  had  then  got  possession  were  so  exceeding  high,  and 
such  great  persecution  was  acted  by  them  who  called  themselves 
saints,  that  they  would  take  from  Friends  their  copyhold  lands, 
because  they  could  not  sw'ear  in  their  courts.  Sometimes,  when 
we  laid  these  suiferings- before  Oliver  Cromwell,  he  would  not  be- 
lieve it.  Wherefore  Thomas  Aldam  and  Anthony  Pearson  were 
moved  to  go  through  all  the  gaols  in  England,  and  to  get  cojiies  of 
Friends'  commitments  under  the  gaolers'  hands,  that  they  might 
lay  the  weight  of  their  sufferings  upon  Oliver  Cromwell.  And  when 
he  refused  to  give  order  for  the  releasing  of  them,  Thomas  Aldani 
was  moved  to  take  his  cap  off  his  head,  and  rend  it  in  pieces  before 
him,  and  to  say  unto  him,  'So  shall  thy  government  be  rent  from 
thee  and  thy  house.'  " 

Having  proceeded  and  visited  those  parts  of  England  where  he  had 
not  been  already,  G.  Fox  returned  to  London  [1656],  and  while  thei'e, 
prepared  and  had  published,  an  answer  to  the  several  objections  that 
had  been  made  public  to  the  doctrines  held  and  pronuilgated  by 
Friends.  Finding  that  party  spirit  had  spread  among  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Society  in  and  about  London,  arising  from  the  case  of 
James  Naylor,  he  addressed  a  short  epistle  to  them,  warning  against 
"  party  heats,"  and  exhorting  to  live  in  that  power  which  would 
deliver  thera  therefrom.  He  also  addressed  another  epistle  to  all 
Friends,  encouraging  them  to  keep  up  their  meetings  in  the  Lord's 
power  ;  and  yet  another  to  those  who  had  come,  or  were  coming  forth 
in  the  ministry,  to  beware  that  no  disorder  should  be  brought  into 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  147 

the  meetings  by  those  who  sometimes  uttered  a  few  words  of  praise 
or  thanksgiving.  Many  other  productions  of  his  pen,  all  in  de- 
fence of  the  truth,  or  to  spread  it  more  widely,  were  published 
by  him. 

Both  he  and  E.  Burrough  addressed  0.  Cromwell,  earnestly  ex- 
postulating with  him  for  allowing  the  persecution  of  Friends  to  go 
on,  when  he  had  the  power  at  any  time  to  arrest  it.  Finding  their 
remonstrance  produced  no  change,  E.  Burrough  sought  and  ob- 
tained an  interview  with  the  Protector  ;  during  which  the  sufferings 
that  Friends  were  undergoing  were  particularly  stated,  and  what 
were  the  offences  alleged  against  them.  Cromwell  heard  him  re- 
spectfully, and  assured  him  that  he  disapproved  of  persecution  and 
cruelty,  and  that  he  was  not  guilty  of  them,  nor  personally  responsi- 
ble for  them.  But  E.  Burrough  brought  the  matter  home  to  him  ; 
and  told  him  he  made  himself  responsible  for  these  evil  doings,  by 
connivance,  and  refusing  to  use  the  power  he  possessed  to  prevent 
them.  Cromwell,  however,  at  that  time  was  too  deeply  involved  in 
intrigue  to  raise  himself  to  the  throne  and  wear  a  crown,  and  too 
anxious  to  secure  the  devotion  of  the  intolerant  but  supple  Parlia- 
ment, to  be  willing  to  give  protection  to  the  hated  Quakers,  at  the 
expense  of  ofieuding  those  rigid  Independents  and  Presbyterians, 
who  were  seeking  their  destruction  ;  and  who  still  held  the  authority 
of  the  national  Council  in  their  hands. 

In  the  fore  part  of  1657,  George  Fox  travelled  through  Wales; 
being  accompanied  by  John  ap  John,  a  Welchman,  who  when 
Friends  were  first  heard  of  in  Wales  —  had  been  sent  by  Morgan 
Watkins  —  a  noted  minister — to  see  and  inquire  what  kind  of  people 
they  were ;  and  coming  where  George  Fox  then  was,  and  hearing 
him  preach,  was  convinced  of  the  truth  of  his  doctrines,  and  soon 
after  joined  the  Society.  They  had  large  meetings  and  many  were 
convinced.  In  the  latter  2>art  of  this  year  G.  Fox  travelled  through- 
out the  northern  sliires  of  England,  and  found  that  in  several 
places,  such  had  been  the  effect  of  Friends'  preaching,  that  many  of 
the  "steeple-houses"  were  shut  up,  the  congregations  having  generally 
joined  their  Society.  Keeping  on  north  he  entered  Scotland,  and 
went  from  town  to  town  until  he  had  traversed  nearly  the  whole 
of  it.  He  met  with  much  opposition,  especially  from  the  State 
ministers,  who  railed  against  Friends  because  they  preached  against 
the  foreordained  election  and  reprobation  of  individuals,  from  the 
foundation  of  the  world.  A  great  cry  was  raised  against  Friends, 
and  against  George  Fox  in  particular  ;  who,  it  was  said,  had  seduced 


148  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

the  honest  men  in  Englund  und  was  now  come  into  Seothmd  to  do 
the  same  thing  there.  A  large  assembly  of  the  "  ministers  "  was  there- 
fore convened,  which  had  drawn  up  a  number  of  curses,  that  Avere 
to  be  read  in  their  "  churches,"  and  all  the  people  were  to  respond. 
Amen. 

One  was,  "  Cursed  is  he  that  sayeth.  Every  man  hath  a  light 
within  him,  sufficient  to  lead  him  to  salvation  :  And  let  all  the 
people  say.  Amen." 

Another.  "  Cursed  is  he  who  saith,  Faith  is  without  sin  :  And 
let  all  the  people  say,  Amen." 

Another.  "  Cursed  is  he  that  denieth  the  Sabbath  day  :  And  let 
all  the  people  say.  Amen." 

There  were  several  ministering  Friends  travelling  in  Scotland,  at 
that  time,  and  many  of  the  inhabitants  embraced  the  doctrine  of  the 
Universal  Saving  Light  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  mercifully  vouchsafed 
to  every  man  to  profit  withal ;  in  opposition  to  the  dark  dogma  of 
unconditional  election  and  reprobation.  This  naturally  excited  the 
rigid  Presbyterians,  and  deterinined  them  to  use  every  means  in 
their  power  to  put  a  stop  to  what  they  deemed  so  great  a  heresy. 

The  second  time  G.  Fox  came  into  Edinburgh,  he  was  summoned 
to  appear  before  the  Council  of  the  city.  He  says,  "  AYlien  the  time 
came  I  appeared,  and  was  had  into  a  great  room,  where  many  per- 
sons came  and  looked  at  me.  After  awhile  the  doorkeeper  had  me 
into  the  council  chamber :  and  as  I  was  going,  he  took  off  my  hat. 
I  asked  him,  'Why  he  did  so?  and  who  was  there,  tliat  I  might 
not  go  in  with  my  hat  on?  I  told  him,  I  had  been  before  the  Pro- 
tector with  my  hat  on.'  But  he  hung  up  my  hat  and  had  me  in 
before  them.  AVhen  I  had  stood  awhile,  and  they  said  nothing  to 
me,  I  was  moved  of  the  Lord  to  say,  '  Peace  be  amongst  you.  Wait 
in  the  fear  of  God,  that  ye  may  receive  his  wisdom  from  above,  by 
which  all  things  were  made  and  created ;  that  by  it  ye  may  all  be 
ordered,  and  may  order  all  things  under  your  hands  to  God's 
glory.' " 

After  questioning  him  as  to  his  object  in  coming  into  Scotland, 
and  how  long  he  expected  to  stay,&c.,  he  was  put  out  of  the  room,  and 
when  ])rought  back  was  told,  "He  must  depart  out  of  Scotland  by 
the  end  of  a  week."  When  he  a-sked  why  ?  what  transgression  had 
he  committed  ?  they  replied  they  would  not  dispute  with  him,  but  he 
must  go.  George,  however,  remained  in  the  city,  and  did  not  fail 
to  address  and  send  to  the  Council  an  expostulation  against  their 
illegal  and  unchristian   judgment   concerning  him;  showing  that 


SEVEXTEENTH    CENTURY.  149 

such  conduct  could  only  be  the  result  of  hearts  still  in  the  darkness 
of  unbelief  and  disobedience  to  the  Light  of  Christ. 

Friends  in  many  parts  of  that  nation  were  now  brought  under 
great  suffering  in  consequence  of  the  State  ministers,  who  publicly 
excommunicated  them;  and  playing  on  the  superstitious  fears  of  the 
people,  strictly  forbade  any  person  of  either  sex,  under  penalty  of 
being  cursed,  to  buy  anything  from  or  sell  anything  to  ♦those  who 
professed  to  be  Quakers.  For  a  time,  in  some  places,  it  seemed  as 
though  Frit'uds  might  perish  for  want  of  the  necessaries  of  life ; 
but  some  of  the  magistrates  interfered,  and  put  a  stop  to  the  in- 
human course  of  the  priests. 

Feeling  released  for  the  present  from  Edinburgh,  G.  Fox  went  to 
Sterling,  Glasgow,  and  through  other  towns,  accompanied  by  Robert 
Widders,  James  Lancaster,  and  Alexander  Parker.  They  were 
evilly  treated  in  many  places,  but  fainted  not  in  their  labor  of 
love,  and  patience  of  hope,  and  their  good  Master  sustained  them. 
"  The  people  —  says  G.  Fox  —  were  turned  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
who  died  for  them  and  had  enlightened  them,  that  with  his  light 
they  might  see  their  evil  deeds ;  be  saved  from  their  sins  by  Him  ; 
and  might  come  to  know  Him  to  be  their  teacher.  But  if  they 
would  not  receive  Christ  and  own  Him,  it  Avas  told  them  that  this 
Light,  which  came  from  Him,  would  be  their  condemnation." 

Hearing  that  the  council  of  Edinburgh  had  granted  warrants  for 
his  apprehension,  because  he  had  not  left  Scotland  as  they  had 
ordered,  George  returned  to  that  city,  and  was  present  at  a  large 
meeting,  to  which  many  officers  and  soldiers  Came.  No  one  meddled 
with  him ;  and  he  says,  "  The  everlasting  power  of  God  was  set 
over  the  nation,  and  his  Son  reigned  in  his  glorious  power."  He 
now  returned  into  England.  Again,  speaking  of  the  doctrine  he 
preached  as  he  went  from  once  place  to  another,  he  says,  "I  opened 
to  the  people  where  they  might  find  Christ  Jesus  ;  turned  them  to 
that  Light  He  had  enlightened  them  withal,  that  in  the  light  they 
might  see  Christ  who  died  for  them,  turn  to  Him,  and  know  Him 
to  be  their  Saviour  and  teacher."  .  ..."  I  turned  them  to 
he  Spirit  of  God,  which  led  the  holy  men  of  God  to  give  forth  the 
Scriptures,  and  showed  them  that  they  must  also  come  to  receive 
and  be  led  by  the  same  Spirit,  in  themselves  —  a  measure  of  which 
was  given  to  every  one  of  them  —  if  ever  they  came  to  know  God 
and  Christ  and  the  Scriptures  aright."  After  visiting  Friends  in 
many  parts  of  the  north  of  England,  sometimes  tarrying  at  places 
where  he  felt  specially  called   to  labor  or  to  write  on  some  par- 


150  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

ticular  subject,  he  arrived  in  London  again  in  the  early  part  of 
1658. 

During  the  years  1657  and  1058,  several  Friends  labored  in  the 
love  of  the  gospel,  in  different  parts  of  the  continent.  William 
Ames  and  William  Caton  visited  different  towns  in  Holland;  Chris- 
topher liirkhead  was  at  Rociielle,  in  France,  whence  he  went  into 
Holland  ;  where  he  was  imprisoned  for  a  considerable  length  of 
time,  but  was  finally  released  through  the  intercession  of  the  Am- 
bassador of  the  States  General,,  in  England.  In  1657,  George 
Bailey,  believing  himself  called  to  go  into  France,  in  order  to  bear 
witness  to  the  spirituality  of  the  religion  of  Christ,  went  over  from 
Eugland ;  and  in  the  course  of  his  mission,  having  testified  against 
the  superstition  and  idolatry  of  the  people,  in  their  worship  and 
practices,  as  enjoined  by  the  popish  religion,  he  was  shut  up  in  pris- 
on, and  kept  there  until  he  died.  There  had  also  a  uuml)er  of 
Friends  sailed  at  different  times  for  the  British  West  Indies,  among 
whom  were  John  Ivouse,  Henry  Fell  and  Peter  Head,  also  Mary 
Fisher  and  Anne  Austin.  Henry  Fell  was  a  relative  of  Judge 
Fell,  and  lived  in  Lancashire.  At  what  time  he  was  convinced 
does  not  appear,  but  he  was  eminently  gifted  in  the  ministry  of  the 
Gospel,  and  labored  abundantly  in  his  own  country. 

Mary  Fisher  was  a  native  of  the  north  of  England,  being  born 
there  in  1623.  She  was  a  woman  with  high  intellectual  endowments, 
and  was  among  the  early  converts  to  the  principles  of  the  gospel  as 
held  by  Friends.  In  the  year  1652,  she  gave  up  to  forego  the  com- 
forts and  endearments  of  home,  in  order  to  render  obedience  to  the 
call  of  her  heavenly  Father,  to  go  forth  and  labor  for  the  gathering 
of  .souls  to  Christ.  Having  delivered  a  message  to  a  congregation 
at  Selby,  at  the  close  of  the  public  worship,  she  was  arrested  and 
committed  to  prison  in  York  Castle,  where  she  was  closely  kept  for 
sixteen  months.  Soon  after  her  release  from  this  confinement,  in 
company  with  Elizabeth  Williams,  another  minister,  she  travelled 
through  various  counties,  preaching  the  word  to  very  many,  who 
were  surprised  that  two  such  defenceless  females  had  the  courage 
and  Divine  support,  to  undergo  .so  many  hardships  in  order  to 
perform  what  they  felt  to  be  a  duty,  and  to  bring  people  to  a  more 
practical  knowledge  of  the  blessing  of  the  gospel  of  Christ.  At 
Cambridge,  the  collegians  took  great  offence  at  their  doctrine  relative 
to  the  qualifications  of  a  go.spel  minister,  and  the  uselessness  of  cere- 
monies and  stated  services  under  profession  of  worship.  They, 
therefore,  derided  and  reviled  them,  and  the  Mavor  of  the  citv,  in 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  151 

liis  zeal  to  support  the  students'  cause,  had  them  whipped  at  the 
market-cross,  until  the  blood  ran  down  their  bodies.  Being  re- 
leased from  the  whipping-post,  in  the  presence  of  the  multitude  that 
had  collected  to  see  their  punishment,  they  kneeled  down  and  peti- 
tioned their  Heavenly  Father,  who  had  marvellously  supported 
them,  to  grant  forgiveness  to  their  persecutors.  This  was  the  first 
time  that  punishment  with  the  lash  was  publicly  inflicted  on  a 
Friend.  Near  the  close  of  1653,  Mary  Fisher  was  again  imprisoned 
six  months  within  the  walls  of  York  Castle,  because  of  declaring  the 
truth  in  the  "  steeple-house  "  at  Pontefract,  where  she  had  her  resi- 
dence ;  and  shortly  after  her  release,  she  was  once  more  sent  back  to 
the  prison,  because  she  had  not  repented  of  her  aforesaid  religious 
service,  and  was  not  willing  to  give  surety  for  her  future  good 
behavior.     The  last  incarceration  lasted  three  months. 

In  1655,  she  found  it  required  of  her  to  visit,  in  the  love  of  the 
gospel,  the  West  India  Islands  belonging  to  Great  Britain,  and  with 
Anne  Austin  she  embarked  therefor ;  and  they  had  much  religiou.s 
service  among  the  inhabitants,  especially  in  Barbadoes. 

Anne  Austin  appears  to  have  lived  in  London,  and  to  have  been 
brought  to  a  knowledge  of  the  Truth,  so  far  as  instrumental  means 
were  concerned,  by  the  ministry  of  some  one  of  those  Friends  em- 
ployed by  the  Head  of  the  Church  to  preach  the  gospel  in  that  city. 
Thez*e  is  but  little  left  on  record  respecting  her,  but  it  appears  that 
she  was  an  approved  minister,  and  after  her  return  to  England  from 
the  West  Indies,  she  was  imprisoned  for  a  long  time  in  one  of  the 
dismal  jails  of  London,  for  having  been  found  engaged  in  the  exer- 
cise of  her  gift  as  a  minister  in  one  of  Friends'  meetings  in  that  city. 
8he  died  during  the  awful  "  plague  "  which  visited  London  in  1665. 

Before  noticing  the  reception  given  to  Mary  Fisher  and  Anne 
Austin,  at  Boston,  it  may  be  well  to  precede  it,  and  the  account  of 
the  persecution  of  Friends  in  ]\Iassachusetts,  by  a  glance  at  the  re- 
ligious condition  of  tliat  colony. 

It  must  have  been  seen,  from  what  has  been  narrated  already, 
that  notwithstanding  all  that  had  been  said  and  done  under  the  plea 
of  securing  or  defending  liberty  of  conscience,  that  liberty  was  either 
very  imperfectly  understood,  or  the  party  speaking  or  contending 
for  it,  thought  when  it  was  obtained  for  themselves,  they  would  be 
justified  in  obliging  all  others  to  conform  to  their  views.  The 
Puritans,  who,  as  is  mentioned  in  the  first  chapter,  fled  from  their 
own  country  to  Holland,  because  they  were  not  allowid  in  England 
to  worshi])  the  Most  High  according  to  the  dictates  of  their  own 


1 52  F  K  I  E  X  D  S     IX    Til  E 

consciences  [1620],  afterwards  left  Ilollaml  Cor  America,  and  landed 
on  the  inhosjiitable  shores  of  New  Enghind,  to  found  and  build  uj) 
amid  its  trackless  wilds,  a  home  for  themselves,  and  an  asylum  for 
all  who  were  persecuted  because  of  their  religious  belief. 

They  had  been  allowed  to  occupy  the  tei-ritory  of  which  they  had 
taken  possession  as  subjects  of  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain,  for  some 
years  before  any  legal  title  thereto  ^vas  conferred  upon  then).  Tiie 
patent  for  "  The  Governor  and  Company  of  Massachusetts  J3ay," 
was  granted  by  Charles  I.  in  1629.  Under  it,  a  large  number  of 
emigrants  came  out  and  settled  at  Salem.  These,  though  while  in 
England  they  professed  to  be  in  sympathy  with  the  "  Church  of 
England,"  were  dissenters,  or  non-conformists,  holding  the  Puritan 
faith ;  and  when  deciding  upon  the  character  of  the  "  church,"  its 
government  and  powers,  in  their  new  home,  they  threw  off  all  sub- 
ordination to  the  "  established  church  "  of  their  mother  country. 

By  the  charter,  the  admiuLstration  of  the  affairs  of  the  colony  was 
vested  in  a  Governor,  a  De])uty  and  eighteen  Assistants,  and  the 
ordinances  and  regulations  were  to  be  enacted  by  that  portion  of 
the  corporators  who  continued  to  reside  in  England.  As  the  asso- 
ciation was  looked  upon  more  in  the  light  of  a  trading  company 
than  a  civil  power,  it  was  allowed  to  regulate  its  (nvn  affairs.  It 
was,  however,  specially  provided  in  the  charter,  that  no  laws  or 
ordinances  should  be  passed  that  were  contrary  to  the  laws  of 
England. 

Episcopacy  at  that  time  was  enforcing  its  iron  rule  in  Great 
Britain  ;  but  the  broad  Atlantic  intervened  between  the  seat  of  its 
power  and  the  unyielding  religionists,  settled  here  and  there  on  the 
rugged  shores  of  New  England,  and  the  intolerant  prelates  had  no 
tool  among  the  latter  to  attempt  carrying  out  their  commands.  The 
church  therefore  was  independent,  self-constituted  and  congregational 
in  foriii ;  holding  the  Calvinistic  faith  in  its  simplest  and  most  piti- 
less dogmas,  and  no  more  tolerant  than  that,  to  escape  whose  op- 
pression the  members  had  exiled  themselves  from  their  native  soil. 
So  rigid  were  they  in  maintaining  its  doctrines  and  discipline,  and 
so  determined  that  episcopacy  should  ol)tain  no  foothold  among 
them,  that  at  Salem,  when  it  was  found  that  two  members  of  the 
council,  who  had  come  out  with  the  first  colonists  under  the  charter, 
were  dissatisfied  with  the  omission  of  every  part  of  the  Church  of 
England  service  from  the  religious  exercises.  Governor  Endicott  told 
them,  "New  England  was  no  place  for  them,"  and  they  were  sent 
back. 


SEVENTEEXTH    CENTURY.  153 

Before  the  end  of  1629  the  charter  was  secretly — without  the 
knowledge  of  the  king— transferred  from  that  part  of  the  company 
which  was  to  remain  in  Eughini]  and  enact  the  hiws,  to  the  freed- 
men  living  in  the  colony  who  were,  or  should  become  members  of 
the  corporation.  This  transfer,  of  course,  conferred  no  new  political 
power;  but  by  putting  the  choice  of  officers,  and  the  euactilient  of 
the  laws,  in  the  hands  of  the  settlers,  they  were  placed  in  a  situa- 
tion to  assume,  and  soon  did  assume,  the  functions  of  an  independent 
provincial  government.  Large  privileges  were  conferred  on  the 
corporation  to  promote  the  interest  of  the  colonies,  but  it  acquired 
no  right  to  any  territory  within  the  dominion  of  the  Crown,  that 
clothed  it  with  authority  to  exclude  other  subjects  of  their  Sovereign 
from  entering  or  settling  within  its  boundaries. 

It  may  be  freely  admitted  these  Puritan  colonists  were  sincere 
believers  in  the  purity  of  the  religion  they  professed,  and  zealous 
that  nothing  should  mar  that  purity ;  but  the  source  whence  their 
political  existence  and  power  were  drawn,  had  bestowed  on  them 
neither  right  nor  privilege  to  constitute  a  new  State  church  ;  con- 
formity to  which  was  to  be  a  sine  qua  noii,  in  order  to  live  or 
mingle  among  them.  But  fiinatical  zeal  prompted  them  to  seize 
upon  that  which  did  not  belong  to  them,  and  so  soon  as  they  had 
gained  possession  of  their  extended  territory,  and  had  brought  their 
form  of  government  into  action,  it  was  resolved  that  all  who  were 
or  should  come  among  them,  must  conform  to  the  form  of  religion 
and  religious  practices  which  they  had  adopted,  or  suffer  the  punish- 
ment prescribed  for  heresy  and  contumacy.  Laws  were  enacted 
requiring  every  freeman  to  pay  a  tax  for  building  and  keeping  in 
repair  the  place  of  worship,  and  to  provide  the  salary  of  the  min- 
ister ;  also  imposing  a  fine  on  those  wlio  persistently  absented  tlieni- 
selves  from  the  "  stated  services." 

This  intolerant  policy  was  soon  a]:)plie(l  in  the  punishment  of 
lloger  Williams.  He  had  come  over  to  settle  in  the  colony  in 
1631,  and  was  engaged  as  a  preacher  or  teacher  ;  first  at  Salem.and 
afterwards  at  Plynioutii.  Too  much  enlightened  to  approve  of  the 
narrow  and  bigoted  course  pursued  l)y  the  civil  and  chuix-h  authori- 
ties, he  had  tiie  integrity  and  boldness  to  declare  ])ublicly,  that 
punishment  for  obeying  the  dictates  of  conscience  in  regard  to  re- 
ligion was  persecution,  and  contrary  to  the  ])recei)ts  of  Christ,  and 
that  it  was  an  uiijiistilial)le  vioialion  of  the  guaranteed  rights  of 
Englishmen,  to  i'orci;  them  to  attend  at  those  phices  of  worsliip  only 
tiiat  were  ajiproved    by   the  rulers   of  the   colony,      lie  was  cited 


1 54  FRIENDS    1  N    T  II  E 

before  the  court  in  1().'>5.  and  being  ('()nvicte(l  of  liolding  these 
opinions,  he  was  banished  from  the  colony. 

Two  years  after  this  despotic  and  illegal  act  {Idol ),  a  party  of 
religious  professors,  headcid  by  a  highly  intelligeut  and  virtuous 
woman,  named  Anne  HuLchinsou,  which  differed  from  the  rulers  on 
the  subject  of  justification  by  works,  was  driven  out  of  Massachu- 
setts, and  had  likewise  to  take  refuge  among  the  natives.  Wil- 
liams and  his  friends  having  settled  on  Narraganset  Bay,  and  the 
last  exiles  at  Providence,  the  two  succeeded  in  purchasing  from  the 
Indians  a  considerable  extent  of  country,  and  having  applied  to  the 
home  Government,  they  obtained  a  charter  for  the  colony  of  Rhode 
Island. 

The  spirit  of  bigotry  and  })ersecution  in  Massachusetts  was  not 
weakened  nor  allayed  by  the  intolerant  treatment  of  those  who  had 
dared  to  exercise  a  sober  judgment  in  order  to  keep  a  conscience 
void  of  offence;  but  subsequently,  when  it  was  found  that  some  of 
their  colonists  had  adopted  the  views  of  the  Baptists  respecting 
immersion  and  the  disapproval  of  infant  ba[)tism,  the  i-ulers  mani- 
fested their  uncharitableness  by  fines,  whippings,  and  finally  by 
banishment,  until  they  had  driven  them  out  of  the  boundaries  of 
their  colony. 

With  such  a  spirit  as  this  prevailing,  it  was  hardly'to  be  wondered 
at,  that  when  intelligence  reached  Boston,  in  the  Fifth  month  of 
l()o6,  that  a  ship  had  arrived  in  the  bay,  having  on  board  two 
women  who  were  Quakers,  consternation  was  apparent  wherever  the 
news  reached.  These  Friends  were  Mary  Fisher  and  Anne  Austin. 
Governor  Endicott  was  absent  from  the  city;  but  the  Deputy  Gov- 
ernor, Bellingham,  immediately  dispatched  orders  not  to  allow  the 
two  women  to  land  ;  to  search  their  luggage,  and  if  any  books  or 
writings  were  found,  to  have  them  at  once  delivered  to  an  officer  to 
be  brought  on  shore.  A  council  of  magistrates  was  convened,  which 
Issued  ail  order,  stating,  that  although  a  law  existed  "against 
heretics  and  erroneous  persons,"  yet  the  Master  of  the  ship  Swallow, 
had  brought  within  their  jurisdiction  two  women  "of  that  sort  of 
people  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  Quakers,"  who  are  found 
to  hold  "  very  dangerous,  heretical  and  blasphemous  opinions,"  and 
to  have  books  inculcating  those  opinions,  &c.,  &c.  Therefore,  to 
preserve  the  peace  and  truth  enjoyed  "  among  the  churches  of 
Christ  in  this  country,"  their  books  (about  oue  hundred)  were  to  be 
burned  by  the  common  hangman;  that  they  —  the  two  women  — 
be  committed  to  prison,  and  no  one  be  allowed  to  speak  to  or  com- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  155 

uiimicate  with  them,  unless  by  order  of  some  one  in  authoi'ity,  and 
to  be  so  kept  until  they  can  be  sent  away.  That  the  master  of  the 
ship  who  brought  them  give  security  !)y  a  bond  for  £100  that  he 
will  cause  them  to  be  transported  to  Barbadoes  at  his  own  expense. 
M.  Fisher  and  A.  Austin  were  brouglit  ashore  and  put  into  the 
prison ;  pens,  ink  and  paper  were  taken  from  them,  and  to  prevent 
any  one  speaking  to  them,  the  only  window  in  their  prison  room 
was  boarded  up,  and  it  was  ordered  that  a  fine  of  £5  be  imposed  on 
every  one  detected  holding  converse  with  them. 

Among  a  people  so  infatuated,  and  with  minds  so  open  to  the 
delusions  that  accomj)any  a  superstitious  fear  of  everything  not  in 
accordance  with  their  accustomed  notions  of  what  is  right  and  true, 
it  was  to  be  expected  that  the  hallucination  respecting  witchcraft, 
should  find  ready  place.  It  had  begun  its  fatal  career  among  the 
Puritans  in  Massachusetts,  some  having  already  been  put  to  death 
as  witches,  and  it  afterwards  scourged  the  colony  in  so  awful  a 
manner,  that  none  knew  when  they  were  safe.  To  bring  odium  and 
perhaps  death  upon  the  two  innocent  and  helpless  women  they  now 
had  in  their  power,  it  was  given  out  that  most  likely  they  were 
witches  ;  and  they  were  closely  examined  on  that  point.  But  noth- 
ing could  be  drawn  from  them  that  gave  supposable  ground  for 
such  a  charge.  Foiled  in  their  interrogatories,  the  magistrates  went 
on  to  outrage  all  decency,  by  ordering  them  to  be  stripped,  and 
examination  made,  if  the  mark  of  the  devil's  seal  or  signature  could 
be  found  on  their  skin.  This  shameful  outrage  failed,  however,  to 
furnish  the  coveted  evidence,  and  then  another  order  was  issued, 
forl>idding  any  person  to  provide  them  with  food ;  and  they  w'ould 
certainly  have  perished  by  starvation,  had  not  a  citizen,  whose 
Imnianity  was  touched  by  their  sufferings,  bribed  the  jailer  to  allow 
him  secretly  to  administer  to  their  necessities.  For  five  weeks  they 
were  thus  kept  shut  up,  and  then  were  sent  on  board  the  ship  that 
brought  them,  and  transported  to  Barbadoes  ;  the  jailer  having  been 
allowed  to  take  possession  of  their  beds  and  their  Bibles,  for  his  fees. 
After  a  short  stay  in  the  West  Indies,  Mary  Fisher  returned  to 
England  ;  but  again  visited  some  of  the  islands  in  1658,  and  having 
finished  her  work  there,  once  more  returned  home. 

In  1600,  under  an  apprehension  that  it  was  required  of  her  to 
deliver  a  message  from  the  Lord  to  Sultan  Mahomet  IV.,  M.  Fisher 
set  out  for  A<lrianople,  in  Eurojx^an  Turkey,  near  which  city  the 
army  of  the  Sultan  was  encamped.  Having  arrived  at  Smyrna, 
the  English  Consul  there  sto[)pc.il   her,  and  sent  her  back  to  Venice; 


156  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

liopiiig  thus  to  frustrate  her  design.  But  slie,  not  finding  herself 
clear  of  the  burden  that  lay  upon  her,  took  another  route,  and  when 
she  reached  Adrianople,  sent  a  messenger  to  the  Grand  Vizier, 
requesting  him  to  inform  the  Sultan,  there  had  an  English  woman 
come  from  her  own  country,  to  deliver  to  him  a  message  from  the 
great  God.  The  next  day  the  Sultan  had  her  brought  before  him, 
while  surrounded  by  his  officers  of  rank.  He  treated  her  wilh 
marked  respect,  and  told  her,  by  interpreters,  that  if  she  hud  a  mes- 
sage from  the  Lord  God  to  him,  to  deliver  it  without  fear,  saying 
neither  more  nor  less  than  she  was  commissioned,  for  their  hearts 
were  open  to  receive  it.  After  a  short  pause  she  comnnuiicated 
what  she  believed  had  been  given  her  by  her  Master.  Having  fin- 
ished, the  Sultan  asked  her  if  she  had  anything  further  to  say  ? 
She  replied,  No,  and  then  asked  him  if  he  had  fully  understood 
what  she  had  delivered?  He  answered,  Yes,  every  word,  and  it 
was  the  truth.  The  interview  being  concluded,  the  Sultan  tried  to 
persuade  her  to  remain  in  that  country  ;  observing,  that  he  had 
great  respect  for  a  woman  who  had  taken  so  much  trouble  to  deliver 
him  such  a  message.  Finding  she  could  not  be  induced  to  remain, 
he  offered  her  a  guard  of  soldiers,  to  see  her  safe  to  Constantinoj)le, 
whither  she  wished  to  go  ;  saying  he  would  not  for  any  consideration, 
that  she  should  come  to  the  least  hurt  in  his  dominions.  Tiiis  kind 
offer  she  declined,  and  after  answering  the  queries  of  some  of  tlie 
officers,  relative  to  her  opinion  of  ^lahomet  as  a  prophet,  she  left ; 
arrived  safely  at  Constantinople,  without  receiving  the  slightest  ill 
treatment  in  word  or  act,  and  from  there  returned  home.  Subse- 
quently, she  was  twice  married,  and  with  her  second  husband,  whose 
name  was  John  Cross,  she  emigrated  to  America,  and  settled  in 
Charleston,  South  Carolina  ;  where,  there  is  reason  to  believe,  she 
closed  her  long  and  eventful  life ;  though  there  is  no  record  of  her 
death. 

1656.  Little  more  than  a  month  had  elapsed  since  the  arrival  of  the 
two  women  Friends  just  mentioned,  at  Boston,  and  the  vessel  which 
was  bearing  them  away  had  barely  left  the  bay,  when  another  ship, 
with  eight  Friends  —  four  men  and  four  women  —  on  board,  cast 
anchor  in  that  port.  The  Captain  having  reported  his  passengers 
to  the  Governor,  as  soon  as  it  was  known  that  eight  of  them  \vere 
Quakers,  officers  were  sent  on  board  the  vessel  to  seize  their  boxes, 
chests  and  trunks,  and  search  if  there  were  any  "  erroneous  books 
and  hellish  pamphlets  "  in  them,  and  to  bring  the  Friends  before 
tlie  Court   then  sitting.     The  examination  turned  on  belief  in   the 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  157 

character  of  the  Almighty,  and  on  the  Scriptures.  As  there  were 
severalof  the  "stated  ministers"  present,  and  the  scriptural  argu- 
ments of  the  Friends  proved  difficult  of  refutation,  the  ministers 
and  magistrates  fell  out  among  themselves.  Sfending  the  Friends  to 
prison  for  the  night,  the  court  had  them  brought  before  it  again 
the  next  morning.  The  prisoners  demanded  why  they  had  been 
arrested  and  imprisoned.  Instead  of  informing  them,  Governor 
Endicott  replied,  "  Take  heed  ye  break  not  our  ecciesiastical  laws, 
for  then  ye  are  sure  to  stretch  by  a  halter." 

The  Court  sentenced  them  to  be  banished  ;  to  be  closely  impris- 
oned until  the  ship  in  which  they  came  was  ready  to  sail,  then  to 
be  put  on  board,  and  carried  back  whence  they  came.  The  Captain 
was  required  to  give  bond  in  £500  that  he  would  comply  with  this 
order  to  carry  them  away.  He  at  first  refused  ;  inasmuch,  as  he 
alleged,  every  Englishman  who  had  not  broken  the  law  had  the 
right  to  go  where  he  pleased,  within  the  kingdom  ;  but  after  four 
days'  confinement  in  the  wretched  prison  in  Boston,  he  submitted 
and  signed  the  bond.  The  Friends,  deprived  of  pen,  ink  and  paper, 
were  kept  closely  immured  for  more  than  two  months,  and  were  then 
sent  on  board  the  vessel ;  the  jailer  being  first  authorized  to  seize 
all  their  bedding,  and  whatever  other  goods  they  had,  for  his  fees. 
As  the  ship  was  bound  for  England,  and  the  voyage  might  be 
tedious,  some  of  the  citizens,  commiserating  the  Friends  thus  ex- 
posed to  further  suffering,  redeemed  the  bedding  and  goods,  and 
allowed  them  to  take  them  with  them,  in  order  that  they  might 
not  be  altogether  unprovided  with  the  comforts  of  life. 

This  arbitrary  and  intolerant  course  pursued  towards  Friends  by 
the  Governor  and  Council  of  Massachusetts,  was  not  only  in  contra- 
vention of  the  laws  of  England,  but  there  was  no  law  for  it  in  the 
Colony.  In  order,  therefore,  to  give  whatever  measures  they  might 
hereafter  think  proper  to  pursue  in  similar  cases  the  form  of  law, 
the  Governor  and  Council  addressed  "  The  Commissioners  of  the 
L'nited  Provinces,"  recommending  that  some  general  rules  should 
be  adopted  to  prevent  "  such  notorious  heretics  as  Quakers,  Rant- 
ers," ttc,  coming  among  tluin.  Of  this  the  Commissioners  ap- 
proved ;  and  it  was  proposed  by  them  to  the  several  Courts  that 
they  should  make  i^rovision  for  keeping  such  "heretics"  away,  or 
for  sending  them  away  on  their  arrival. 

In  1643  the  several  towns  or  colonies  of  IMymoulh  and  Boston,  in 
Massachusetts,  and  others  in  Connecticut  and  New  Haven,  had  en- 
tered into  a  confederacy,  designated  the  "New  England  Confederacy," 


158  FRIENDS     IN    THE 

for  iHutual  defence,  to  promote  uiianiiuity  and  the  general  welfare. 
The  "Commissioners  of  the  United  Provinces"  were  appointed  by 
them  severally,  and  these  Commissioners  had  the  right  to  propose  to 
the  governments  of  the  respective  colonies,  such  measures  as  they 
deemed  advisable  for  the  good  of  the  whole.  The  "  Greneral  Court" 
at  Boston,  eager  to  avail  itself  of  that  recommendation,  on  the  14th 
of  the  10th  month,  1656,  approved  and  enacted  an  order,  imposing 
fine  or  imprisonment  on  any  master  of  a  vessel  of  any  size  or  kind, 
who  knowingly  should  land  anywhere  witliin  the  precincts  of  the  col- 
ony,any  of  that  "  cursed  sect  of  heretics,  ccjinmonly  called  Quakers  :  " 
"  That  any  or  all  of  that  sect  who  shall  come  into  the  Colony  from 
foreign  parts,  or  from  neighboring  colonies,  shall  forthwith  be  sent 
to  the  House  of  Correction,  and  on  their  entrance  there,  shall  be 
severely  whipped  ;  then  be  kept  constantly  at  work  during  the  time 
that  may  elapse  before  they  are  sent  out  of  the  Colony,  and  that  no 
one  be  allowed  to  hold  converse  with  them."  To  import,  possess, 
pay  for,  spread  or  conceal  any  book  or  writing  containing  any  of 
the  "  devilish  opinions  "  of  the  Quakers,  incurred  a  fine  of  £5.  To 
express  approbation  of  or  defend  the  "  devilish  opinions  "  of  the 
Quakers,  incurred  the  fine  of  £2  for  the  first  offence  ;  for  the  second 
£4;  and  for  the  third,  imprisonment  until  opportunity  presented 
for  banishing  the  offender.  The  Court  of  Plymouth  passed  a  similar 
ordinance.* 

This  law  was  proclaimed  at  Boston,  with  beat  of  drum  through- 
out the  town.  But  alas  for  the  persecutors  !  their  unchristian  course 
aroused  the  indignation  of  some,  and  excited  the  curiosity  of  many 
more,  to  know  what  the  "  devilish  opinions  "  of  "  that  cursed  sect  of 
heretics,  commonly  called  Quakers,"  were  ;  and  upon  investigation, 
several  were  convinced  of  their  truth  and  accordance  with  Scrip- 
ture. Nicholas  Upshal,  a  man  who  stood  high  in  both  the  church 
and  the  Colony,  having  expressed  disapprobation  of  the  laws  just 
enacted,  was  summoned  before  the  court,  and  having  there  plead 
with  the  Governor  and  Magistrates  not  to  attempt  to  carry  the  law 
into  effect,  lest  they  should  be  found  fighting  against  God,  he  was 
fined  £20,  imprisoned,  and  banished ;  thirty  days  only  being 
allowed  him  to  niake  the  needful  arrangements  respecting  his 
family  and  property. 

Among  those  attached  to  Anne  Hutchinson,  who,  as  has  been 

*  See  "Tlie  Blue  Laws  of  Connecticut;  Quaker  Laws;  Bhie  Laws  of  Ply- 
mouth and  Massachusetts,"  &c. ;  published  at  Hartford,  Connecticut,  1838, 
page  14. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  159 

previously  stated,  were  banished  from  Massachusetts  for  their  Auti- 
uoniiau  opinions  [1637],  were  Mary  Dyer  and  her  husband,  who  set- 
tled in  Rhode  Island.  Mary,  having  for  some  purpose  gone  on  a  visit 
to  England,  while  there,  was  convinced  of  the  principles  held  by 
Friends,  joined  the  Society,  and  became  an  approved  minister 
among  them.  Having  embarked  to  return  to  her  husband,  she  had 
a  fellow  passenger  named  Ann  Burden,  who,  with  her  husband,  had 
been  a  resident  of  Boston  lor  many  years  ;  but  having  been  banished 
for  the  same  cause  and  at  the  same  time  as  M.  Dyer,  they  had  gone 
to  England,  where  her  husband  died.  The  widow  was  returning  to 
Boston,  to  collect  some  considerable  debts,  due  her  deceased  hus- 
band's estate.  Immediately  on  their  arrival  they  were  seized  by 
order  of  the  magistrates,  and  placed  in  close  confinement,  to  prevent 
any  speaking  with  them.  In  their  examination,  A.  Burden  plead 
the  lawfulness  of  the  object  for  which  she  had  come;  but  the  only 
answer  given  to  this  was,  that  "  as  she  xvas  a  plain  Quaker,  she  must 
abide  their  laws."  After  lying  in  prison  three  months,  to  the  great 
injury  of  her  health,  Ann  was  sent  on  board  a  ship  to  be  taken  back 
to  England.  Some  kind-hearted  citizens  of  Boston,  pitying  the  per- 
secuted widow,  who  had  children  depending  on  her,  exerted  them- 
selves, and  got  several  of  her  debtors  to  pay  what  they  owed  her,  in 
goods,  to  the  amount  of  £40.  But  the  magistrates,  after  finding 
that  the  captain  of  the  ship  on  board  which  Ann  was  sent,  was  too 
humane  to  seize  any  portion  of  these  goods  for  passage  money,  levied 
on  them  themselves  to  the  amount  of  £6  10s.,  and  then  forbid  any 
of  the  remainder  to  be  put  on  board  the  ship ;  so  that  the  poor 
prisoner  lost  all,  and  was  carried  back  to  England  to  contend  with 
her  poverty  as  she  could.  After  M.  Dyer  had  been  imprisoned  for 
some  time,  her  husband,  who  was  not  a  Friend,  came  to  Boston  for 
her ;  but  before  he  could  obtain  her  release,  the  Court  extorted  a 
])romise  from  him,  and  bound  him  in  a  heavy  penalty  if  not  per- 
formed, that  he  would  not  allow  his  wife  to  lodge  in  any  town  in 
the  colony,  nor  to  speak  to  any  person  while  on  iier  journey. 

The  law  of  Massacliu setts,  imposing  a  severe  penalty  on  the  cap- 
tain of  any  vessel  in  whicli  any  of  the  dreaded  Quakers  should  be 
brought  to  her  shores,  made  it  very  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  for 
such  Friends  as  felt  it  to  be  their  religious  duty  to  go  to  that  colony, 
to  procure  passiige  thereto  ;  owners  and  captains  beting  afraid  of  the 
consequences  of  carrying  tliem.  ^  But  a  seafaring  FriemI,  in  England, 
named  K<jhert  Fcnvlcr,  having  a  small  vessel  built,  felt  it  required 
of  him  to  offer  to  take  such   Friends  as  were  under  reliuioiis  bonds 


160  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

to  go  ;  ami  accordingly,  eleven  cnihai'ked  in  the  Fourth  month,  1657, 
and  were  landed,  some  at  New  Amsterdam,  and  some  at  Providence, 
lihode  Island.  Two  of  these  Friends,  John  Copeland  and  Christo- 
pher Holder,  having  visited  Martha's  Vineyard,  were  ordered  away 
by  the  Governor,  who  directed  some  of  the  Indians  to  carry  them 
over  to  the  maiidand.  These  savage  natives,  however,  were  not 
willing  forci!)ly  to  expel  the  strangers,  and  allowed  them  to  remain 
among  them  several  days ;  when  the  Friends  feciling  prepared  to 
depart,  they  took  them  in  their  canoes  and  landed  them  on  the  coast, 
whence  they  proceeded  to  Sandwich.  Here  they  succeeded  in  holding 
meetings,  at  which  several  were  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  doc- 
trines preached  by  them.  Going  thence  to  Plymouth,  and  there 
preaching,  the  whole  community  was  soon  in  an  uproar.  Though 
arraigned  before  the  magistrates,  at  both  Sandwich  and  Plymouth, 
there  being  nothing  illegal  proved  against  them,  they  were  dis- 
charged ;  with  an  order  to  depart  at  once  out  of  the  colony.  But 
as  the  fruits  of  their  ministry  were  becoming  apparent,  in  the  con- 
version of  several  to  the  truths  of  the  gospel  as  held  by  them,  the 
ministers  of  the  colonial  Church  stirred  up  the  Commissioners  —  one 
of  whom  had  like  to  have  choked  C.  Holder,  by  thrusting  a  glove 
into  his  mouth,  to  prevent  him  from  speaking  —  to  send  them  as  pris- 
oners to  Boston.  Here,  after  being  separately  examined,  they  were 
sentenced  to  receive  each  thirty  lashes;  which  was  executed  in  the 
most  barbarous  manner  with  a  three-corded  knotted  whip  ;  the  exe- 
cutioner measuring  his  distance  from  the  victim,  so  that  he  might 
make  the  stroke  with  the  greatest  force.  With  their  flesh  cut  and 
torn  they  were  then  thrust  into  the  vile  prison,  and  without  bed  or 
straw  to  He  on,  were  left  for  three  days,  without  food  or  drink  ;  and 
continued  to  be  kept  closely  incarcerated  in  the  damp  and  cold, 
without  fire  or  warmth  for  nine  weeks.  These  two  sufft'rers  were 
shortly  joined  by  Richard  Dowdney,  another  Friend  ;  who  having 
landed  at  New  Amsterdam,  and  engaged  in  religious  service  there 
and  in  its  vicinity,  had  travelled  north,  and  reaching  Dedham,  in 
Massachusetts,  was  at  once  recognized  as  a  Quaker,  by  his  plain 
speech  and  appearance.  He  was  forthwith  apprehended  and  sent 
to  Boston,  and  three  hours  after  his  arrival,  was  subjected  to  similar 
torture  of  the  lash  as  his  brethren  had  undergone,  and  then  to  share 
with  them  in  the  sufferings,  endured  in  their  pent-u])  ceil. 

1657.  As  it  was  necessary,  in  order  to  reconcile  many  who  were 
dissatisfied  with  the  course  pursued  towards  the  Quakers  by  the 
rulers,  to  represent  them   in  the  most  odious  and  repulsive  light, 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  161 

especially  as  to  what  was  said  to  be  their  unbelief  in  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures, and  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel  tlierein  recorded,  slanders  of 
this  description  were  industriously  manufactured  and  propagated 
throughout  the  coniniunity.  To  counteract  these  misrepresentations, 
to  cause  the  truth  to  be  known,  and  to  take  from  the  persecutors  of 
Friends  any  such  unfounded  excuse  for  tlieir  unchristian  acts,  these 
three  Friends  found  means  to  draw  up  and  send  forth  a  document; 
Avhich,  as  it  is  the  first  declaration  of  faith  published  V)y  Friends  in 
America,  is  given  here. 

It  is  entitled  :  "  A  Declaration  of  Faith  and  an  Exhortation  to 
obedience  thereto.  Issued  by  Christopher  Holder,  John  Copeland, 
and  Richard  Dowdney,  while  in  Prison,  at  Boston,  in  New  Eng- 
land, 1657. 

"Whereas  it  is  reported  by  them  that  have  not  a  bridle  to 
their  tongues,  that  we  who  are  by  the  world  called  Quakers,  are 
blasphemers,  heretics  and  deceivers,  and  that  we  do  deny  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  the  truths  therein  contained  :  therefore,  We  who  are 
here  in  prison,  shall  in  a  few  words,  in  truth  and  plainness,  declare 
unto  all  people  that  may  see  this,  the  ground  of  our  religion  and 
the  faith  that  we  contend  for,  and  the  cause  wherefor  we  suffer. 
Therefore,  when  you  read  our  words,  let  the  meek  spirit  bear  rule, 
and  weigh  them  in  the  equal  balance,  and  stand  out  of  prejudice, 
in  the  Light  that  judgeth  all  things,  and  measureth  and  mani- 
festeth  all  things. 

"  We  do  believe  in  the  only  true  and  living  God,  the  Father  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  who  hath  made  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  the 
sea  and  all  things  in  them  contained,  and  doth  uphold  all  things 
that  He  hath  created  by  the  word  of  his  power.  Who  at  sundry 
times  and  in  divers  manners  spake  in  times  past  to  our  fathers  by 
the  prophets  ;  but  in  these  last  days  He  hath  spoken  unto  us  by  his 
Son,  whom  He  liath  made  heir  of  all  things,  and  by  wliom  He  made 
the  world.  The  which  Son  is  that  Jesus  Christ  that  was  born  of  the 
Virgin  ;  who  suffered  for  our  offences,  and  is  risen  again  for  our 
justification,  and  is  ascended  into  the  highest  heavens,  and  sitteth  at 
the  right  hand  of  God  the  Father.  Even  in  Him  do  we  believe ; 
who  is  the  only  begotten  Son  of  the  Father,  full  of  Grace  and  Truth. 
And  in  Him  alone  do  we  trust  for  salvation  ;  by  whose  blood  we  are 
washed  from  sin  ;  through  whom  we  have  access  to  the  Father  with 
boldness;  being  justified  by  faith  in  believing  in  his  name.  Who 
hath  sent  forth  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  wit,  the  Spirit  of  Truth,  that 
proceedeth  from  the  Father  and  the  Son  ;  by  wiiich  we  are  sealed 
11 


1G2  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

and  adopted  sons  and  heirs  of  the  Kui<f(h)m  of  heaven.  From  the 
which  Spirit  the  Scriptures  of  truth  were  given  forth,  as  sayeth  the 
Apostle  Peler.  '  Holy  men  of  God  spake  as  they  wer-e  moved  of 
the  Holy  Ghost.'  The  which  were  written  for  our  admonition,  on 
whom  the  ends  of  the  world  are  come ;  and  are  profitable  for  the 
njan  of  God,  to  reprove,  and  to  exhort,  and  to  admonisli,  as  the  Spirit 
of  God  bringeth  them  unto  him,  an<l  openeth  them  in  him,  and 
giveth  him  the  understanding  of  them. 

"  So  that  before  all  [men]  we  do  declare  that  we  do  believe  in 
God  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Spirit,  according  as  they  are  de- 
clared of  in  the  Scriptures ;  and  the  Scriptures  we  own  to  be  a 
true  declaration  of  the  Father,  Son  and  Spirit,  in  [which]  is 
declared  what  was  in  the  beginning,  what  was  present,  and  was  to 
come. 

"  Therefore  all  people  in  whom  honesty  is,  stand  still  and  consider. 
Believe  not  them  that  say,  Report,  and  we  will  report  it  —  that  say, 
come  let  us  smite  them  with  the  tongue  ;  but  try  all  things,  and  hold 
fast  that  which  is  good.  Again  we  say,  take  heed  of  believing  and 
giving  credit  to  reports :  for  know  [ye]  that  the  truth  in  all  ages 
was  spoken  against,  and  they  that  lived  in  it,  were,  in  all  ages  of  the 
world  hated,  persecuted  and  imprisoned,  under  the  name  of  heretics, 
blasphemers,"  &c.  [Here  part  of  the  original  document  is  torn 
away.  Then  supposed  to  be  speaking  of  the  Light  of  Christ,  it  goes 
on]  "  that  showeth  you  the  secrets  of  your  hearts,  and  the  deeds 
that  are  not  good.  Therefore  while  you  have  light,  believe  in  the 
light,  that  you  may  be  the  children  of  the  Light.  For  as  you  love 
it  and  obey  it,  it  will  lead  you  to  repentance,  bring  you  to  know 
Him  in  wdiom  is  remission  of  sins;  in  whom  God  is  well  pleased; 
who  will  give  you  an  entrance  into  the  kingdom  of  God,  an  inheri- 
tance among  them  that  are  sanctified.  For  this  is  the  desire  of  our 
souls  for  all  that  have  the  least  breathings  after  God ;  that  they 
may  come  to  know  Him  in  deed  and  in  truth,  and  find  his  power 
in  and  with  them,  to  keep  them  from  falling,  and  to  present  them 
faultless  before  the  throne  of  his  glory :  who  is  the  strength  and 
life  of  all  those  who  put  their  trust  in  Him  ;  who  upholdeth  all 
things  by  the  word  of  his  power;  who  is  God  over  all,  blessed  for- 
ever. Amen. 

"  Thus  we  remain  friends  to  all  who  fear  the  Lord  ;  who  are  suffer- 
ers, not  for  evil  doing,  but  for  bearing  testimony  for  the  truth,  in 
obedience  to  the  Lord  God  of  Life;  unto  whom  we  commit  our 
cause  ;  who  is  risen  to  plead  the  cause  of  the  innocent,  and  to  help  him 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  163 

that  Lath  no  help  on  the  earth  ;  who  will  be  avenged  of  all  his 
enemies,  and  will  repay  the  proud  doers. 

Christopher  Holder. 

John  Copeland. 

Richard  Dowdney. 
From  tlie  House  of  Correction,  in  Boston,  1st  of  Stli  month,  1657." 

A  protest  against  persecution  having  been  put  forth  by  these 
Friends,  the  Ministers  and  Magistrates  were  so  enraged  at  it,  and  at 
finding  that  many  of  their  own  people  were  becoming  converts  to 
the  doctrines  of  the  '"  cursed  sect,"  that  they  ordered  all  Quakers 
then  in  prison  to  be  whipped  severely  twice  a  week,  to  begin  with 
fifteen  lashes,  and  to  increase  three  every  time  the  scourge  was  ap- 
plied. Finding  that  their  already  cruel  law  against  the  Quakers, 
did  not  prevent  their  coming  into  the  Colony,  when  they  believed 
they  were  required  to  go  there  by  their  divine  Master,  they  in  1658 
enacted  another  ;  which  besides  the  penalties  imposed  by  the  former, 
made  it  a  penal  oflTence  for  any  one  to  harbor  or  conceal  a  Quaker ; 
for  w'hich  there  was  to  be  exacted  £2  for  every  hour  of  such  con- 
cealment or  harboring,  with  imprisonment  until  it  w'as  paid ;  and 
every  Quaker  coming  within  their  jurisdiction,  if  a  man,  was  for  the 
first  ofience  to  have  one  of  his  ears  cut  oif,  and  to  be  kept  in  the  House 
of  Correction  until  sent  out  of  the  country ;  and  for  the  second  offence 
to  have  the  other  ear  taken  ofi",  and  to  be  kept  closely  confined  until 
banished.  If  a  woman,  to  be  severely  whipped  and  kept  in  prison 
until  sent  away ;  the  same  to  be  repeated  if  she  came  again.  For 
the  third  offence — as  coming  into  the  country  was  called — he  or  she 
was  to  have  the  tongue  bored  through  with  a  hot  iron,  and  to  be 
imprisoned  until  sent  away.  Every  one  living  in  the  Colony  who 
should  become  a  Quaker,  was  to  be  punished  in  the  same  manner.* 

But  notwithstanding  the  sectarian  prejudice  and  unreasoning  op- 
position that  prevailed  in  many  throughout  that  community,  there 
were  not  a  few  who  were  alarmed  for  the  consequences  of  the  course 
pursued,  and  ashamed  that  such  barbarity  should  be  practised  among 
them  ;  while  others  were  affected  with  compassion  for  those  who 
suffered  so  meekly  and  jwitieiitly.  The  murmurs  and  complaints 
became  more  and  more  distinctly  heard,  until  at  last  tlie  Governor 
and  Magistrates  thought  it  prudent  to  put  au  end  to  the  scourging, 
by  banishing  the  three  men  Friends,  iind  Mary  CJark,  who  had 
recently  come  into  Boston. 

*  Bine  Laws,  Quaker  Laws,  &c.,  pages  14,  15, 


164  FRIENDS    IN    THE 


CHAPTER  X. 

Connectiout — Humphrey  Norton — His  Sufferings  at  New  Haven — Unsuccess- 
ful Efforts  of  INIapsaciiusctts  to  induce  Kliode  Island  to  follow  iier  Exani})le 
—  Death  of  Oliver  Cromwell — His  Character  and  Course — SuflTcrings  of 
Friends  under  the  Commonwealth  —  Statement  of  G.  Fox  respecting 
Friends  —  Iliehard  Cromwell  —  Increased  Suffering  —  Friends  offer  folic 
in  Prison  as  Suhstitutes  for  those  there  —  Address  of  E.  Bmroiigh  to  the 
Rulers  —  New  Netherlands — Robert  Hodshone  —  His  dreadful  Sufferings 
at  New  Amsterdam  —  His  Release  —  Remonstrance  of  Some  of  the  Inhab- 
itants of  Long  Island — Their  Punishment  —  Friends  increase  in  Num- 
ber—  Meetings  Settled  —  Case  of  John  Bowne  —  Stop  of  Persecution  in 
New  Netherlands  —  Friends  in  Virginia  —  Josiali  Cole  and  Tiiomas  Thurs- 
ton—  Course  of  Episcopalians  in  Virginia — George  Wilson's  Sufferings 
and  Death  —  Other  Ministers  Sent  — Whipping  —  Maryland  —  Persecution 
in  that  Colony — Convincements  —  Disunity. 

THE  Colony  of  Connecticut  Avas  an  off-shoot  of  the  Pilgrims  of 
Massachusetts,  and  they  gave  ample  evidence  that  they  largely 
participated  in  the  same  spirit  that  actuated  their  fellow  professors. 
Humphrey  Norton,  a  Friend  who  had  spent  some  months  travelling 
in  Rhode  Island,  and  had  also  visited  Plymouth  in  the  Bay  Colony, 
whence  ho  was  banished,  Avas  taken  up  at  Southhold  and  carried  to 
New  Haven,  where  he  was  heavily  ironed  and  imprisoned,  without 
light  or  fire,  though  the  weather  was  cold  [1657].  AVhen  brought 
before  the  Court  one  of  their  ministers  charged  him  with  heresy,  and 
when  Humphrey  attempted  to  answer  him,  a  large  iron  key  was 
forced  into  and  fastened  in  his  mouth  so  that  he  could  not  speak.  He 
was  then  told  that  when  the  priest*  was  finished,  he  might  answer. 
But  the  priest,  so  soon  as  he  had  concluded  his  charges,  went  away. 
The  Court  then  interrogated  him,  and  remanded  him  to  prison.  At 
the  end  of  ten  days,  he  was  again  brought  before  the  Court,  which 
at  once  proceeded  to  sentence  him.  He  was  to  be  first  whipped, 
then  have  the  letter  H  burned  into  his  hand,  to  signify  Heretic,  and 
to  be  banished  from  the  Colony  of  New  Haven.  All  which  was 
carried  into  eft'ect.  Thirty-six  lashes  were  applied  to  his  bare  back 
as  he  was  held  fast  in  the  stocks,  and  the  brand  burnt  deeply.  All 
this  he  bore  without  a  complaint,  and  when  he  was  loosed  from  the 
stocks,  he  raised  his  voice  in  prayer  and  praise,  to  the  affecting  as- 
tonishment of  the  beholders  ;  many  of  whom  expressed  their  disgust 

*  The   title  of  Priest  was  then  very   commonly  given  to  all   "regularly 
ordained  preachers." 


1 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  165 

at  the  iuliuman  treatment  and  exhibition.  The  magistrates  strove 
to  induce  him  to  pay  his  fine  and  the  jail  expenses,  which  he  refused. 
A  Dutch  settler  in  the  Colony,  deeply  affected  with  the  sufferings 
of  this  innocent  man,  went  to  the  ^Magistrates,  and  offered  to  pay 
them  twenty  Nobles  if  they  would  let  him  go,  which  they  gladly 
accepted.     He  was  sent  into  Rhode  Island. 

The  Commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies  in  Massachusetts,  were 
incensed  at  finding  that  the  neighboring  Colony  of  Rhode  Island 
allowed  the  Quakers  to  come  within  and  freely  travel  through  it, 
and  forgetting  that  their  intolerance  had  banished  the  founders  of* 
Rhode  Island  colony  from  their  own  soil,  they  resolved  to  apply  to 
it  to  follow  their  example,  and  to  pass  laws  of  the  same  unchristian 
character  as  their  own,  against  the  Quakers.  Accordingly,  at  their 
session  in  1657,  they  addressed  the  Governor  of  Rhode  Island, 
urging  him  and  the  Assembly  to  i)roceed  in  accordance  with  their 
wishes.  But,  to  the  honor  of  the  latter,  they  refused ;  .stating  that 
they  con.sidered  liberty  of  conscience  one  of  the  dearest  rights  they 
possessed,  and  they  were  unwilling  to  restrict  it  in  the  manner  pro- 
posed;  but  if,  at  any  time,  they  found  the  Quakers  violating  the 
civil  law,  they  would  hold  them  accountable,  and  punish  them  the 
same  as  others. 

■  In  1658,  Oliver  Cromwell  was  suddenly  called  from  works  to  re- 
wards ;  after  having  exercised  the  high  office  of  Lord  Protector  of  the 
Commonwealth  about  ten  years.  As  a  military  man  and  a  states- 
man, he  certainly  was  the  most  remarkable  personage  of  his  age  and 
country.  Without  the  title  and  trappings  of  royalty,  he  exercised 
more  absolute  power  than  many  kings  had  dared  to  a.ssume ;  and 
had  he  pursued  the  dictates  of  his  conscience,  uninfluenced  by  the 
intolerant  spirit  of  the  mixed  party  which  he  used  as  tools  to  work 
liis  own  exaltation,  there  is  little  doubt  but  he  would  have  effected 
as  great  and  beneficial  changes  in  the  ecclesiastical  policy  of  the 
government,  as  he  did  in  its  civil  administration,  and  its  foreign 
relations.  That  he  was  convinced  every  man  had  the  right  to  wor- 
ship according  to  the  dictates  of  his  conscience,  he  again  and  again 
declared ;  but  his  ambition  betrayed  him  into  the  double  crime  of 
violating  his  own  sense  of  right,  and  of  jDcrmitting  his  authority  to 
le  used  in  punishing  others,  because  they  could  not  follow  his  exam- 
ple, and  go  contrary  to  what  tliey  believed  to  be  their  religious  tluty. 
To  this  he  was  instigated  by  many  of  the  popular  preachers  of  the 
day,  who  he  well  knew,  wielded  a  power  that  could  stir  up  the  peo- 


166  FRIEXDS'lX    THE 

])le  to  resistanco  to  liis  usurped  goveniment ;  and  who,  actuated  by 
lust  of  place  and  influence,  entertained  ill-will  ai^ainst  those  that 
questioned  their  iJretensions,  or  boldly  denied  their  fitness  for  the 
duties  of  the  office  they  assumed.  Hence  tiieir  hatred  of  Friends, 
whose  reliti'ious  principles  struck  at  the  foundation  of  ecclesiastical 
power,  and  the  lawfulness  of  tithes;  and  who  declared  that  the 
gospel  should  be  preached  without  money  and  without  price.  Crom- 
well feared  to  offend  the  priests ;  and  he  was  aware  that  the  prin- 
ciples of  Friends  did  and  would  restrain  them  from  any  attempt 
to  unsettle  his  government ;  and  brave  as  he  had  been  on  the  battle 
field,  he  had  not  courage  to  defend  or  relieve  the  innocent  and  non- 
resistant  sufferers,  at  the  expense  of  offending  the  clergy.  So,  while 
disclaiming  wish  or  right  to  meddle  with  the  exercise  of  religious 
laith,  so  long  as  the  civil  law  was  not  infringed,  he  allowed  cruel 
persecution  to  be  inflicted  in  his  name  for  conscientious  belief,  by 
men  whom  he  knew  made  religion  but  a  cloak  for  the  promotion 
of  their  own  sinister  ends. 

At  the  time  of  Cromwell's  death,  there  were  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  Friends  incarcerated  in  the  jails  and  dungeons  of  the 
Commonwealth  ;  many  of  them  put  there  without  trial,  and  none  of 
them  charged  with  any  greater  offence  than  not  being  willing  to 
swear  ;  not  paying  tithes  ;  meeting  together  for  the  purpose  of 
Divine  worship  ;  or  some  other  occasion  "  concerning  the  law  of 
their  God."  Nearly  two  thousand  had  grievously  suffered  prior  to 
the  death  of  Cromwell ;  of  whom  twenty-one  had  died  in  prison, 
either  from  the  aggravated  abuse  inflicted  on  them,  or  from  long 
continued  confinement  in  the  poisonous  atmos})here  of  those  dismal 
abodes.  Beside  this,  Friends  were  often  despoiled  of  great  portion 
of  their  worldly  possessions  by  heavy  fines,  imposed  under  one  plea 
or  another,  and  on  account  of  the  demamls  for  tithes,  which  the  in- 
stalled ministers  exacted  with  great  severity.  But  notwithstanding 
the  absence  of  all  legal  protection,  and  the  persevering  efforts  of 
their  adversaries  to  destroy  them  as  a  religious  Society,  they  con- 
tinued to  increase  and  to  become  more  firmly  established  ;  sadly 
disappointing  some  of  their  oppressors,  who  had  predicted  their 
extermination  in  the  course  of  one  or  two  years. 

It  must  have  been  a  source  of  heartfelt  thankfulness  to  George 
Fox,  in  looking  over  the  comparatively  few  years  that  had  elapsed 
since  he  was  first  sent  forth  as  a  preacher  of  righteousness,  that  not- 
withstanding all  the  opposition  the  word  of  Truth  had  met  with, 
and  the  severe  ordeal  through  which  those  who  embraced  it  had  to 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  167 

pass,  so  many  thousands  had  already  been  convinced  and  converted  ; 
and  that  the  Lord  on  high  was  showing  that  his  protecting  arm  was 
underneath  and  round  about  them  ;  that  He  was  not  only  bearing 
them  up  above  the  raging  waves  of  men's  passion  and  oppression, 
but  was  causing  their  uprightness  and  conscientiousness  to  receive  a 
reward  even  in  tliis  life.  George  says  [1653],  "  At  the  first  con- 
vincement,  when  Friends  could  not  put  off  their  hats  to  people,  nor 
say  You  to  a  single  person,  but  Thou  and  Thee,  or  could  not  bow, 
nor  use  flattering  words  in  salutations,  nor  go  into  the  fashions  and 
customs  of  the  world,  many  Friends,  that  were  tradesmen,  lost  their 
customers  ;  for  the  people  were  shy  of  them,  and  would  not  trade 
with  them  ;  so  that  for  a  time  some  could  hardly  get  money  enough 
to  buy  bread.  But  afterwards,  when  jjeople  came  to  have  experience 
of  Friends'  honesty  and  faithfulness,  and  found  that  their  Yea  was 
Yea,  and  their  Nay  was  Nay  ;  that  they  kept  to  a  word  in  their  deal- 
ings, and  that  they  would  not  cozen  and  cheat  them  ;  but  that  if  they 
sent  a  child  to  their  shops  for  anything,  they  were  as  well  used  as  if 
they  had  come  themselves ;  the  lives  and  conversations  of  Friends 
did  preach,  and  reached  to  the  witness  of  God  in  the  people.  Then 
things  altered  so,  that  all  the  inquiry  was,  '  Where  was  a  draper,  or 
shop-keeper,  or  tailor,  or  shoemaker,  or  any  other  tradesman,  that 
was  a  Quaker?'  Insomuch  that  Friends  had  more  business  than 
many  of  their  neighbors ;  and  if  there  was  any  trading,  they  had 
a  great  part  of  it.  Then  the  envious  professors  altered  their  note, 
and  began  to  cry  out,  '  If  we  let  these  Quakers  alone,  they  will  take 
the  trade  of  the  nation  out  of  our  hands.'  This  hath  lieen  the  Lord's 
doings  to  and  for  his  people!  which  my  desire  is,  thai  all  v.ho  pro- 
fess his  holy  truth  may  be  truly  kept  sensible  of;  and  that  all  may 
be  preserved  in  and  by  his  power  and  Spirit,  faithful  to  God  and 
man:  first  to  God,  in  obeying  him  in  all  things;  and  then  in  doing 
unto  all  men  that  which  is  just  and  righteous,  in  all  things  that 
they  have  to  do  or  deal  with  them  in  :  that  the  Lord  God  may  be 
glorified  in  their  practising  truth,  holiness,  godliness,  and  righteous- 
ness amongst  people,  in  their  lives  and  conversations." 

Parliament  had  conferred  on  Cromwell  the  power  to  name  his 
successor,  and  shortly  before  his  death  he  had  nominated  his  son 
Richard ;  who  accordingly  was  installed  as  Prot(x'tor,  and  the  gov- 
ernment seemed  but  little  disturbed  by  the  change.  It  soon  became 
apparent,  however,  that  the  son  possessed  neither  the  talents,  tlie 
energy,  nor  the  influence,  which  had  enabled  his  father  to  play  one 
party  against  another,  and  to  keep  the  army  ever  i-eady  to  enforce 


168  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

the  will  and  policy  of  its  favorite  head  and  leader.  Party  animosity 
manifested  itself  with  a  violence  that  before  had  been  kept  in  check ; 
and  Generals,  Republicans  and  Royalists  respectively,  eagerly 
sought  the  opportunity  to  effect  the  establishment  of  their  own 
power ;  and  it  soon  became  apparent  that  some  revolution  must  ere 
long  take  place,  that  would  put  the  reins  of  government  into  more 
competent,  hands. 

In  the  meantime  the  sufferings  of  Friends  were  continually  on 
the  increase,  and  though  R.  Cromwell  expressed  his  unwillingness 
that  it  should  be  so,  and  his  desire  to  afford  relief,  the  power  of  the 
intolerant  Parliament  was  too  great  to  allow  him  to  carry  out  his 
wishes.  Friends  in  London  were  indefatigable  in  their  efforts  to 
obtain  relief  for  their  brethren,  who  were  shut  up  in  prison  through- 
out the  country.  They  petitioned  the  Parliament,  presenting  a 
statement  of  the  several  eases  of  suffering,  which  were  then  crying 
for  relief,  and  the  alleged  causes  of  complaint  against  them.  Find- 
ing that  the  hearts  of  the  members  were  too  greatly  hardened,  by 
bigotry  and  prejudice,  to  be  moved  by  their  representations  or  their 
importunity,  they  gave  an  affecting  proof  of  their  Christian  love  for 
their  brethren,  and  the  unselfish  motives  that  prompted  the  solici- 
tation for  their  release  from  the  jails  where  they  were  held  in  bond- 
age, by  presenting  to  Parliament  a  printed  paper,  signed  by  one 
hundred  and  sixty-four  Friends,  offering  themselves  as  substitutes, 
body  for  body,  to  take  the  places  of  their  brethren  or  sisters,  in 
different  places  of  confinement,  who  were  sick  or  in  danger  of  losing 
their  lives,  froni  being  so  long  subjected  to  prison  life  and  fare. 
This,  however,  was  equally  unsuccessful,  and  three  of  the  petitioners 
being  brought  before  the  House,  the  Speaker  reprimanded  them  for 
the  ''  scandal  "  their  statements  cast  on  magistracy,  and  bid  them 
go  home,  mind  their  business,  and  submit  themselves  to  the  laws 
of  the  nation  and  its  magistrates  [1659]. 

E.  Burrough  now  wrote  a  long  and  plain-spoken  address  to  the 
"  Rulei-s  of  the  Nation,"  whoever  they  were;  in  which,  after  point- 
ing out  the  unchristian  course  that  had  been  pursued  by  those  Avho 
had  borne  rule  in  England  for  a  long  course  of  years,  the  dishonor 
that  had  l)een  brought  on  truth  and  righteousness  thereby,  the 
superstition  and  idolatry  of  the  people,  and  the  calamities  that- had 
overtaken  the  nation  thereibr  ;  the  persecution  of  the  righteous  now 
going  on,  and  their  unpitied  sufferings,  he  boldly  tells  them,  that 
unless  they  stop  in  their  career  and  repent  of  their  doings,  "Your 
estates  shall   not  be  spared  from   the  spoiler,  nor  your  necks  from 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CEXTUllY.  169 

the  axe :  your  enemies  shall  charge  treason  upon  you,  and  if  you 
seek  to  stop  the  Lord's  work,  you  will  not  cumber  the  earth  very 
long : "  which  was  not  long  in  being  fulfilled. 

Before  any  further  recitation  of  the  sufferings  of  Friends  in  the 
Colonies  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  it  may  be  well  to  I'efer 
to  an  instance  of  like  suffering  in  the  Dutch  settlement  of  New'  Am- 
sterdam. Cases  of  unmitigated  cruelty  in  the  two  forementioned 
Colonies  are  too  numerous,  for  reference  to  be  made  within  this  lim- 
ited narrative,  to  any  but  some  of  the  more  conspicuous ;  brought 
forward  rather  to  exhibit  the  religious  constancy  of  the  sufferers, 
than  to  expose  the  persecuting  spirit  of  the  rulers  and  ministers. 

In  1657,  a  Friend  named  Robert  Hodshone,  being  at  Hamstead, 
in  the  settlement  of  New  Netherlands,  had  a  meeting  with  some  of 
the  English  living  there.  He  was  arrested,  and  taken  before  a  mag- 
istrate, who  committed  him  to  prison;  his  knife,  Bible  and  papers 
being  taken  away  from  him,  and  he  pinioned.  On  the  day  but  one 
after,  two  women  who  had  entertained  him  were  arrested  and  put 
into  a  cart,  to  the  tail  of  which  Robert,  still  pinioned,  was  fastened, 
and  thus  drawn  through  the  woods  in  the  dark  to  New  Amsterdam, 
the  chief  town,  where  he  arrived  much  bruised  and  torn.  Loosed 
from  the  cart,  he  was  led  by  the  rope  to  a  filthy  dungeon,  into  Avhich 
he  was  thrust.  Being  brought  before  Stuyvesant  the  Governor, 
without  being  allowed  to  make  a  defence  or  explanation,  his 
sentence  was  read  to  him  in  Dutch ;  which  was.  That  he  should 
work  two  years  at  the  wheel-barrow,  with  a  negro,  or  pay  a  fine  of 
six  hundred  dollars.  He  was  then  put  back  into  the  dungeon ; 
where  none  were  allowed  to  come  to  him  who  could  speak  English. 
The  next  day,  on  being  brought  out  of  the  dungeon,  he  was  chained 
to  a  wheel-barrow,  and  commanded  to  work  in  repairing  the  walls 
of  the  town.  Feeling  himself  restrained  from  this,  he  declined  ; 
whereupon  a  negro  slave  was  ordered  to  beat  him  with  a  tarred 
rope.  This  was  done ;  the  fellow  beating  him  until  he  fainted  and 
fell  to  the  ground.  The  Sheriff',  who  supernitended  the  horrid  work, 
bid  the  negro  to  raise  him  up  and  renew  the  flogging,  which  he  did  ; 
continuing  the  blows  until  he  again  fainted  and  fell.  Failing  thus 
to  make  him  work,  ihe  Siieriff  conducted  him  to  the  Governor,  who 
was  in  the  fort,  and  complained  of  Robert's  obstinacy.  He  was 
kept  in  the  sun  tliroughout  the  remainder  of  the  day,  the  burning 
heat  of  which  acting  on  his  lacerated  and  bruised  body,  which  had 
received  no  sustenance  for  many  hours,  caused  him  again  to  faint 


170  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

away  ;  but  he  says,  tluit  his  mind  was  "  stayed  upon  the  Lord,"  wlio 
sweetly  refreshed  him.  He  was  closely  confined  in  the  dungeon  for 
about  a  week,  when  the  Governor,  who  was  greatly  incensed  at  his 
not  submitting  to  his  will,  had  him  brought  out,  and  ordered  him  to 
be  strij)ped  to  the  waist,  to  be  drawn  up  by  the  hands  from  the 
ground  and  weights  attached  to  his  feet,  and  as  thus  suspended  to  be 
severely  beaten  with  rods.  This  unmerciful  sentence  having  been 
executed,  he  was  again  thrust  into  the  dungeon,  and  kept  two  days 
and  nights  without  food,  when  it  was  demanded  of  him  to  pay  his 
fine ;  whicii  he  refused.  The  urgent  petition  of  the  poor  sufferer, 
that  some  of  his  own  country  people  might  he  allowed  to  come  to 
him,  w'as  at  last  granted,  and  a  kind-hearted  English  woman  came, 
who  dressed  his  wounds  and  administered  to  his  wants ;  though  she 
thought  he  could  hardl}'  survive  many  hours.  Having  informed  her 
husband  of  the  deplorable  condition  of  the  prisoner,  he  went  to  the 
Governor  and  offered  him  a  fatted  ox  if  he  would  allow  him  to  bring 
Robert  to  his  house,  that  he  might  be  properly  nursed.  The  hard- 
hearted Governor  I'efused  to  permit  any  change,  unless  the  whole 
sum  of  six  hundred  dollars  was  raised.  When  the  people  learned 
this  unfeeling  decision,  they  at  once  set  about  raising  the  money, 
which,  however,  Robert  declined  accepting,  though  sensible  of  their 
kindness.  He  believed  that  the  Lord  would  heal  his  mangled  body, 
and  restore  his  strength,  so  that  he  could  work  enough  in  the  prison 
to  pay  for  his  board. 

It  being  discovered  that  one  Captain  Willett,  from  Massachusetts, 
had  instigated  the  cruel  treatment  of  R.  Hodshone,  the  people  gave 
him  to  understand  they  greatly  disapproved  of  his  conduct.  Find- 
ing how  he  had  discredited  himself,  in  the  hope  of  removing  the 
odium,  he  applied  to  the  Governor  to  forego  further  punishment,  and 
let  the  prisoner  go.  This  application  was  seconded  by  Stuy  vesaut's 
sister,  whose  feelings  had  been  deeply  touched  by  the  torture  inflicted 
on  the  patient  sufierer,  and  moved  by  the  representations  of  the  two, 
and  the  known  disapprobation  by  many  of  the  peo{)le  of  the  intoler- 
ance manifested,  he  finally  consented  to  Robert's  release,  without 
his  paying  any  portion  of  the  fine.  He  was  discharged  al)out  the 
middle  of  the  Seventh  month;  and  then  pursued  his  religious  labors 
in  Rhode  Island. 

Many  of  the  settlers  on  Long  Island  having  become  favorable  to 
the  principles  of  Friends,  one  of  them  was  fined  £12  upon  a  charge 
of  having  assisted  R.  Hodshone  in  holding  a  religious  meeting. 
This,  together  with  a  law  enacted,  imposing  a  fine  of  £50  on  any  one 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  171 

receiving  a  Quaker  into  his  house,  so  offended  tlie  inhabitants  of  the 
ishind,  that  they  forwarded  to  the  Governor  a  remonstrance  against 
it,  signed  by  the  Sheriff,  town  clerk,  and  a  number  of  citizens  con- 
vened at  a  town  meeting.  On  this  being  presented,  Stuyvesant  was 
highly  indignant,  and  the  Council  being  convened,  warrants  were 
issued  for  the  Sheriff  and  town  clerk,  who  were  brought  to  New 
Amsterdam  and  thrown  into  prison  ;  where  they  were  kept  for  a 
considerable  time,  and  then  allowed  to  leave  the  jail,  but  not  the 
town.  Several  others  were  arrested  and  fined  heavily,  especially 
those  who  were  thought  to  favor  "  the  abominable  sect  of  Quakers." 
Thomas  Tiltou  was  one  of  those  fined  £12  for  "  having  dared  to 
provide  a  Quaker  woman  with  lodging,  who  had  been  banished 
out  of  the  province." 

But  the  testimony  borne  by  Friends  to  the  spirituality  of  the 
Christian  religion ;  to  the  jjerceptible  inward  manifestation  of  the 
Spirit  of  Christ,  and  its  transforming  work  in  the  soul ;  to  the  ne- 
cessity of  taking  up  the  cross  daily,  and  walking  in  the  straight  and 
narrow  way  of  self-denial ;  to  the  disuse  of  forms  and  ceremonies, 
and  against  the  unauthorized  assumption  of  the  priesthood  in  things 
pertaining  to  the  church  of  Christ,  and  the  meek  and  unresisting 
spirit  in  wliich  they  bore  the  indignities  and  cruel  abuses  heaped 
upon  them,  appealed  too  forcibly  to  the  Witness  for  Truth  in  the 
breasts  of  hearers  and  beholders,  to  fail  of  convincing  many  tender- 
hearted people  that  they  were  preachers  of  righteousness ;  commis- 
sioned by  the  Head  of  the  church  to  proclaim  the  word  of  recon- 
ciliation to  those  who  were  sitting  in  darkness  and  the  shadow  of 
death.  Notwithstanding  the  anathemas  hurled  against  the  Quakers, 
and  the  certainty  of  suffering  if  numbered  with  them,  many  joined 
the  Society  in  Long  Island,  and  in  the  yeai's  1658  and  1659,  several 
meetings  were  settled  along  the  western  part  of  the  island. 

The  persecution  of  Friends  in  New  Amsterdam  was  put  an  end  to 
by  the  home  government,  John  Bowne  having  become  convinced 
of  the  truth  of  Friends'  principles,  not  only  openly  avowed  his  re- 
ligious belief,  but  o])ened  his  house  for  holding  a  meeting.  For  this 
he  was  fined  £25.  Refusing  to  i)ay,  he  was  thrown  into  the  dungeon 
in  the  town,  and  there  kept  without  food  or  water  until  nearly 
famished  ;  but  as  his  constancy  failed  not,  and  the  Master  whom  he 
served,  upheld  him  above  the  malice  of  liis  enemies,  the  Governor 
resolved  to  banish  him.  He  was  told  that  unless  he  paid  the  fine 
within  three  months,  he  should  be  torn  from  his  wife  and  children 
and  sent  to  Holland.     As  he  could  not  be   brought  to  deny  his 


172  FRIENDS     IN    THE 

religion,  he  was,  in  the  10th  month  of  1GG3,  put  on  hoard  a  vessel, 
which  conveyed  him  to  Holland;  a  statement  of  his  case  heing  also 
forwarded.  Upon  hearing  the  circumstances  of  his  conduct  and 
treatment  from  the  sufferer  himself,  the  home  Government,  which 
was  altogether  tolerant  in  regard  to  religious  belief,  at  once  reversed 
his  sentence,  and  wrote  to  the  Governor  and  Council,  ordering  them 
to  allow  all  such  to  be  unmolested. 

The  first  visit  made  by  a  Friend  to  Virginia  appears  to  have  been 
in  1656,  when  Elizabeth  Harris  arrived  there,  and  as  there  was,  at 
the  time,  no  obstruction  thrown  in  the  way  of  her  gospel  labors,  she 
was  instrumental  in  convincing  several,  of  the  sound  scriptural  doc- 
trines she  preached,  and  of  the  necessity  to  conform  in  life  and  con- 
versation thereto.  One  of  her  converts,  named  Robert  Clarkson, 
was  a  man  of  superior  character  and  influence,  and  on  him  devolved 
much  of  the  religious  exercise  and  care  connected  with  tlie  little 
community  of  Friends  planted  in  Virginia. 

Josiah  Cole  and  Thomas  Thurston,  who  had  long  been  engaged 
in  religious  service  in  their  own  country  (England j,  felt  themselves 
called  to  go  into  Virginia,  in  order  to  spread  among  the  people  tliere 
a  knowledge  of  what  they  believed  to  be  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus, 
in  its  simplicity  and  spirituality.  They  accordingly  embarked  and 
arrived  there  in  1658.  But  that  Colony  had  been  settled  principally 
by  Episcopalians,  in  whose  hands  the  power  of  the  government  was 
lodged.  Finding  that  some  of  the  settlers  had  adopted  the  princi- 
ples of  Friends,  and  fearing  that  their  peculiar  doctrines  and  testi- 
monies would  spread,  and  their  own  religious  forms  and  ceremonies 
thereby  be  called  in  question  and  perhaps  abandoned,  the  dominant 
sect  resolved  to  imitate  the  persecutors  in  New  England,  to  pass  a 
law  for  the  banishment  of  Friends,  and  to  make  it  felony  for  any  thus 
sent  away  to  return.  This  was  done  in  1658.  The  rulers  had,  prior 
to  the  deposition  of  Charles  I.,  prohibited  any  minister  to  preach  or 
teach  within  their  limits,  unless  in  conformity  with  the  rites  and 
belief  of  the  church  of  England.  This  was  to  prevent  any  of  the 
Puritans  settling  among  them.  But  during  the  time  of  the  Com- 
monwealth this  law  was  not  regarded,  and  toleration  of  differences 
in  religious  profession  was  observed,  until  the  action  taken  against 
Friends. 

It  is  not  certain  whether  Josiah  Cole  and  Thomas  Thurston,  while 
in  Virginia,  on  their  first  visit,  met  with  much  opposition  or  not, 
but  after  they  left,  and  had  travelled  through  the  wilderness  from 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  173 

that  colony  to  Rhode  Island,  suifering  many  hardships  in  their 
perilous  jonrney,  T.  Thurston  l>elieved  it  right  for  him  to  return  to 
Virginia.  He  had  not  been  there  long,  before  he  was  imprisoned 
and  kept  confined  for  a  considerable  length  of  time.  The  Govei'nor 
finally  released  hira,  and  allowed  him  to  hold  some  meetings,  at 
which  there  were  many  convinced. 

After  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.  to  tlie  throne,  the  Episco- 
palians revived  their  intolerant  policy,  and  George  Wilson,  of 
Cumberland,  having  gone  to  Virginia  in  1661,  he  was  thrust  into  a 
loathsome  dungeon  at  Jamestown,  was  most  mercilessly  scourged, 
and  then  put  in  irons.  He  was  thus  kept,  without  light  or  fresh 
air,  until  his  flesh  actually  rotted  off  the  bones,  and  lie  laid  down 
his  life,  a  martyr  for  Christ  and  the  testimony  of  His  truth.  While 
suffering  this  lingering  death,  he  penned  several  "  precious  writings," 
which  manifested  the  lamb-like  spirit  he  cherished  ;  so  that  he  de- 
clared, when  speaking  of  his  persecutors,  "  For  all  their  cruelty, 
I  can  truly  say.  Father,  forgive  them,  they  know  not  what  they 
do." 

Previous  to  this  hostile  attitude  being  generally  adopted,  the  feet 
of  several  gospel  messengers  had  been  turned  towards  that  province  ; 
among  whom  were  Christopher  Holder,  Robert  Hodshone  and  Wil- 
liam Robinson,  who  visited  there  in  1658.  In  1660,  Josiah  Cole 
was  laboriously  engaged  there  during  a  second  visit;  and  in  1661, 
George  Rolfe,  Elizabeth  Hooten  —  who  was  the  first  woman  minis- 
ter in  the  Society  —  with  Joan  Brocksoppe,  were  engaged  as  gospel 
ministers  among  the  settlers,  and  do  not  appear  to  have  been  arrested. 
The  eflfectual  preaching  of  these  dedicated  servants,  as  well  as  of  some 
others  who  arrived  in  the  country  near  the  close  of  that  year,  was 
blessed  to  a  considerable  number ;  who  were  convinced  of  the  truth 
of  the  doctrine  they  set  forth,  and  became  prepared  to  join  in  mem- 
bership with  the  Society. 

Unrestrained  by  the  deplorable  consequences  which  they  saw  had 
before  resulted  from  their  unchristian  policy,  the  Governor  and 
Council  of  Virginia,  in  1662,  imposed  heavy  fines  on  all  who  should 
be  "  So  filled  with  the  newfangled  conceits  of  their  own  heretical 
inventions,  as  to  refuse  to  have  their  children  baptized,"  and  all 
ship-masters  were  forbidden,  on  pain  of  banishment,  to  bring  any 
non- conformists  into  the  colony.  John  Porter,  one  of  the  repre- 
sentatives, was  expelled  from  the  Assembly,  in  166.3,  "because  he 
was  well  affected  to  the  Quakers." 

In  1663,  Mary  Tomkins  and  Alice  Ambrose,  having  come  into 


174  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

the  Colony  and  entered  upon  the  religious  service  required  of  them, 
strengthening  the  hands  of  those  who  professed  with  Friends,  and 
spreading  a  knowledge  of  their  doctrines,  were  after  some  time  ar- 
rested, and  subjected  to  the  infliction  of  "  Thirty-two  stripes  "  with 
a  "nine-corded  whip."  Afterwards  their  goods  were  seized,  and 
they  expelled  beyond  the  limits  of  the  Colony. 

It  has  been  before  mentioned,  that  when  Josiah  Cole  and  Thomas 
Thurston  set  out,  after  their  first  visit  to  Virginia,  for  Rhode  Island, 
they  travelled  through  the  intervening  wilderness  ;  in  which  journey 
they  necessarily  passed  through  Maryland  ;  where  the  settlers  were 
very  sparsely  located.  Their  association  was  princijjally  with  the 
Indians  ;  but  this  was  the  first  visit  of  any  Friend  to  that  province. 
Towards  the  close  of  1658,  Thomas  Tliurston  returned  into  Mary- 
land in  order  to  discharge  a  duty  he  felt  laid  upon  him,  to  hold  re- 
ligious meetings  among  those  who  were  residing  there,  and  bring 
them  to  a  knowledge  of  the  practical  eflTects  of  believing  in  and 
obeying  the  Light  of  Christ  manifested  to  the  sold. 

Reports  respecting  Friends  and  the  doctrines  they  held,  had 
reached  the  inhabitants  of  that  colony,  and  as  usual,  they  Avere 
grossly  misrepresented;  so  that  notwithstanding  the  unsectarian 
policy  of  Lord  Baltimore,  so  strong  a  prejudice  had  been  excited 
against  them,  that  when  it  was  known  T.  Thurston  was  a  minister 
among  the  dreaded  Quakers,  and  that  he  was  there  to  propagate 
their  doctrines  and  testimonies,  it  produced  no  small  excitement ; 
and  the  Court,  moved  by  the  clamor  and  apprehension,  lent  its  aid 
.  to  the  persecuting  spirit  of  the  time,  had  him  arrested,  and  sen- 
tenced him  to  imprisonment  "  for  a  year  and  a  day."  Those  in 
authority  also  passed  a  law  imposing  fines  on  any  who  received  or 
entertained  Quakers.  Under  this  la\v  four  Friends  were  fined,  :.nd 
another  was  cruelly  whipped  "  for  not  assisting  to  apprehend  "  T. 
Thurston. 

But  the  authorities  in  Maryland,  as  in  other  places,  soon  learned, 
that  wherever  a  belief  of  religious  duty  called  Friends,  they  dare  not 
flinch  from  its  performance,  let  the  consequences  be  what  they  might. 
In  1659  William  Robinson,  Christopher  Holder,  and  Robert  Hod- 
shone  came  into  the  province.  Among  the  scattered  settlers  —  none 
of  whom  then  resided  in  towns  —  there  were  many  who,  having  long 
had  their  attention  turned  to  the  subject  of  religion,  and  not  deriving 
much  benefit  from  the  little  teaching  or  preaching  to  which  they 
had  access,  were  in  measure  prepared,  to  receive  the  truths  of  primi- 
tive Christianity,  as  they  heard  them  set  forth  in  convincing  power. 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CENTURY.  175 

by  these  gospel  messeugers.  There  were,  therefore,  a  considerable 
number  who  joined  in  the  religious  profession  with  Friends. 

Political  disturbances  having  occurred,  during  which  the  power 
of  Lord  Baltimore  was  set  aside,  there  was  no  further  effort  made 
duri^ig  that  time  to  enforce  the  law  against  Friends.  When,  how- 
ever, after  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.,  Lord  Baltimore's  author- 
ity over  the  province  was  again  established,  a  trial  of  a  difierent 
kind  came  upon  the  Friends.  A  strict  militia  law  was  enacted, 
with  heavy  fines  imposed  on  those  who  did  not  serve,  and  on  those 
who  would  not  take  the  oaths  enjoined.  The  accounts  preserved, 
instance  thirty  Friends  from  whom  property  to  the  amount  of 
£172  4.^.  9d.  was  taken  in  1658  and  1G59,  on  account  of  militia  fines  ; 
and  from  twelve  who  were  fined  for  not  swearing,  £80. 

It  is  probable  that  the  suffering  thus  inflicted  on  persons  who  had 
recently  settled  in  the  wilderness  country,  had  proved  more  than  the 
faith  of  some  in  their  newly  adopted  principles  enabled  them  to  bear; 
for  J.  Cole,  who  was  there  in  1660  on  his  second  visit,  w-rites,  that  he 
found  the  harmony  that  ought  to  exist  among  Friends  had  been 
interrupted,  by  some  who  "  run  into  words  without  life,"  and  others 
who  "judged  rashly."  This  breach  in  harmony  he  was  greatly  in- 
strumental in  healing.  In  1662  twenty-three  Friends,  who  during 
the  two  previous  years  had  allowed  their  names  to  be  enrolled 
among  the  militia,  being  now  fully  convinced  that  all  war  was 
contrary  to  the  gospel  of  Christ,  declined  to  sanction  the  proceeding 
any  longer,  and  each  was  fined  500  lbs.  of  tobacco. 

Religious  intolerance  now  manifested  itself  again,  and  Josiah 
Cole  was  banished  the  province.  But  he  had  not  been  long  ex- 
pelled, before  five  other  ministering  Friends  arrived  ;  and  the  more 
Oiilightened  views  of  Lord  Baltimore  and  his  counsellors  in  Eng- 
land, were  in  course  of  time  brought  to  bear  on  the  colonial  rulers, 
and  all  traces  of  per.secutiou  on  account  of  religious  belief  ceased  to 
be  found  on  their  records. 

The  first  planting  and  spread  of  Friends  and  their  principles  in 
New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania  and  North  Carolina  did  not  occur  until 
some  years  after  their  introduction  in  the  other  provinces  mentioned, 
and  reference  will  be  made  to  those  colonies  when  further  on. 


176  FRIENDS    IN    THE 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Dread  in  New  England  of  tlie  Spread  of  Quakerism — Action  of  Court  of 
IMvmouth  —  Sarah  Gibbons  and  Dorotliy  Waugli  —  William  Leiidra— Wil- 
liam Brend's  Dreadful  Suliering — Fear  of  Eridicott— Exeuse  of  tlie  Minister 
— Cutting  otr  Kars— State  of  things  in  New  Plymouth— Meetings  — Spread 
of  Friends'  principles — Transportation  ordered — Banishment  on  pain  of 
Death— A  few  frightened  by  it  —  William  Kol)inson  and  Marmailuke  Ste- 
venson —  Patience  Scott— Mary  Dyer— Trial  for  Life  — Exccuticm  of  two 
Friends — Reprieve  of  M.  Dyer— Return,  Trial  and  Fxecution  of  M.  Dyer 
— J.  Nicholson  and  Wife. 


c 


1IRCUMSTANCES    of    a    tragical    character    connected    with 

■>  Friends,  having  taken  place  in  Massachusetts  prior  to  the 
restoration  of  Charles  II.,  notice  will  be  taken  of  them  before  re- 
turning to  aflfliirs  in  Great  Britain 

The  alarming  evidence  of  the  spread  of  "The  Quaker  Contagion," 
—  as  the  Puritans  of  New  England  designated  the  reception  of  the 
principles  of  Friends— among  the  inhabitants  of  Massachusetts,  in- 
duced the  Court,  at  Plymouth,  in  1657,  as  has  been  already  men- 
tioned, to  imitate  that  of  Boston,  by  enacting  a  law  to  prevent  any 
one  entertaining  a  Quaker,  under  a  penalty  of  £5;  for  default  in 
the  payment  of  which  fine,  the  offender  was  to  be  whipped. 

There  were  now  fifteen  ministering  Friends  within  the  limits  of 
New  England,  exclusive  of  those  in  Rhode  Island,  and  the  number 
of  converts  had  so  greatly  increased,  that  it  was  said  the  greater 
part  of  the  town  of  Sandwich  had  joined  with  Friends.  Sarah 
Gibbons  and  Dorothy  Waugh,  who  were  engaged  in  a  religious 
service  in  Rhode  Island,  feeling  it  required  of  them  to  visit  the 
town  of  Salem,  in  Massachusetts,  although  it  was  winter,  and  snow 
on  the  ground,  started  on  foot,  and  walked  the  whole  distance  of 
ninety  miles;  carrying  what  was  needful  with  them,  and  lodging 
under  such  shelter  as  they  could  procure  in  the  wilderness.  Having, 
by  the  providence  of  their  ahnighty  Preserver,  arrived  and  deliv- 
ered their  message,  it  was  gladly  received  by  many.  When  clear 
there,  they  went  to  Boston,  where  they  were  soon  thrust  into  its  jail, 
and  shortly  after  dreadfully  whipped,  in  public,  with  a  three-corded 
knotted  scourge,  which  mangled  their  backs  deeply.  When  this  was 
over,  their  tormentors  and  the  people  around,  were  astonished  to 
hear  them  vocally  offer  thanksgiving  and  praise  to  their  heavenly 
Father,  for  the  help  of  His  sustaining  presence  in  the  midst  of  their 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CEXTURY.  177 

'sufferings.  They  were  again  thrust  into  the  prison,  where,  as  the 
jailer  told  them,  he  should  keep  them  for  his  fees,  it  is  uncertain 
how  long  they  would  have  been  kept,  had  not  a  kind-hearted  person 
from  Rhode  Island  paid  the  jailer's  demand,  and  thus  set  them  at 
liberty. 

r658.  William  Leddra  and  William  Breud  having  been  arrested 
at  Newburyport,  were  examined  by  the  magistrates  there,  wlio,  after 
close  intei-rogation  and  the  clear  unequivocal  answers  of  the  Friends, 
honestly  confessed  they  could  not  detect  anything  unsound  or 
heretical  in  their  opinions ;  but  as  they  were  Quakers  it  was  re- 
quired they  should  be  sent  to  Boston,  which  was  accordingly  done. 
Here  they  were  separated  and  each  put  into  a  cell,  the  window  of 
which  was  closely  shut  up  so  as  to  exclude  both  light  and  air.  As 
they  declined  complying  with  the  jailer's  terms  for  food,  he  starved 
them  for  five  days,  and  then  brought  a  little  food  for  them  to  see, 
hoping  the  cravings  of  appetite  would  induce  them  to  comply. 
Finding  this  did  not  move  them,  they  were  subjected  to  severe  whip- 
ping, and  tolcl  they  might  liberate  themselves  by  paying  the  fees 
and  the  expenses  of  a  Marshal  to  accompany  them  out  of  the  colony. 
William  Brend  was  then  about  seventy  years  of  age,  but  not  re- 
garding this  additional  claim  against  cruelty,  the  jailer  listened  an 
iron  ring  around  his  neck  and  a  fetter  to  each  ankle,  and  by  main 
strength  drew  his  feet  and  neck  so  close  together  as  to  admit  only 
the  lock  that  fastened  the  two  shackles  together  to  be  between  them, 
and  left  him  lying  in  this  dreadfully  painful  condition  for  sixteen 
hours.  On  releasing  the  old  man  on  the  following  morning  the 
jailer  ordered  him  to  work,  with  which,  William  not  feel-ing  it 
would  be  right  for  him  to  comply,  the  infuriated  man  commenced 
beating  him  with  a  tarred  rope,  an  inch  in  thickness,  "  over  his  back 
and  arms,  with  all  bis  strength,"  and  again  thrust  his  bruised 
and  torn  body  into  his  dismal  cell.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day,  the  jailer  again  ordered  him  to  work  ;  which  he  could  not  have 
done  had  he  been  willing,  but  as  he  declined,  the  enraged  man 
again  began  beating  him  with  a  similar  rope,  and  continued  his 
barbarous  labor  until  his  own  strength  gave  out,  inflicting  on  him 
at  that  time  ninety-seven  blows,  and  then  left  iiim  with  a  threat 
that  he  would  return  in  the  morning  to  give  him  as  many  more. 
William  had  now  been  five  days  without  food,  his  body  had  been 
racked  by  the  unnatural  position  into  wliich  it  had  l)een  dragged 
and  thus  kept  for  sixteen  hours,  and  his  flesh  had  been  torn  and 
beaten  into  a  jelly  by  the  repeated  scourgings  he  liad  received  from 
12 


178  FRIEXDSINTHE 

the  hands  of  his  tormentor.  When,  therefore,  the  jailer  came  to 
his  unventikxted  cell  in  the  morning,  lie  found  him  cold,  and  ap- 
parently sinking  into  death.  Alarmed  lest  he  might  be  charged 
with  having  murdered  his  prisoner,  he  informed  Endicott,  the  Gov- 
ernor, of  his  condition,  and  a  physician  was  sent  to  see  whether  any- 
thing could  be  done  to  prevent  their  poor  victim  from  dying  on 
their  hands.  After  examining  him  the  physician  reported  it  was 
impossible  to  restore  him  and  that  he  must  die,  for  his  flesh  was  so 
torn  and  bruised  it  would  rot  from  the  bones.  When  this  came  to 
be  known  by  the  citizens  their  indignation  was  aroused,  and  it  ap- 
peared probable  there  would  be  a  tumult,  Endicott,  with  the 
meanness  that  often  attends  a  cruel  disposition,  now  endeavored  to 
extricate  himself  from  blame,  by  sliifting  it  all  on  to  the  jailer  ;  and 
to  appease  the  people  he  issued  a  hand-bill,  declaring  that  this  official 
should  be  summoned  to  the  next  Court  to  answer  for  his  conduct. 

But  John  Norton,  the  principal  "  minister  of  the  gospel "  in  Boston, 
was  not  willing  to  admit  there  had  any  wrong  been  done,  and  he 
publicly  declared  he  would  defend  the  jailer ;  for  he  said,  as  Wil- 
liam Brend  had  "  endeavored  to  beat  the  gospel  ordinances  black 
and  blue,  it  was  but  just  to  beat  him  black  and  blue  ;  "  logic  that 
was  worthy  of  the  man  and  the  occasion.  He  also  threatened  that 
if  "they  dealt  with  him  [the  jailer]  he  would  leave  them."  But 
the  Lord  dealt  marvellously  with  his  dedicated  servant,  and  con- 
trary to  all  expectation  restored  him  to  health  and  soundness,  so 
that  he  was  enabled,  without  yielding  to  the  demands  of  his  perse- 
cutors, to  go  forth,  and  again  engage  in  publishing  the  glad  tidings 
of  salvation  to  the  people. 

John  Rouse,  Christopher  Holder  and  John  Copeland,  after  hav- 
ing been  repeatedly  whipped  in  the  Boston  prison,  because  they 
were  Friends,  and  would  not  stay  away  from  that  town  when  they 
believed  themselves  called  by  their  divine  Master  to  go  there,  were, 
on  the  7th  of  the  Seventh  month,  1658,  brought  into  the  Court,  and 
sentenced,  each  to  have  his  right  ear  cut  off.  This  savage  sentence 
was  executed  privately  in  the  prison.  Sewel  gives  the  following 
account  of  it :  — "  Then  they  were  carried  to  the  prison,  and  on  the 
16th  of  September,  the  Marshal's  deputy  came  thither,  letting  as 
many  come  in  as  he  thought  meet ;  and  when  the  doors  were  made 
fast,  the  Marshal  read  the  following  order : 

"  To  the  Marshal-general,  or  to  his  deputy  :  You  are  to  take  with 
you  the  executioner,  and  rei)air  to  the  house  of  correction,  and  there 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  179 

see  him  cut  off  the  right  ears  of  John  Copeland,  Christopher  Hokler 
and  John  Rouse,  Quakers  ;  in  execution  of  the  sentence  of  the  Court 
of  Assistants,  for  the  breach  of  the  law  entitled  Quakers. 

Edward  Rawson,  Secretary" 

"  Then  the  prisoners  were  brought  into  another  room,  where  John 
Rouse  said  to  the  Marshal,  '  We  have  appealed  to  the  chief  magis- 
trate of  England.'  To  which  he  answered,  he  had  nothing  to  do 
with  that.  Holder  said,  '  Such  execution  as  this  should  be  done 
publicly,  and  not  in  private :  for  this  was  contrary  to  the  law  of 
England.'  But  Captain  Oliver  replied,  '  We  do  it  in  private  to  keep 
you  from  tattling.'  Then  the  executioner  took  Holder,  and  when 
he  had  turned  aside  his  hair,  and  was  going  to  cut  off  his  ear,  the 
Marshal  turned  his  back  on  him,  which  made  Rouse  say,  '  Turn 
about  and  see  it ;  for  so  was  his  order.'  The  Marshal  then,  though 
filled  with  fear,  turned  and  said, '  Yes,  yes,  let  us  look  on  it.'  Rouse, 
who  was  more  undaunted  than  his  persecutor,  suffered  the  like,  as 
did  also  the  third,  and  they  said,  '  Those  that  do  it  ignorantly,  we 
desire  from  our  hearts  the  Lord  to  forgive  them  ;  but  for  them  that 
do  it  maliciously,  let  our  blood  be  uj^on  their  heads  ;  and  such  shall 
know  in  the  day  of  account,  that  every  drop  of  our  blood  shall  be  as 
heavy  upon  them  as  a  millstone.'  "  They  were  afterwards  whipped 
and  sent  out  of  the  colony. 

"  John  Rouse  to  Margaret  Fell. 

"  Dearly  Beloved  Sister,  M.  R— About  the  last  of  the  Sixth  month, 
1657,  I  came  from  Barbadoes  with  another  Friend,  an  inhabitant  of 
the  island  ;  and,  according  to  the  appointment  of  the  Father,  landed 
on  Rhode  Island  in  the  beginning  of  the  Eighth  month,  on  an  out 
part  of  the  island  ;  and  being  come  thither,  I  heard  of  the  arrival 
of  Friends  from  England ;  which  was  no  small  refreshment  to  me. 
After  I  had  been  there  a  little  while,  I  passed  out  of  the  island  into 
Plymouth  Patent,  to  Sandwich,  and  several  other  towns  thereabouts ; 
where,  in  the  winter  time,  more  service  was  done  than  was  expected. 
Some  time  after,  I  was  in  Connecticut  with  John  Copeland,  where 
the  Lord  gave  us  no  small  dominion,  for  there  we  met  with  one  of 
the  greatest  disputers  of  New  England,  who  is  priest  of  Hartibrd, 
who  was  much  confounded,  to  the  glory  of  truth  and  to  his  shame. 
After  some  stay  there,  we  returned  to  Rhode  Island,  where  Hum- 
phrey Norton  was,  and  after  some  time,  he  and  I  went  into  Plymouth 
Patent,  and  they  having  a  Court  while  we  were  there,  we  went  to 


180  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

the  place  where  it  was ;  having  sent  before  to  the  Governor  the 
grounds  of  our  coming;  but  we  were  straightway  put  in  prison,  and 
after  twice  being  before  them,  where  we  were  much  railed  at,  they 
judged  us  to  be  whipped.     Humphrey  Norton  received  twenty-three 
stripes,  and  I  fifteen  with  rods,  which  did  prove  much  for  the  advan- 
tage of  truth  and  their  disadvantage ;    for  Friends  did  with  much 
boldness  own  us  openly  in  it,  and  it  did  work  deeply  with  many. 
After  we  were  let  forth  thence,  we  returned  to  Rhode  Island,  and 
after  some  stay   there  we  went  to  Providence,  and  from  thence  to 
Boston,  to  bear  witness  in  a  few  words  in  their  meeting-house,  against 
their  worship,  till  they  haled  us  forth  and  had  us  to  their  house  of 
correction,  and  that  evening  we  were  examined  and  committed  to 
prison.     On  the  Seventh-day,  in  the  evening,  they  whipped  us  with 
ten  stripes  each,  with  a  three-fold  whip,  to  conclude  a  wicked  week's 
work,  which  was  this :  on  the  Second-day,  they  whipped  six  Friends ; 
on  the  Third-day,  the  jailer  laid  William  Brend  (a  Friend  that 
came  from  London),  neck  and  heels,  as  they  call  it,  in  irons  for  six- 
teen hours;  on  the  Fourth-day,  the  jailer  gave  William  Brend  one 
hundred  and  seventeen  strokes  with  a  pitched  rope;    on  the  Fifth- 
day,  they  imprisoned  us  ;  and  on  the  Seventh-day  we  suffered.    The 
beating  of  William  Brend  did  work  much  in  the  town,  and  fn-  a 
time  much  liberty  was  granted  ;  for  several  people  came  to  us  in 
the  prison ;  but  the  enemies,  seeing  the  forwardness  and  love  in  the 
people  toward  us,  plotted,  and  a  warrant  was  given  forth  that,  if  we 
would  not  work,  we  should  be  whipped  once  in  every  three  days, 
and  the  first  time  have  fifteen  stripes,  the  second  eighteen,  and  the 
third  time  twenty-one.    So  on  the  Second-day  after  our  first  whipping, 
four  of  us  received  fifteen  stripes  each  ;  the  which  did  so  work  with 
the  people,  that  on  the  Fourth-day  after  we  were  released.     We 
returned  to  Rhode  Island,  and  continued  there  awhile,  and  after 
some  time,  Humphrey  Norton  went  into  Plymouth  Patent  to  Friends 
there,  and  I  was  moved  to  come  to  Boston  ;    so  that,  that  day  five 
weeks  [after],  I  was  released  ;  at  night  I  was  put  in  again.     There 
were  Ciiristopher  Holder  and  John  Copeland,  two  of  the  Friends 
which  came  from  England ;  and  we  do  lie  here,  according  to  their 
law,  to  have  each  of  us  an  ear  cut  off;  but  we  are  kept  in  the 
dominion  of  God,  and  our  enemies  are  under  our  feet.     It  is  reported 
that  we  shall  be  tried  at  a  Court  that  is  to  be  held  next  week,  and 
if  the  ship  do  not  go  away  from  hence  before  then,  thou  shall  hear 
further  how  it  is  ordered  for  us  (if  God  permit).     There  was  a  great 
lamenting  for  me  by  many  when  I  came  again,  but  they  were  not 


SEVENTEENTH    CEXTURY.  TSl 

miuded  by  me;  I  was  much  tempted  to  say,  I  came  to  the  town  to 
take  shipping  to  go  to  Barbadoes,  but  I  could  not  deny  Him  who 
moved  me  to  come  hither,  nor  his  service,  to  avoid  suiferiugs.  This 
rehitiou,  in  sliort,  I  have  given  thee,  that  thou  might  know  how  it 
hath  fered  with  me  since  I  came  into  this  land.  About  five  weeks 
since,  six  Friends,*  having  done  their  service  here,  took  shipping 
for  Barbadoes ;  two  whereof  were  to  go  to  Virginia  and  Maryland, 
two  for  London,  and  the  other  two  were  inhabitants  of  Barbadoes; 
60  that  there  are  only  four  of  us  in  the  land. 

"  Dear  Sister,  truth  is  spread  here  above  two  hundred  miles,  and 
many  are  in  fine  conditions,  and  very  sensible  of  the  power  of  God, 
and  walk  honestly  in  their  measures.  Some  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  land  who  are  Friends  have  been  forth  in  the  service,  and  they 
do  more  grieve  the  enemy  than  we ;  for  they  have  hoped  to  be  rid 

of  us,  but  they  have  no  hope  to  be  rid  of  them One 

of  the  inhabitants  of  Salem  was  whipped  three  times  in  five  days, 
once  to  fulfil  their  law,  and  twice  for  refusing  to  work;  after  eleven 
day.s'  imprisonment  he  was  let  forth,  and  hath  gotten  much  strength 
by  his  sufferings.  Great  have  been  the  sufferings  of  Friends  in  this 
land,  but  generally  they  suflTer  with  much  boldness  and  courage, 
both  the  spoiling  of  their  goods,  and  the  abusing  of  their  botlies. 
There  are  Friends,  few  or  more,  almost  from  one  end  of  the  land  to 
the  other,  that  is  inhabited  by  the  English.  A  firm  foundation 
there  is  laid  in  this  land,  such  an  one  as  the  devil  will  never  get 
broken  up.  If  thou  art  free  to  write  to  me,  thou  may  direct  thy 
letter  to  be  sent  to-  Barbadoes  for  me ;  so  in  that  which  is  eternal 
do  I  remain,  thy  brother,  in  my  measure,  who  suffers  for  tlie  Seed's 
sake,  earnestly  thirsting  for  the  prosperity  and  peace  of  Ziou,  the 
City  of  the  living  God.  John  Rouse. 

From  a  Lion's  Den  called  Boston  Prison, 
thi.s  3d  day  of  tlie  Seventh  month,  1658. 

"]\ry  dear  fellow-prisoners,  John  Copeland  and  Cliristopher 
Holder,  do  dearly  salute  thee.  Salute  me  dearly  in  the  Lord  to 
thy  children,  and  the  rest  of  thy  family  who  are  in  tlie  trulh." 

As  has  been  mentioned  each  suffered  the  loss  of  an  car. 

John  Rouse  was  the  son  of  a  rich  planter  in  Barbadoes ;  both 

*  Tliene  doubtless  were  William  Leddra,  and  Thomas  Harris,  of  Barbadoes, 
and  William  Brend,  liichard  Hodgson,  Dorothy  Waugh,  and  Sarah  Gibbons. 
The  four  left  in  New  England  being  Huni))liroy  Norton,  Ji^lm  Cuj. eland, 
Christopher  Holder,  and  John  Rouse. 


182  FRIENDS     IN    THE 

fother  and  son  having  joined  Friends  from  convincement.  He  ap- 
pears to  have  been  entrusted  with  a  gift  in  tlie  ministry  very  early 
in  life,  and  was  evidently  quite  young  when  travelling  and  suffering 
in  New  England.  He  afterwards  married  a  daughter  of  Margaret 
Fell,  and  settled  in  London,  carrying  on  the  business  of  a  mer- 
chant and  trading  to  Barbadoes.  John  Copeland  was  likewise  a 
young  and  unmarried  man,  a  native  of  Yorkshire.  He  spent 
between  two  and  three  years  in  America,  and  sometime  after  re- 
turning home,  he  married  and  was  settled  in  London.  Christopher 
Holder  came  out  of  Gloucester.  He  twice  crossed  the  Atlantic  to 
America,  having  suffered  imprisonment  in  his  native  land  on  ac- 
count of  his  religious  principles.  He,  like  the  others  of  tliat  band 
of  the  Lord's  missionaries,  continued  faithful,  notwithstanding  the 
persecution  he  had  to  endure. 

That  the  same  intolerance  and  cruel  persecution  as  was  manifested 
by  the  Court  of  Boston,  w-as  closely  copied  by  the  colony  at  New 
Plymouth,  the  following  extracts  from  a  letter,  written  by  James 
Cudworth,  who  had  been  a  Magistrate  of  that  settlement,  and  a 
Captain  or  commissioned  ofKcer  in  the  military,  will  serve  to  show. 
It  is  given  in  Gough's  History. 

1659.  "As  for  the  state  and  condition  of  things  amongst  us  it  is 
sad  and  like  so  to  continue;  the  antichristian,  persecuting  spirit  is 
very  active.  He  that  will  not  whip,  persecute  and  punish  men  that 
differ  in  matters  of  religion,  must  not  sit  on  the  bench,  nor  sustain 
any  office  in  the  Commonwealth.  Last  election  Mr.  Hatherly  and 
myself  were  left  off  the  bench,  and  I  was  discharged  of  my  captain- 
ship because  I  had  entertained  some  of  the  Quakers  at  my  house, 
that  I  might  be  the  better  acquainted  with  their  principles.  I  thought 
it  better  to  do  so,  than  with  the  blind  world  to  censure,  condemn, 
rail  at,  and  revile  them,  when  they  neither  saw  their  persons  nor 
knew  any  of  their  principles;  but  the  Quakers  and  myself  cannot 
close  in  divers  things ;  and  so  I  signified  to  the  Court  I  was  no 
Quaker — but  withal  told  them,  that  as  I  was  no  Quaker,  so  I  would 
be  no  persecutor.  This  spirit  did  w'ork  the  two  years  that  I  was  in 
the  magistracy;  during  Avhich  time  I  was  on  sundry  occasions  forced 
to  declare  my  dissent  in  sundry  actings  of  that  nature,  which  though 
done  with  all  moderation  and  due  respect,  yet  wrought  great  disaf- 
fection and  prejudice  in  them  against  me,  and  produced  a  petition 
to  the  Court  against  me,  signed  with  nineteen  hands;  which  was  fol- 
lowed by  another  in  my  favor  signed  with  fifty-four  hands.  The 
Court  returned  in  answer  to  the  last  petition  that  they  acknowledged 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTUEY.  183 

my  2:»arts  and  gifts,  and  professed  they  had  nothing  against  me,  only 
in  the  thing  of  my  giving  entertainment  to  the  Quakers ;  though  I 
broke  no  Law  in  so  doing,  for  our  law  then  was,  If  any  eniertain  a 
Quaker,  and  keep  him  after  he  is  ivarned  by  a  magistrate  to  depart,  he 
shall  pay  20s.  a  week  for  entertaining  him.  But  since  that  a  law  hath 
been  made,  That  if  any  entertain  a  Quaker,  though  but  a  quarter  of 
an  hour,  he  shall  forfeit  £5.  Another,  That  if  any  see  a  Quaker,  he 
is  bound,  though  he  lives  six  miles  or  more  from  a  constable,  to  give  im- 
mediate notice  to  him,  or  else  be  subject  to  the  censure  of  the  Court. 
Another,  That  if  the  Constable  know  or  hear  of  any  Quaker  in  his 
precincts,  he  is  jyresently  to  apjyrehend  him,  and  if  he  will  not  j)resently 
depart  the  toivn,  to  \vhip  and  send  him  away.  Divers  have  been 
whipped  within  our  patent;  and  truly,  to  tell  you  plainly,  the  whip- 
ping of  them  with  that  cruelty,  as  some  of  them  have  been  whipped, 
and  their  patience  under  it,  hath  sometimes  been  the  occasion  of 
gaining  more  adherents  to  them,  than  if  they  had  suffered  them 
openly  to  have  preached  a  sermon. 

"  Another  law  made  against  the  Quakers  is.  That  if  there  be  a 
Quakers'  meeting  any  where  in  this  Colony,  the  party  in  whose 
house  or  on  whose  ground  it  is,  shall  pay  40?.*,  the  preacher  AOs.,  and 
every  hearer  40s.  Our  last  law  is  —  That  the  Quakers  are  to  be 
apprehended,  and  carried  before  a  Magistrate,  and  by  him  com- 
mitted to  close  prison  till  they  will  promise  to  depart,  and  never 
come  again,  and  will  also  pay  their  fees  (neither  of  which  tliey  will 
ever  do),  and  they  must  be  kept  only  with  the  country  allowance 
(which  is  coarse  bread  and  water).  No  friend  may  bring  them  any 
thing,  nor  be  permitted  to  speak  to  them ;  nay,  if  they  have  money 
of  their  own,  they  may  not  make  use  of  it  to  relieve  themselves. 

"All  these  carnal  and  antichristian  ways  being  not  of  God's  ap- 
pointment, effect  nothing  as  to  the  obstructing  or  hindering  them 
in  their  way  or  course.  It  is  only  the  word  and  spirit  of  the  Lord 
that  is  able  to  convince  gainsayers ;  these  are  the  mighty  weapons 
of  a  Christian's  warfare,  by  which  miglity  things  are  done  and  ac- 
complished. 

"The  Quakers  have  many  meetings  and  many  adherents,  almost 
the  whole  town  of  Sandwich  is  adhering  to  them.  The  sufferings 
are  grievous  to,  and  sadden  the  hearts  of,  most  of  the  pious  and  vir- 
tuous part  of  this  Commonwealth;  it  lies  down  and  rises  up  with 
them,  and  they  cannot  put  it  out  of  their  minds.  The  Massa- 
chusetts have  banished  six  on  pain  of  death,  and  I  wish  that  blood 
may  not  be  shed.     Our  poor  people  are  pillaged  and  ))Iiin(K'red  of 


184  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

their  goods,  and'  luiply  when  they  have  no  more  to  satisfy  the  insa- 
tiable desire  of  their  persecutors,  may  be  forced  to  iiy,  and  ghid  to 
have  tlieir  lives  for  a  prey. 

"The  means  whereby  they  are  impoverished,  are  their  scrupling 
an  oath,  and  lor  their  meetings.  It  being  found  that  they  had  a 
conscientious  scrui)le  against  swearing,  all  were  called  upon  to  take 
the  oatli  of  fidelity ;  which  they  refusing,  a  clause  was  added,  That 
if  any  man  refused  or  neglected  to  take  it  by  such  a  time,  he  should 
pay  £5  or  depart  the  Colony.  They  are  required  to  take  the  oath 
again  at  every  successive  Court,  and  as  they  cannot,  they  are  dis- 
trained over  and  over  again.  On  this  account  thirty-five  head  of 
cattle,  as  I  have  been  credibly  informed,  have  been  by  the  authority 
of  our  Court  taken  from  them  the  latter  part  of  this  summer. 

"  The  last  Court  of  Assistants  —  the  Court  was  pleased  to  deter- 
mine fines  on  Sandwich  men  for  meetings  £150,  whereof  William 
Newdand  is  charged  £24  for  himself  and  Avife;  William  Allen  £46, 
and  a  poor  weaver  £20.  Brother  Cook  told  me,  one  of  the  brethren 
was  in  the  house,  when  the  Marshal  came  to  demand  the  money, 
when  all  that  he  was  worth  did  not  amount  to  £10.  What  will  be 
the  end  of  such  courses  or  practices  the  Lord  only  knows ! 

"  Our  civil  powers  are  so  exercised  in  matters  of  religion  and 
conscience,  that  we  have  no  time  to  do  anything  that  tends  to  pro- 
mote the  civil  prosperity  of  the  place.  We  must  now  have  a  State 
religion,  such  as  the  powers  of  this  world  will  allow,  and  no  other; 
a  State  ministry  and  a  State  way  of  maintenance,  and  we  must 
worship  and  serve  the  Lord  Jesus  as  the  world  shall  appoint  us ; 
we  must  all  go  to  the  public  place  of  meeting  in  the  parish  where 
we  dwell,  or  be  presented.  I  am  informed  of  three  or  four  score 
last  Court,  presented  for  not  coming  to  public  meetings,  at  ten 
shillings  a  time. 

"  We  are  wrapped  up  in  a  labyrinth  of  confused  laws,  that  the 
freemen's  power  is  quite  gone.  Sandwich  men  may  not  go  to  the 
bay,  lest  they  be  taken  up  for  Quakers.  William  Newland  was 
there  about  his  occasions  ten  days  ago,  and  they  put  him  in  prison 
twenty-four  hours,  and  sent  for  divers  to  witness  against  him,  but 
had  not  proof  enough  to  make  him  a  Quaker,  which  if  they  had, 
he  should  have  been  whipped ;  nay,  they  nniy  not  go  about  their 
occasions  in  other  towns  in  our  colony,  but  warrants  lie  in  ambush 
to  apprehend  and  bring  them  before  a  Magistrate,  to  give  an  ac- 
count of  their  business. 

James  Cudworth." 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CENTURY.  185 

The  faithful  kibors  aud  exempLary  suffering  of  these  messengers 
of  ghid  tidings,  continued  to  be  not  in  vain  ;  a  harge  number  in  the 
different  provinces  were  gathered  into  the  Society,  and  meetings  were 
settled  at  different  points.  In  Rhode  Island,  where  the  spirit  of 
Christianity  was  manifested  by  the  absence  of  persecution,  there 
were  two  large  meetings,  one  at  Newport  and  one  at  Providence  ;  the 
Governor,  William  Coddington,  having  joined  with  Friends,  likewise 
Nicholas  Easton,  who  also  had  filled  that  office  ;  there  were  also 
Friends  in  places  more  interior.  In  Salem,  Massachusetts,  at  least 
eighteen  families  had  become  members.  At  Sandwich  most  of  the 
inhabitants  were  convinced  of  the  principles  of  the  gospel  as  held 
by  Friends,  and  openly  professed  them.  At  Scituate  and  at  Hamp- 
ton, both  small  settlements,  their  principles  had  found  entrance  to 
the  hearts  of  not  a  few  of  the  inhabitants,  who  were  thus  prepared 
to  manifest  kindness  to  and  approbation  of  those  gospel  ministers 
who  were  sent  among  them.  Those  who  joined  Friends,  in  those 
places  where  the  ruling  powers  were  determined,  if  possible,  to  de- 
stroy them,  or  at  least  to  prevent  the  introduction  of  their  doctrines 
and  testimonies  within  their  jurisdiction,  soon  had  the  sincerity  of 
their  profession  put  to  the  test.  Fines,  imprisonment  and  stripes 
were  lavishly  employed  to  punish  those  who  dared  avow  the  religion 
their  consciences  approved,  and  to  deter  others  from  following  their 
example.  But  still  the  work  went  on  ;  strength  and  courage  were 
given  to  bear  afflictions  for  Christ's  sake ;  and  He  also  raised  up  and 
qualified  ministers  among  them,  who  strengthened  the  faith  of  the 
believers,  and  preaching  righteousness  by  life  and  conversation,  as 
well  as  by  word  of  mouth,  drew  others  to  come  and  have  fellowship 
with  them.  The  Courts  at  Boston  and  Plymouth  condemned  seve- 
ral who  absented  themselves  from  the  "  stated  meetings,"  and  as- 
sembled together  to  worsliip  after  the  manner  of  Friends,  to  be 
transported  to  Virginia  or  one  of  the  West  India  islands,  and  be 
sold  for  slaves  ;  l)ut  to  the  honor  of  the  captains  of  the  vessels,  be  it 
recorded,  there  was  no  one  then  found  v,illing  to  be  instrumental  in 
carrying  out  the  barbarous  edict;  and  so  it  had  to  be  given  up. 

Doubtless  it  was  a  source  of  great  mortification  to  the  self-esteem, 
as  well  as  provocative  of  the  jealousy  of  the  Magistrates,  and  others 
in  authority  at  Boston,  to  find  their  imperious  award  of  such  severe 
punisliment  for  tlie  Quakers  coming  or  springing  up  among  them, 
had  had  the  effect  rather  to  excite  commiseration  in  the  hearts  of 
the  people,  and  tlius  to  open  the  door  for  the  reception  of  their  princi- 
ples, than  to  keep  them  out  of  the  Colony.     It  was  specially  grating 


18G  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

to  the  "  ministers,"  to  find  many  of  tlie  people  calling  their  authority 
and  religious  standing  in  question,  and  siding  with  a  people  whom 
they  denounced  as  a  "cursed  sect." 

Tlie  difierent  classes  of  Puritans  were  noted  for  the  submission 
and  reverence  they  showed  towards  their  ministers  ;  prompting 
reliance  on  them  not  only  in  spiritual  matters  and  the  government 
of  the  church,  but  to  employ  and  depend  on  them  in  many  secular 
affairs.  Their  character  and  standing  were  thought  to  be  intimately 
interwoven  with  the  authority  and  stability  of  the  State.  Besides 
this,  in  the  New  England  colonies,  no  one  was  admitted  to  the 
"  freedom  of  the  body  politic  "  and  the  right  to  vote,  but  members 
of  the  "  church  ;"  and  as  the  minister  had  a  controlling  voice  in  the 
admission  of  members  into  the  "  chui'ch,"  the  power  to  shape  and 
direct  the  government  was  thus  placed  almost  directly  in  their 
hands.  Hence  there  was  a  close  connection  between  the  Courts  and 
the  church  council ;  the  former  being  ever  liable  to  be  influenced 
by  the  latter.  The  ministers  did  not  fail  to  use  this  power  to  pro- 
mote their  own  interest,  and  the  views  entertained  by  them  relative 
to  the  demands  of  the  rigid  religion  they  professed :  and  drawing 
their  theories  of  government  and  the  application  of  lav/  from  the 
Mosaic  model,  overlooking  the  wide  difference  between  that  dispen- 
sation and  the  Christian,  the  penal  code  they  were  instrumental  in 
having  framed  for  the  Colonies  was  deeply  stained  with  blood. 

They  were  now  determined  to  put  a^  stop  to  what  they  professed 
to  believe  to  be  a  great  evil,  by  connecting  its  advocacy  and  the 
presence  of  its  confessors,  with  sacrifice  of  human  life.  Accordingly 
they  drew  up,  and  presented  to  the  IMagistrates,  a  petition  that  a 
law  should  be  made  to  banish  the  Quakers  on  pain  of  death.  Thus 
urged  and  sanctioned  by  their  spiritual  guides,  the  General  Court  in 
Boston  resolved  to  take  this  last  step  in  the  merciless  and  fearful 
course  they  had  heretofore  pursued  ;  a  step  which,  however  palliated 
by  considerations  of  the  blind  zeal  and  cruel  temper  of  the  times, 
has  placed  an  indelible  stigma  on  their  religious  character. 

The  "  Assistants,"  who  were  chiefly  Magistrates,  and  formed  a 
kind  of  upper  house,  assented  to  the  ordinance  without  hesitation  ; 
but  it  met  with  decided  opposition  in  the  House  of  Deputies.  The 
ground  was  there  taken,  that  as  the  Act  proposed  to  put  human  life 
in  jeopardy,  without  trial  by  jury,  it  was  not  only  unjust,  but  di- 
rectly contrary  to  the  law  in  England.  The  Ministers  and  Magis- 
trates, however,  were  bent  on  having  the  power  sought  put  into  th.eir 
hands,  and  they  spared  no  pains,  by  persuasion  and  the  influence 


SEVEXTEENTII     CENTURY.  187 

attached  to  their  stations,  to  induce  those  opposed  to  the  measure 
to  change  their  votes.  In  two  instances  they  were  successful,  and 
another  of  the  former  opponents  being  kept  away  by  sickness,  the 
law  was  finally  passed  by  a  majority  of  one  vote. 

On  the  21st  of  Tenth  month,  1658,  the  Act  was  proclaimed  ;  by 
which  it  was  provided,  "That  every  person  or  persons,  oj  the  cursed 
sect  of  the  Quakers,  who  is  not  an  inhabitant  of,  but  is  found  within, 
this  jurisdiction,  shall  be  apprehended  without  warrant,  where  no 
Magistrate  is  at  hand,  by  any  constable,  commissioner  or  selectman, 
and  conveyed  from  constable  to  constable  to  the  next  Magistrate, 
who  shall  commit  the  said  person  to  close  prison,  there  to  remain 
without  bail  until  the  next  Court  of  Assistants,  where  they  shall 
have  a  legal  trial  :  and  being  convicted  to  be  of  the  sect  of  the 
Quakers  shall  be  sentenced  to  be  banished  upon  j)ain  of  death.  And 
that  every  inhabitant  of  this  jurisdiction,  being  convicted  to  be  of 
the  aforesaid  sect,  either  by  taking  up,  publishing,  or  defending  the 
horrid  oj/inions  of  the  Quakers,  or  the  stirring  up  mutiny,  sedition  or 
rebellion  against  the  government,  or  by  taking  up  their  absurd  and 
destructive  practices,  viz.:  Denying  civil  respect  to  equals  and 
superiors,  and  withdrawing  from  our  church  assemblies,  and  instead 
thereof  frequenting  meetings  of  their  own,  in  opposition  to  our 
church  order  :  or  by  adhering  to,  or  approving  of  any  known 
Quaker,  and  the  tenets  and  practices  of  the  Quakers,  that  are  op- 
posite to  the  orthodox  received  opinions  of  the  godly,  and  endeav- 
oring to  disaffect  others  to  civil  government,  and  church  orders,  or 
condemning  the  practice  and  proceedings  of  this  Court  against  the 
Quakers,  manifesting  thereby  their  complying  with  those,  whose  de- 
sign is  to  overthrow  the  order  established  in  church  and  State ; 
every  such  person,  upon  conviction  before  the  said  Court  of  Assist- 
ants, in  manner  as  aforesaid,  shall  be  committed  to  close  prison  for 
one  month,  and  then,  unless  they  choose  voluntarily  to  depart  this 
jurisdiction,  shall  give  bond  for  their  good  behavior,  and  appear  at 
the  next  Court,  where  continuing  obstinate,  and  refusing  to  retract 
and  reform  the  aforesaid  opinions,  they  shall  be  sentenced  to  banish- 
ment upon  pain  of  death." 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  crime  for  which  the  death  penalty 
was  to  be  inflicted,  was  simply  being  a  Quaker ;  the  previous  pro- 
ceedings were  the  preliminary  steps  to  this  fatal  consummation.  The 
introduction  of  the  eliarges  against  Friends  in  relation  to  mutiny, 
sedition  or  rebellion,  or  opposition  to  civil  government,  was  to  in- 
duce the  belief  that  they  were  guilty  of  those  crimes;  which  was 


188  FRIEXDS    IX    THE 

altogether  untrue,  as  tliey  had  again  and  again  declared,  both  by- 
published  documents  and  by  word  of  mouth  ;  asserting  that  while 
they  could  not  recognize  the  right  of  government  to  interfere  with 
liberty  of  conscience,  or  to  dictate  what  a  man  xhoiild  or  should  not 
believe;  they  fully  yielded  to  it  active  obedience  in  all  things  which 
did  not  contravene  the  law  of  God,  and  where  they  thought  it  did, 
passive  submission  by  non-resistance  to  the  penalty.  It  apj)ears 
from  a  letter  written  by  William  Robinson  to  George  Fox,  dated 
the  12th  of  the  Fifth  month,  1659,  that  the  severity  of  this  law  was 
too  much  for  the  fortitude  and  constancy  of  some  of  those  wdio  had 
recently  united  with  Friends,  and  had  before  suffered  more  or  less 
on  behalf  of  the  good  confession  made  by  them.  Six,  upon  being 
banished  upon  pain  of  death,  left  the  Colony  to  take  up  their  abode 
permanently  in  other  places. 

The  first  of  those  who  offered  up  their  lives  for  the  testimony  of 
Jesus,  were  William  Robinson  and  Marmaduke  Stevenson ;  tlie 
former  a  merchant  of  London,  and  the  latter  a  Yorkshireman. 
These  two  Friends,  together  with  Mary  Dyer,  Nicolas  Davis,  and 
Patience  Scott,  were  in  the  prison  in  Boston.  Nicolas  Davis  had 
gone  to  that  town  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  collect  and  j)ay  some 
debts.  Patience  Scott,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Richard  and  Katha- 
rine Scott,  was  a  child  of  but  eleven  years  of  age,  who,  believing 
that  it  was  requii'ed  of  her  by  her  Saviour  to  see  the  Governor  and 
Councils  in  Boston,  and  plead  with  them  not  to  attempt  to  execute 
their  unrighteous  laws  against  Friends,  had  left  her  home,  more  than 
a  hundred  miles  distant,  and  travelled  to  that  town  ;  where  she  was 
speedily  arrested  as  a  Quaker  and  put  into  prison,  where  she  was 
kept  more  than  three  months  on  prisoner's  fare. 

When  brought  before  the  Court,  the  three  men  and  M.  Dyer  were 
sentenced  to  banishment  on  pain  of  death  ;  but  it  seemed  too  absurd, 
even  to  those  Magistrates,  to  banish  such  a  child  under  that  penalty, 
and  her  case  perplexed  them.  She  was  closely  examined,  and  her 
answers  were  so  far  beyond  what  could  have  been  expected  from  one 
so  young  in  years,  that  the  Governor  remarked  there  was  a  spirit  in 
her  above  that  of  a  woman,  and  that  it  must  be  the  devil.  They  made 
the  following  record  of  her  case,  "The  Court  duly  considering  the 
malice  of  Satan  and  his  instruments,  by  all  means  and  ways  to-pro- 
pagate  error,  and  disturb  the  truth  and  bring  in  error  and  confusion 
among  us ;  that  Satan  is  put  to  his  shifts  to  make  use  of  such  a 
child,  not  being  of  the  years  of  discretion,  nor  understanding;  the 
]n-iuciples  of  religion,  judge  meet  so  far  to  slight  her  as  a  Quaker, 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  189 

as  only  to  admonish  and  instruct  her  according  to  her  capacity,  and 
so  discharge  her;  Captain  Hutchinson  undertaliiug  to  send  her 
home."  The  following  order  respecting  the  others  was  issued  to 
the  jailer: 

"  You  are  required  by  these,  presently  to  set  at  liberty  William 
Robinson,  Marmaduke  Stevenson,  Mary  Dyer,  and  Nicholas  Davis, 
who  by  an  order  of  the  Court  and  Council,  had  been  imprisoned, 
because  it  appeared  by  their  own  confession,  words,  and  actions, 
that  they  are  Quakers ;  wherefore  a  sentence  was  pronounced 
against  them,  to  depart  this  jurisdiction  on  pain  of  death,  and  that 
they  must  answer  it  at  their  peril,  if  they,  or  any  of  them  after  the 
14th  of  this  present  month,  September,  are  found  within  this  juris- 
diction, or  any  part  thereof.  Edward  Rawson." 

Boston,  September  12,  16-59. 

N.  Davis,  who  had  come  to  Boston  on  secular  business  only,  re- 
turned home;  and  Mary  Dyer  also  left  the  Colony  for  the  present. 
Before  William  Robinson  was  sent  away,  as  he  was  a  minister  of 
note,  it  was  thought  best  to  subject  him  to  scourging.  He  was 
therefore  fastened  to  a  gun-carriage,  stripped,  and  twenty  lashes 
with  a  three-corded  whip  were  given  him. 

The  two  men  Friends  Avent  as  far  as  Salem,  where,  feeling  them- 
selves called  to  endeavor  to  strengthen  the  faith  of  their  brethren, 
they  tarried  and  attended  their  meetings.  They  were  soon  arrested 
and  sent  back  to  the  prison  at  Boston,  where  each  was  chained  by 
the  leg.  In  the  next  month,  Mary  Dyer  having  returned,  as  she 
was  speaking  to  Christopher  Holder,  who  was  then  in  Boston,  in- 
quiring for  a  ship  in  which  to  embark  for  England,  she  was  arrested 
and  sent  to  prison. 

Sew^el  gives  a  full  account  of  the  trial  and  execution  of  these 
three  Friends,  from  which  the  following  is  extracted  : 

"On  the  20th  of  October  these  three  were  brought  into  the  court, 
where  John  Endicott  and  others  were  assembled.  And  being  called 
to  the  bar,  Endicott  commanded  the  keeper  to  pull  off  their  hats: 
and  then  said  that  they  had  made  several  laws  to  keej)  the  Quakers 
from  amongst  them  ;  and  neither  whijjping,  nor  imprisoning,  nor 
cutting  off"  ears,  nor  banishing  upon  pain  of  death,  would  keep 
them  from  amongst  them.  And  further  he  said,  tliat  he  or  they 
desired  not  the  death  of  any  of  them.  Yet  notwithstanding,  his 
following  words  without  more  ado,  were,  'Give  ear,  and  lu'aiken  to 


190  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

your  sentence  of  death.'  AV.  Robinson  then  desired  that  he  might 
be  permitted  to  read  a  paper,  giving  an  account  of  tlie  reason  why- 
he  had  not  departed  that  jurisdiction.  But  Endicott  woukl  not 
suffer  it  to  be  read,  and  said  in  a  rage,  '  You  shall  not  read  it,  nor 
will  the  Court  hear  it  read.'  Then  Robinson  laid  it  on  the  table. 
He  had  written  this  paper  the  day  before,  and  some  of  the  contents, 
were  that  he  being  in  Rhode  Island,  the  Lord  had  commanded  him 
to  go  to  Boston  and  to  lay  down  his  life  there.  That  he  also  had 
felt  an  assurance  that  his  soul  was  to  enter  into  everlasting  peace 
and  eternal  rest.  That  he  durst  not  but  obey,  without  inquiring 
further  concerning  it ;  believing  that  it  became  him  as  a  child,  to 
show  obedience  to  the  Lord,  without  any  unwillingness.  That  this 
was  the  cause,  why  after  banishment  on  pain  of  death,  he  stayed  in 
their  jurisdiction  :  and  that  now  with  sincerity  of  heart  he  could 
say,  'Blessed  be  the  Lord,  the  God  of  my  life,  Avho  hath  called  me 
hereunto,  and  counted  me  worthy  to  testify  against  wicked  and 
unjust  men,'  &c.  W.  Robinson  desiring  again  that  the  paper  might 
be  read,  that  so  all  that  were  present  might  hear  it,  it  was  denied 
him,  and  Endicott  said,  '  William  Robinson,  hearken  to  your  sen- 
tence of  death  ;  you  shall  be  had  back  to  the  place  whence  you 
came,  and  thence  to  the  place  of  execution,  to  be  hanged  on  the  gal- 
lows till  you  are  dead.'  This  sentence  was  not  altogether  unex- 
pected to  W.  Robinson  ;  for  it  was  four  months  now  that  he  had 
believed  this  would  be  his  share. 

"  Robinson  being  taken  away,  M.  Stevenson  was  called,  and  Endi- 
cott said  to  him,  '  If  you  have  any  thing  to  say,  you  may  speak.' 
He  knowing  how  they  dealt  with  his  companion,  was  silent ;  though 
he  had  also  written  in  prison  a  paper,  containing  the  cause  of  his 
being  come  there ;  but  he  kept  it  with  him,  and  found  afterwards 
occasion  to  deliver  it  to  somebody.  Then  Endicott  pronounced 
sentence  of  death  against  him,  saying,  '  Marmaduke  Stevenson,  you 
shall  be  had  to  the  place  whence  you  came,  and  thence  to  the  gallows, 
and  there  be  hanged  till  you  are  dead.'  Whereupon  M.  Stevenson 
spoke  thus :  '  Give  ear,  ye  Magistrates,  and  all  who  are  guilty ;  for 
this  the  Lord  hath  said  concerning  you,  and  will  perform  his  word 
upon  you,  that  the  same  day  ye  put  his  servants  to  death,  shall  the 
day  of  your  visitation  pass  over  your  heads,  and  you  shall  be  cursed 
for  evermore.  The  mouth  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  hath  spoken  it.  There- 
fore in  love  to  you  all,  I  exhort  you  to  take  warning  before  it  be  too 
late,  that  so  the  curse  may  be  removed.     For  assuredly,  if  you  put 


SEVENTEEN' TH  CENTURY.  191 

US  to  death,  you  will  bring  innocent  blood  upon  your  own  heads, 
and  swift  destruction  will  come  unto  you.' 

"  After  he  had  spoken  this,  he  was  taken  away,  and  Mary  Dyer 
was  called,  to  whom  Endicott  spoke  thus  : '  Mary  Dyer,  you  shall  go 
to  the  place  whence  you  came,  (to  wit,  the  prison,)  and  thence  to . 
the  place  of  execution,  and  be  hanged  there  until  you  are  dead.' 
To  which  she  replied, '  The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done.'  Then  Endi- 
cott said, '  Take  her  away,  Marshal.'  To  which  she  returned, '  Yea, 
joyfully  I  go.'  And  in  her  going  to  the  prison,  she  often  uttered 
speeches  of  praise  to  the  Lord  ;  and  being  full  of  joy,  she  said  to  the 
Marshal,  he  might  let  her  alone,  for  she  would  go  to  the  prison  with- 
out him.  To  which  he  answered,  'I  believe  you,  Mrs.  Dyer:  but 
I  must  do  what  I  am  commanded.'  Thus  she  was  led  to  prison, 
where  she  was  kept  a  week,  with  the  two  others,  her  companions, 
that  were  also  condemned  to  die." 

The  account  which  M.  Stevenson  had  drawn  up,  narrated  the 
different  steps  by  which  he  had  been  prepared  for  and  drawn  to 
offer  himself  up  for  the  work  and  service  in  which  he  was  then  en- 
gaged ;  and  after  speaking  of  his  gospel  labors  in  Rhode  Island,  ends 
as  follows: — "So,  after  a  little  time  that  I  had  been  there,  visiting 
the  seed  which  the  Lord  hath  blessed,  the  word  of  the  Lord  came 
unto  me  saying, '  Go  to  Boston  with  thy  brother,  William  Robinson.' 
And  at  this  command  I  was  obedient,  and  gave  up  myself  to  do  his 
will,  that  so  his  work  and  service  may  be  accomplished  ;  for  He  hath 
said  unto  me,  that  He  hath  a  great  work  for  me  to  do  ;  which  is  now 
come  to  pass ;  and  for  yielding  obedience  to  and  obeying  the  voice 
and  command  of  the  ever-living  God,  who  created  heaven  and  earth, 
and  the  fountains  of  waters,  do  I,  with  my  dear  brother,  suffer  out- 
ward bonds  near  unto  death ;  and  this  is  given  forth  to  be  upon  re- 
cord, that  all  people  may  know,  who  hear  it,  that  we  came  not  in 
our  own  wills,  but  in  the  will  of  God." 

Mary  Dyer  likewise  sent  a  paper  to  the  Court,  in  which  she  de- 
clared, that  although  she  was  charged  with  bringing  her  own  blood 
on  her  head,  such  was  not  the  case.  That  she  came  among  them 
out  of  love  to  them,  to  persuade  them  not  to  bring  the  guilt  of  shed- 
ding innocent  blood  upon  their  souls :  and  she  assured  them,  that  if 
they  refused  to  obey  the  law  of  the  Lord,  or  to  listen  to  the  voice  of 
his  servants,  all  their  laws  and  punishments  would  be  of  no  avail, 
for  He  will  send  more  of  his  servants  whom  they  called  "  Cursed 
Quakers,"  among  them,  to  pi-each  to  the  seed  that  was  yet  preserved 
in  this  place,  &c.,  &c. 


102  F  R  T  E  X  D  S     I  X    T  II  E 

On  \hc  (lay  niipoiutcil  for  tlie  execution  —  27tli  of  Tentli  month, 
1659  —  the  prisoners  were  escorted  to  the  gallows  by  a  company  of 
about  two  hundred  men.  Wilson,  the  "  minister,"  of  course  was 
present ;  for  when  the  C'ourt  was  deliberating  on  the  sentence  to  be 
passed  on  the  Quakers,  he  prompted  them  by  saying,  "  llang  them, 
or  else," — and  he  drew  his  finger  across  his  own  throat  —  indicating. 
Cut  their  throats.  Drums  were  kept  beaten,  to  prevent  the  crowd 
hearing  what  the  Friends  might  have  to  say.  The  three  walked 
hand  in  hand,  and  the  Marshal  having  asked  Mary  Dyer,  "  Are 
you  not  ashamed  to  walk  thus,  hand  in  hand,  between  two  young 
men?"  she  replied  :  "  No,  this  is  to  me  an  hour  of  the  greatest  joy 
I  could  enjoy  in  this  world.  No  eye  can  see,  no  ear  can  hear,  no 
tongue  can  utter,  and  no  heart  can  undertand  the  sweet  incomes  or 
influences,  and  the  refreshings  of  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  which  now 
I  feel." 

"Thus  going  along,  W.  Robinson  said,  'This  is  your  hour,  and 
the  power  of  darkness.'  But  presently  the  drums  were  beaten  ;  yet 
shortly  after  the  drummers  leaving  off  beating,  Marmaduke  Steven- 
son said,  'This  is  the  day  of  your  visitation,  wherein  the  Lord  hath 
visited  you.'  More  he  spoke,  but  could  not  be  understood,  by  rea- 
son of  the  drums  being  beaten  again.  Yet  they  went  on  with  great 
cheerfulness,  as  going  to  an  everlasting  wedding  feast,  and  rejoicing 
that  the  Lord  had  counted  them  worthy  to  suffer  death  for  his 
name's  sake. 

"  When  they  were  come  near  the  gallows,  the  priest  said  in  a 
taunting  way  to  W.  Robinson, '  Shall  such  jacks  as  you  come  in  be- 
fore authority  with  their  hats  on  ? '  To  which  Robinson  replied, 
'  Mind  you,  mind  you,  it  is  for  the  not  putting  off  the  hat  we  are  put 
to  death  ? '  Now  being  come  to  tlie  ladder,  they  took  leave  of  each 
other  with  tender  embraces,  and  then  Robinson  went  cheerfully  up 
the  ladder,  and  b^ing  got  up,  said  to  the  people, '  This  is  the  day  of 
your  visitation,  wherein  the  Lord  hath  visited  you  :  this  is  the  day 
the  Lord  is  risen  in  his  mighty  power,  to  be  avenged  on  all  his  ad- 
versaries.' He  also  signified,  that  he  suffered  not  as  an  evil-doer : 
and  desired  the  spectators  to  mind  the  light  that  was  in  them  ;  to 
wit,  the  Light  of  Christ,  of  which  he  testified,  and  was  now  going  to 
seal  it  with  his  blood.  This  so  incensed  the  envious  priest,  that  he 
said,  'Hold  thy  tongue;  be  silent;  thou  art  going  to  die  with  "a  lie 
in  thy  mouth.'  The  rope  being  now  about  his  neck,  the  executioner 
bound  his  hands  and  legs,  and  tied  his  neckcloth  about  his  face :  which 
being  done,  Robinson  said,  '  Now  ye  are  made  manifest ; '  and  the 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  193 

executioner  being  about  turning  him  off,  he  said,  '  I  suffer  for  Christ, 
in  whom  I  live,  and  for  whom  I  die.'  He  being  turned  off,  Marma- 
duke  Stevenson  stepped  up  the  ladder,  and  said, '  Be  it  known  unto 
all  this  day,  that  we  suffer  not  as  evil-doers,  but  for  conscience'  sake.' 
And  when  the  hangman  was  about  to  turn  him  off,  he  said,  *  This 
day  shall  we  be  at  rest  with  the  Lord  ; '  and  so  he  was  turned  off. 

"  Mary  Dyer  seeing  her  companions  hanging  dead  before  her,  also 
stepped  up  the  ladder ;  but  after  her  coats  were  tied  about  her  feet, 
the  halter  put  about  her  neck,  and  her  face  covei'cd  with  a  hand- 
kerchief, which  the  priest  Wilson  lent  the  hangman,  just  as  she  was 
to  be  turned  off,  a  cry  was  heard,  'Stop,  for  she  is  reprieved.'  Her 
feet  being  then  loosed,  they  bade  her  come  down.  But  she  whose 
mind  was  as  it  were  already  in  heaven,  stood  still,  and  said,  she  was 
there  willing  to  suffer  as  her  brethren  did,  unless  they  would  annul 
their  wicked  law.  Little  heed  was  given  to  what  she  said,  but  they 
pulled  her  down,  and  the  Marshal  and  others  taking  her  by  the 
arms,  carried  her  to  prison  again.  That  she  thus  was  freed  from 
the  gallows,  this  time,  was  at  the  intercession  of  her  son,  to  whom 
it  seems  they  could  not  then  resolve  to  deny  that  favor." 

M.  Dyer  was  now  started  for  home  under  the  care  of  four  horse- 
men, who,  after  going  about  fifteen  miles  with  her,  left  her  with  a 
man  and  horse  to  pursue  the  remainder  of  the  journey.  She  soon 
sent  the  man  and  horse  back,  and  took  her  own  way  to  her  residence. 
Having  passed  the  winter  in  Rhode  Island  and  on  Long  Island,  she 
believed  it  required  of  her  to  go  again  to  Boston,  and  without  con- 
sulting with  flesh  and  blood,  she  gave  up  to  go,  and  arrived  in 
Boston  on  the  21st  of  the  Third  month,  1660 ;  and  on  the  31st  she 
was  ordered  before  the  Court.  "  Being  come,  the  Governor,  John 
Endicott,  said, '  Are  you  the  same  Mary  Dyer  that  was  here  before?' 
And  it  seems  he  was  preparing  an  evasion  for  her,  there  having  been 
another  of  that  name  returned  from  Old  England.  But  she  was  so 
far  from  disguising,  that  she  answered  undauntedly,  '  I  am  the  .same 
Mary  Dyer  that  was  here  the  last  General  Court.'  Then  Endicott 
said,  'You  will  own  yourself  a  Quaker,  will  you  not  ?'  To  which  Mary 
Dyer  said,  '  I  own  my  self  to  be  reproachfully  called  so.'  Then  the 
jailer  (who  would  also  say  something),  said,  'She  is  a  vagabond.' 
And  Endicott  said,  the  sentence  was  passed  upon  her  the  last  Gen- 
eral Court,  and  now  likewise:  'You  nuist  return  to  the  prison,  and 
there  remain  till  to-morrow  at  nine  o'clock;  then,  thence  you  must 
go  to  the  gallows,  and  there  be  hanged  till  you  are  dead.'  To 
which  Mary  Dyer  said,  *  This  is  no  more  than  what  thou  saidst  be- 
13 


194  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

fore'  Ami  Endieott  returned, '  But  now  it  is  to  be  executed  ;  t])ere- 
fore  prepare  yourself  to-morrow  at  nine  o'clock.'  She  then  spoke 
thus :  '  I  came  in  obedience  to  the  will  of  God  the  last  General 
Court,  desiring  you  to  repeal  your  uni'ighteous  laws  of  banishment 
on  pain  of  death;  and  that  same  is  my  work  now,  and  earnest  re- 
quest; although  I  told  you,  that  if  you  refused  to  repeal  them,  the 
Lord  would  send  others  of  his  servants  to  witness  against  them.' 
Hereupon  Endieott  asked  her,  whether  she  Avas  a  prophetess?  And 
she  answered,  she  spoke  the  words  that  the  Lord  spoke  to  her ;  and 
now  the  thing  was  come  to  pass.  And  beginning  to  speak  of  her 
call,  Endieott  cried,  'Away  with  her;  away  with  her.'  So  she  was 
brought  to  the  prison-house  where  she  was  before,  and  kept  close 
shut  up  until  the  next  day. 

"About  the  appointed  time  the  Marshal,  Michaelson,  came,  and 
called  for  her  to  come  hastily ;  and  coming  into  the  room  where  she 
was,  she  desired  liim  to  stay  a  little  ;  and  speaking  mildly,  said,  she 
should  be  ready  presently.  But  he  being  of  a  rough  temper,  said 
he  could  not  wait  upon  her,  but  she  should  now  wait  upon  him.  Theu 
Mary  Dyer  was  brought  forth,  and  with  a  band  of  soldiers  led 
through  the  town,  the  drums  being  beaten  before  and  behind  her, 
and  so  continued,  that  none  might  hear  her  speak  all  the  way  to  the 
place  of  execution,  which  w^as  about  a  mile.  With  this  guard  she 
came  to  the  gallows,  and  being  gone  up  the  ladder,  some  said  to  her,, 
that  if  she  would  return  she  might  come  down  and  save  her  life.  To 
which  she  replied,  'Kay,  I  cannot,  for  in  obedience  to  the  will  of  the 
Lord  I  came,  and  in  his  will  I  abide  faithful  to  the  death.'  Then 
Captain  John  Webb  said,  that  she  had  been  there  before,  and  had 
the  sentence  of  banishment  upon  pain  of  death,  and  had  broken  the 
law  in  coming  again  now  :  and  therefore  she  was  guilty  of  her  own 
blood.  To  which  she  returned,  '  Nay,  I  came  to  keep  blood-guilti- 
ness from  you,  desiring  you  to  repeal  the  unrighteous  and  unjust 
law  of  banishment  upon  pain  of  death,  made  against  the  innocent 
servants  of  the  Lord;  therefore  my  blood  will  be  required  at  your 
hands,  who  wilfully  do  it ;  but  for  those  that  do  it  in  the  simplicity 
of  their  hearts,  I  desire  the  Lord  to  forgive  them.  I  came  to  do  the 
will  of  my  Father,  and  in  obedience  to  his  will,  I  stand  even  to 
death.'  Then  priest  AVilson  said,  '  Mary  Dyer,  O  repent,  O  repent, 
and  be  not  so  deluded,  and  carried  away  by  the  deceit  of  the  devil.' 
To  this  ]Mary  Dyer  answered,  '  Nay,  man,  I  am  not  now  to  repent.' 
And  being  asked  by  some,  whether  she  would  have  the  elders  pray 
for  her,  she  said, '  1  know  never  an  elder  here.'    Being  further  asked, 


SEVEXTEENTH    CENTURY.  195 

whether  she  would  have  any  of  the  people  to  pray  for  her?  She  an- 
swered, she  desired  the  prayers  of  all  the  people  of  God.  There- 
upon some  scoffingly  said,  *It  may  be  she  thinks  there  is  none  here.' 
She  looking  about  said,  '  I  know  but  few  here.'  Then  they  spoke  to 
her  again,  that  one  of  the  elders  might  pray  for  her.  To  which  she 
replied,  '  Nay,  first  a  child,  then  a  young  man,  then  a  strong  man, 
before  an  elder  in  Christ  Jesus.'  After  this  she  was  charged  with 
something  which  was  not  understood  what  it  was,  but  she  seemed  to 
hear  it ;  for  she  said,  '  It  is  false,  it  is  false ;  I  never  spoke  those 
words.'  Then  one  mentioned  that  she  should  have  said,  she  had 
been  in  paradise.  To  which  she  answered,  '  Yea,  I  have  been  in 
paradise  several  days.'  And  more  she  spoke  of  the  eternal  happi- 
ness into  which  she  was  now  to  enter.  In  this  well-disposed  condi- 
tion she  was  turned  off,  and  died  a  martyr  for  Christ,  being  twice 
led  to  death ;  which  the  first  time  she  expected  with  undaunted 
courage,  and  now  suffered  with  Christian  fortitude. 

"  Thus  this  honest,  valiant  woman  finished  her  days ;  but  so  har- 
dened were  these  persecutors,  that  one  of  the  Court  said  scoffingly, 
'  She  did  hang  as  a  flag  for  others  to  take  example  by.' " 

Her  husband,  who  never  professed  with  Friends,  presented  a 
touching  appeal  to  Governor  Endicott,  President  of  the  Court  that 
condemned  her,  pleading  that  her  life  might  be  spared.  No  notice 
appears  to  have  been  taken  of  it. 

There  were  several  Friends  still  confined  in  Boston  jail,  of  whom 
four  were  inhabitants  of  Salem  —  sent  there  on  account  of  having 
embraced  the  principles  of  Friends  ;  —  and  two,  Joseph  Nicholson 
and  wife,  from  Cumberland,  England.  The  latter  were  shortly 
brought  before  the  Court  and  sentenced  to  banishment  on  pain  of 
death ;  to  depart  within  nine  days.  This  was  on  the  7th  of  First 
month,  1660.  Three  other  Friends  had  similar  sentences  passed  on 
them,  and  were  sent  out  of  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Court;  among 
whom  were  William  Leddra  and  Wenlock  Christison. 

Joseph  Nicholson's  wife  being  sick,  could  not  leave  the  prison 
until  the  expiration  of  the  time  allowed.  They  went  to  Salem,  and 
on  the  20th,  were  again  arrested  and  committed  to  prison.  The 
Court,  whether  intimidated  by  the  murmured  dissatisfaction  of 
many,  with  its  sanguinary  proceedings,  or  moved  by  the  fact  that 
J.  Nicholson  and  wife  had  come  to  New  England  to  settle  and 
follow  their  occupation,  instead  of  carrying  out  their  former  sen- 
tence, by  ordering  their  execution,  had  them  sent  to  Rhode  Island. 

By  the  accounts  preserved  of  the  meetings  of  Friends  in  New 


196  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

Eughind,  it  ai)})(nir.s  tliat  at  least  two  Monthly  Meetings  had  been 
establislied  for  transacting  the  affairs  of  the  Churcii,  viz.,  Sandwich, 
which  was  the  first  set  up  in  America,  and  Pembroke — held  at  Sci- 
tuate — prior  to  1660 :  and  there  is  a  minute  of  the  "  Court  of  Ply- 
moutii,"  directing  two  of  its  officers  to  endeavor  to  hinder  Friends 
from  holding  "a  constant  Monthly  Meeting,"  at  Duxl)urrow. 

It  is  fair  to  state,  as  showing  some  disposition  to  try  other  ineans 
than  punishment,  to  reclaim  the  Quakers,  that  this  same  Court 
granted  permission  to  four  persons  "  to  frequent  Quaker  meetings," 
to  "  endeavor  to  reduce  them  from  the  error  of  their  ways." 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Failure  of  R.  Cromwell  —  General  Monk  —  Persecntion  of  Friends  by  the 
Soldiers  —  Restoration  —  King  diaries'  Promises  — Friends  discharged  from 
Jail  — G.  Fox,  Jr.,  and  R.  Grassingliam  —  Imprisonment  of  George  P^ox  — 
M.  Fell  and  Anne  Curtis  apply  to  the  King  —  G.  Fox  sent  np  to  London  —  R. 
Hubberthorn  and  the  King—  Anglican  Church  —  Fifth  Monarchy  Men  — 
Persecution  renewed  —  Events  in  London  —  Thousands  of  Friends  Im- 
prisoned —  Remonstrances  and  Redress  —  Persecntion  under  old  Laws  — Act 
of  Uniformity  —  Act  against  Quakers  for  not  Swearing— Friends  before 
Parliament  —  Storm  Impending  —  Richard  Brown  and  John  Robinson. 

THE  feeble  hands  of  Richard  Cromwell  were  not  fitted,  under 
the  circumstances  which  surrounded  him,  to  retain  the  emblems 
of  power  that  had  fallen  into  them  because  of  his  near  relationship 
to  the  great  Captain,  who  had  seized  and  wielded  them  with  such 
striking  effect.  The  ambitious  and  di.^affected  members  of  the  Par- 
liament, and  the  self-seeking  officers  of  the  army,  w^ere  constantly 
intriguing  to  promote  their  own  private  interests,  and  as  the  Protector 
was  not  likely  to  be  of  much  use  to  either  party,  and  unable  to  form 
a  party  of  his  own,  he  was  hustled  out  of  the  way,  and  retired  to 
private  life.  Dissatisfiiction  spread  throughout  the  nation.  Richard 
had  dissolved  the  Parliament  sitting  when  he  came  into  office,  and 
recalled  that  portion  of  the  Long  Parliament  called  the  "Rump;  " 
but  its  standing  and  authority  were  generally  despised,  and  when  it 
undertook  to  act  in  opposition  to  the  wishes  of  the  army,  a  band  of 
soldiers  again  forcibly  dismissed  it,  and  closed  the  doors.  For  a 
while  military  power  was  supreme,  and  had  the  different  sections  of 
the  army  and  its  officers  remained  united,  they  might  have  fastened  a 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  197 

despotism  on  the  people  which  they  coukl  not  ha\^e  shaken  off.  But 
they  were  jealous  one  of  another,  and  thus  paralyzed  their  strength. 
General  Monk  began  to  march  that  part  of  the  army  over  which 
he  held  command,  from  Edinburg  towards  London.  He  refused  to 
acknowledge  the  authority  of  the  military  Junto,  and  as  the  greater 
part  of  the  people  sided  with  him,  it  was  forced  to  yield,  and  the 
"  Rump  "  once  more  entered  the  legislative  halls.  On  arriving  in 
London,  Monk  dissembled  as  to  the  course  he  intended  to  pursue, 
until  he  felt  assure<l  there  was  no  other  officer  with  sufficient  mili- 
tary force  to  oppose  him  :  then  he  declared  for  a  free  Parliament, 
which  was  joyfully  accepted  by  the  nation.  When  it  was  fully  in- 
stalled, with  the  House  of  Lords,  it  took  the  necessary  precaution- 
ary steps,  and  the  way  being  prepared,  it  invited  Charles  Stuart  to 
fill  the  vacant  throne ;  which  he  hastened  to  accept.   [1660.] 

Directly  upon  the  arrival  of  Monk,  and  while  his  soldiers  had 
unrestricted  possession  of  Loudon,  they  treated  Friends  with  much 
severity,  and,  it  was  currently  reported,  by  his  orders.  Edward 
Billing,  who  was  one  of  the  Friends  who  had  offered  to  take  the 
place  of  any  one  of  their  brethren  suffering  iu  prison,  gives  the  fol- 
lowing account  in  a  letter  to  a  Friend. 

" .  .  .  .  Since  General  Monk's  coming  to  London  with  his  army, 
we  have  been  very  much  abused  in  our  meetings  ;  as  in  the  Palace- 
yard,  where  we  were  pulled  out  by  the  hair  of  the  head,  kicked 
and  knocked  down,  both  men  and  women,  in  a  manner  not  here  to 
be  expressed.  Many  were  the  knocks  and  kicks  and  blows  myself 
and  wife  received.  And  this  was  done  by  General  Monk's  foot, 
who  came  into  the  meeting  with  sword  and  pistol,  being,  as  they 
said,  bound  by  an  oath,  to  leave  never  a  sectarian  in  England; 
saying  that  they  had  orders  from  Lord  Monk  to  pull  us  out  of  our 
meeting  ;  which,  with  inexpressible  cruelty,  they  did.  The  meeting 
in  the  Palace-yard  I  suppose  thou  knowest. 

"  After  they  had  beaten  us  in  the  house  with  their  swords  in  the 
scabbards,  and  with  whips,  out  they  drag  us,  and  kick  us  into  the 
kennel,  where  many  a  blow  I  received,  being  knocked  and  kicked 
through  the  Palace-yard,  even  to  the  hall  door.  Being  got  within 
the  hall,  after  a  little  recovery  I  was  moved  to  write  a  little  note  to 
the  Speaker  in  the  House, —  Parliament  being  then  sitting.  As 
soon  as  I  got  into  the  lobby  1  sent  into  the  House  for  Serjeant 
Chedleton,  who  came  to  me,  and  1  gave;  him  the  note,  laying  it  upon 
him  to  give  it  to  the  Speaker,  which  he  did,  and  it  was  forthwith 
read  in  the  House,  when  an  encMuy  stands  up  and  says,  '  The  multi- 


198  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

tilde  is  appeased,'  &c.,  &c.  I  passed  tlirough  them  back  again  to 
tlie  meeting-house,  when  they  fell  upon  nie  the  second  time,  as  be- 
fore. In  my  passing  back  to  my  own  lodging  they  ceased  not,  but 
kept  crying,  '  Kill  him,  kill  him  ! ' 

"  We  afterwards  met  ('oloncl  llich,  who  was  much  affected  to  see 
and  hear  of  our  usage.  With  him  I  ])assed  througli  the  Palace- 
yard  again,  the  soldiers  and  multitude  being  just  then  beating  a 
woman  of  the  house  at  the  door,  and  plundering  the  house,  notwith- 
standing it  had  been  said  that  the  tumult  was  appeased.  At  last  I 
got  to  Whitehall,  where  General  Monk  was,  with  whom  I  had  pres- 
ent audience.  In  a  few  words  I  laid  the  whole  matter  before  him, 
and  told  him  that  the  soldiers  said  they  had  his  order  for  it.  [He 
said]  he  might  say  they  had  not.  I  answered,  that  since  he  and  his 
army  had  come  to  town  we  could  not  pass  the  streets  without  much 
abuse;  not  having  been  so  much  abused  these  many  years  — nay,  I 
say,  never  by  soldiers." 

Upon  this  representation  and  that  of  R.  Hubberthorn,  who  also 
had  an  interview  with  him.  General  Monk  issued  this  order,  which 
is  still  preserved  among  the  Swarthmoor  documents  in  London  :  "  I 
do  require  all  officers  and  soldiers  to  forbear  to  disturb  the  peace- 
able meetings  of  the  Quakers,  they  doing  nothing  prejudicial  to  the 
Parliament  or  Commonwealth  of  England. —  George  Monk." 

1660.  The  restoration  of  Monarchy,  the  return  of  the  long  exiled 
King,  the  sudden  relaxation  of  the  sumptuary  laws  and  ascetic 
practices  of  the  Puritans,  and  the  free  scope  given  by  royal  })ermis- 
sion  and  examj)le,  to  all  kinds  of  sensual  indulgence,  threw  the 
tlioughtless  people  into  wild  delirium:  they  gave  loose  rein  to  their 
passions,  and  in  the.  reaction,  there  seemed  danger  of  great  part  of 
the  nation  plunging  into  senseless  riot  or  gross  licentiousness. 

At  first  it  appeared  as  though  Friends  might  rejoice,  in  common 
with  others,  at  the  return  of  the  Monarchy.  The  King,  who  was 
good-natured  and  careless  about  religion'  in  any  form,  before  he 
was  assured  of  being  recalled,  and  with  the  hope  of  opening  the 
way  for  his  unopposed  return,  had  given  forth,  from  Breda,  in  the 
Fourth  mouth  of  1660,  a  declaration  of  the  policy  he  would  pursue 
when  once  seated  on  the  throne  of  his  father.  In  this  declaration 
he  had  emphatically  stated,  as  one  of  the  stipulations  voluntarily 
made,  and  for  the  exact  performance  of  whicli  he  solemnly  ])ledged 
the  word  of  a  king,  that  "  Because  tlie  ])assion  and  uncharitableness 
of  the  times  have  jn'odueed  several  opinions  in  religion;  by  which 
men   are  engaged  in   i)arties  and  animosities    against  each  other, 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  199 

which,  wheu  they  shall  hereafter  unite,  in  a  freedom  of  conversation, 
will  be  composed,  or  better  understood ;  we  do  declare  a  liberty  to 
tender  consciences,  and  that  no  vian  shall  he  disquieted,  or  called  in 
question,  for  differences  of  oplmoii  in.  matters  of  religion,  which  do  not 
disturb  the  peace  of  the  kingdom;  and  that  we  sluill  be  ready  to  con- 
sent to  such  an  act  of  Parliament,  as,  upon  nuiture  deliberation, 
shall  be  offered  to  us  for  the  full  granting  of  that  indulgence." 

Soon  after  entering  on  his  royal  duties  the  King  issued  a  Procla- 
mation, setting  free  all  who  were  conhned  in  any  part  of  the  king- 
dom, on  account  of  their  conscientious  opinions  or  religious  belief; 
by  which  about  seven  hundred  Friends  were  restored  to  liberty;  of 
which  they  had  been  deprived, —  some  for  a  lon^  time, —  by  their 
intolerant  and  persecuting  adversaries. 

Notwithstanding  this  fair  show  of  moderation  and  enlightened 
policy  in  ecclesiastical  aifairs,  there  were  those  about  the  Court  who 
were  only  biding  their  time,  in  order  again  to  inaugurate  a  forced 
conformity  in  religious  profession,  and  mode  of  worship.  There 
were  also  in  many  parts  of  the  country.  Magistrates  whose  previous 
history  did  not  afford  a  veiy  safe  foundation  on  wliich  to  rest  their 
hopes  of  future  preferment,  and  who  were  therefore  desirous,  by  em- 
bracing any  opportunity  that  presented  for  displaying  their  newly 
fledged  loyalty,  to  draw  a  veil  over  their  past  course,  and  show  how 
ready  they  were  to  do  anything  they  thought  might  commend  them 
to  royal  favor. 

Among  the  latter  was  the  Mayor  of  Harwich,  who  had  shown 
himself  an  implacable  enemy  of  Friends,  and  was  greatly  incensed 
on  finding  that  a  considerable  number  in  the  town  had  embraced 
their  principles  and  established  a  meeting  in  the  place.  Hearing 
that  George  Fox  the  younger,  was  to  be  at  the  meeting,  he  first 
arrested  several  who  were  on  their  way  to  it,  and  then  went  there 
himself  with  a  constable,  and  took  G.  Fox,  Jr.,  into  custody,  and 
without  letting  him  know  of  what  he  was  accused,  sent  him  to 
prison.  R.  Gressingham,  shipwright  for  the  Admiralty  in  that 
port,  being  at  the  meeting  and  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  doc- 
trines declared,  voluntarily  went  to  prison  with  George. 

G.  Fox,  Jr.,  having  in  the  course  of  his  sermon,  in  allusion  to  the 
prevailing  wickedness,  used  the  expression,  "  Woe  unto  the  rulers 
and  teachers  of  this  nation,  who  suffer  such  ungodliness  as  this,  and 
do  not  seek  to  suppress  it,"  the  Mayor  and  Magistrates  sent  up  to  Par- 
liament an  account  of  the  arrest  they  had  made,  and  charging  the  two 
prisoners  with  speaking  against  thegovcrniiicnt  and  nearly  causing  a 


200  FRIENDS     IN    THE 

luuLiiiy.    W1k'IVUj)()U  Parliaiiunt  orderod  tliat  tlu-y  be  :it  oiiee  sent  to 
Loiuloii  ami  put  iiiuler  cliarge  of  the  Sergeant-at-ariu.s.     They  were 
iini)risuiK'(l  in  Lambeth  gate-house,  and  kept  week  after  week  without 
any  notice  being  taken  of  their  case.     They  a(hlressetl  Parliament, 
staling  they  knew  not  with  wliat  ofieuce  they  were  charged,  desired 
lo  be  brought  face  to  face  with  their  accusers,  and  expressed  willing- 
ness to  sulier  punishment  if  they  had  broken  any  law.    The  Speaker 
refused  to  lay  their  comraunicatipn  before  the  House,  because  it  was 
not  addressed  to  him  as  "  Right  Honorable."     They  then  had  their 
address  printed  and  a  copy  presented  to  each  member.     At  the  end 
of  fourteen  weeks  from  the  time  they  were  committed  to  Lambeth 
gate-house,  without  any  examination  or  any  official  action  in  the  case, 
an  order  passed  the  House,  for  their  discharge  on  bail,  to  appear  when 
required.     The   Sergeant-at-arms,  however,  detained  them  for  his 
fees,  a  long  time,  but  finally  they  were  set  at  liberty  by  order  of  the 
Privy  Council.    George  Fox  the  Younger,  as  he  styled  himself,  was 
convinced  in  an  interview  he  had  with  George  Fox  in  1G51 ;  and 
though  an  older  man  than  the  latter,  yet  as  he  said  he  had  not  wit- 
nessed the  second  birth  until  long  after  his  namesake,  he  took  the 
title  of  the  younger,  by  way  of  distinction.     While  in  Lambeth 
l^rison  he  wrote  "  A  noble  Salutation  of  Charles  Stuart,"  wherein  he 
reviewed  the  affairs  of  the  nation  for  many  years,  pointing  out  to 
the  King  wherein  his  father's  government  had  committed  evil,  and 
brought  punishment  upon  themselves;  also,  the  wrong  doing  of  the 
party  in  power  that  succeeded  him,  and  the  destruction   that  had 
come  upon  it.     He  then  warned  the  King  not  to  countenance  pride 
or  oppression,  neither  to  seek  revenge  on  his  former  enemies:  "For 
I  plainly  declare  unto  thee,  that  this  kingdom,  and  all  the  king- 
doms of  the  earth,  are  properly  the  Lord's.     And  this  know,  that 
it  was  the  just  hand  of  God,  in  taking  away  the  kingdom  from  thy 
father  and  thee,  and  giving  it  unto  others;  and  that  also  it  is  the 
just  hand  of  the  Lord  to  take  it  again  from  them,  and  bring  them 
under  thee,  though  I  shall  not  say,  but  that  some  of  them  went 
beyond    their    commission    against    thy    father,    when   they    were 
brought  as  a  rod  over  you  :  and  well  will  it  be  for  thee,  if  thou 
becomest  not  guilty  of  the  same  trangressious." 

1660.  George  Fox  (the  elder)  being  at  the  house  of  Margaret  Fell— 
who  was  now  a  widow  —  was  arrested  by  a  constable  with  a  warrant 
from  a  Magistrate  named  Porter,  who  had  been  a  violent  partisan  of 
the  Parliament,  but  was  now  officiously  loud  and  intermeddling  for 
the  King.     They  carried  George  to  Ulverstone,  where  they  kept 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  201 

him  all  night,  putting  sixteen  men  to  keep  guard  over  him,  three 
of  whom  ,sut  in  the  chimuey-phice  all  night,  for  fear  he  might  e-scapo 
up  the  flue  without  their  knowing  it.  So  strange  were  their  super- 
stitious notions  about  him,  that  one  of  his  keepers  said,  he  had  sup- 
posed that  a  thousand  men  could  not  have  taken  him.  They  abused 
him  much  the  next  day  as  they  were  conveying  him  to  Lancaster. 
When  brought  before  Porter,  he  asked  for  what  he  had  been  appre- 
hended, and  complained  of  the  abuse  he  had  received.  But  the 
jnagistrate  refused  to  take  any  notice  of  his  complaints,  and  also  to 
let  him  know  what  was  the  charge  against  him,  saying,  he  must 
keep  the  King's  secrets.  He  made  out  a  mittimus  and  sent  him  to 
prison,  to  be  there  kept  until  delivered  by  order  of  the  King  and 
Parliament.  Some  of  George's  friends  applied  to  the  jailer  for  a 
copy  of  the  mittimus,  which  he  refused  to  give;  but  finally  was  pre- 
vailed on  to  allow  them  to  read  it.  They  found  that  it  charged 
George  Fox  with  being  a  principal  leader  among  the  Quakers,  and 
that  he,  with  others,  had  recently  endeavored  to  raise  an  insurrec- 
tion in  that  part  of  the  country,  intending  to  embroil  the  whole 
kingdom  in  blood. 

Being  thus  made  acquainted  with  the  charges  against  him,  Geo. 
Fox  sent  his  defence  to  the  King  and  Parliament ;  showing  how 
untrue  the  charges  were  ;  that  the  principles  held  by  him  and  by 
Friends,  were  opposed  to  all  violence  and  war,  and  that  there  was 
uo  ground  for  any  of  the  accusations  made  by  Porter.  Margaret 
Fell  also  had  published  an  account  of  the  illegal  manner  in  which 
her  domicile  had  been  invaded,  and  her  guest  arrested  and  taken 
from  there,  without  authority  or  order,  &c. 

As  G.  Fox  was  kept  close  prisoner,  M.  Fell  resolved  to  go  to  Lon- 
don and  seek  an  interview  with  the  King,  to  give  him  a  truthful 
statement  of  the  case.  Porter,  hearing  of  this,  started  for  London 
also.  When  he  arrived  there,  several  about  the  Court,  who  saw  and 
recognized  him  as  formerly  a  furious  Parliament  officer,  reminded 
him  of  his  doings,  and  of  his  having  been  active  in  ruining  their 
estates;  at  which  he  became  alarmed,  and  hastily  returned  home. 

Anne  Curtis,  a  daughter  of  a  former  Shcritl'  of  Bristol,  who  had 
been  hanged  near  his  own  door  for  having  been  engaged  in  an  eti'ort 
to  bring  back  King  Charles,  iiaving  gone  to  Lancaster  jail  to  see 
G.  Fox,  and  heard  a  statement  of  the  unjust  ])roceedings  against 
him,  resolved  also  to  go  to  London,  and  seek  an  opportunity  to 
speak  to  the  King  on  his  behalf  Accordingly  on  reaching  the 
city,  she  and  M.  Fell  went  to  the  palace,  :ind  obtained  admittance  to 


202  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

the  King;  who,  wlu'ii  he  heiird  wliose  diiujihter  Anne  was,  received 
them  khidl)',  and  upon  hearing  their  statenjent,  and  the  request  that 
G.  Fox  should  be  brought  to  London  that  the  King  might  hear  his 
cause  himself,  commanded  his  secretary  to  send  such  an  order  down. 
It  being  necessary,  however,  that  a  writ  of  "habeas  corpus"  should 
be  issued  fx'om  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Court  of  the  King's  Bench, 
that  was  procured. 

But  Porter,  who  feared  lest  George  Fox  might  take  steps  to  bring 
him  to  i)unishment  for  his  illegal  and  cruel  treatment,  resorted  to 
every  shift  and  evasion  to  delay  compliance  Avith  the  writ.  George 
steadily  refused  to  pay  any  fees,  to  give  any  bond,  or  to  do  any 
thing  more  than  promise  that  if  released  he  would  go  up  to  London 
of  his  own  accord.  At  first  it  was  proposed  to  seud  a  troop  of  horse 
with  him,  and  then  the  jailer  and  some  bailiffs,  but  it  was  found 
either  would  involve  more  expense  than  the  county  could  afford. 
At  last  they  were  obliged  to  accede  to  George's  terms,  and  so,  the 
man  charged  with  being  "engaged  in  promoting  insurrection  to 
involve  the  whole  kingdom  in  blood,"  was  allowed  to  start  ofi'  from 
his  close  prison,  on  his  simple  promise  that,  if  the  Lord  permit,  he 
would  be  in  London  sometime  during  the  term  of  the  Supreme 
Court.  Eichard  Hubl)erth(jrn  and  Robert  Widders  accompanied 
him,  and  after  spending  two  or  three  days  at  Swarthmoor,  and 
holding  meetings  in  different  places,  they  arrived  in  London  on  the 
day  that  some  of  the  Judges  who  condemned  Charles  I.  were 
hanged  and  quartered. 

Having  gone  before  two  of  the  Judges  in  their  chambers,  who 
took  George's  word  to  appear  in  Court,  instead  of  requiring  bail,  he, 
the  next  da)%  fulfilled  his  promise  and  plead  his  own  cause.  No 
accuser  being  found  to  appear  against  him,  he  was  at  the  instance 
of  the  King,  through  Esquire  Marsh,  honoral)]y  discharged,  after 
having  been  a  prisoner  over  twenty  weeks.     [1G60.] 

Sewel  narrates  the  substance  of  a  conversation  that  })assed  be- 
tween the  King  with  some  of  the  Lords  of  the  ])rivy  council,  and 
Richard  Hubberthorn  ;  who,  about  this  time,  had  sought  and  ob- 
tained an  interview  with  Charles  for  the  purpose  of  giving  him  cor- 
rect information  relative  to  Friends,  and  the  great  persecution  and 
suffering  they  had  endured,  and  were  still  exposed  to.  It  is  as  follows : 
"  R.  H,— Since  the  Lord  hath  called  us,  and  gathered  us  to  be 
a  people,  to  walk  in  his  fear,  and  in  his  truth,  we  have  always 
suffered  and  been  persecuted  by  the  powers  that  have  ruled,  and 
been  made  a  prey  of,  for  departing  from  iniquity,  and  when  the 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  203 

breach  of  no  just  law  could  be  charged  against  us,  then  they  made 
laws  on  purpose  to  ensnare  us ;  and  so  our  sufferings  were  unjustly- 
continued. 

King.  —  It  is  true,  those  who  have  ruled  over  you  have  been  cruel, 
and  have  professed  much  which  they  have  not  done. 

R.,  H. —  And  likewise  the  same  sufferings  do  now  abound  in  more 
cruelty  against  us  in  many  parts  of  this  nation  :  as  for  instance,  one 
at  Thetford  in  Norfolk,  where  Henry  Fell,  (ministering  unto  the 
peoi^le,)  was  taken  out  of  the  meeting  and  whipped,  and  sent  out  of 
the  town,  from  parish  to  parish,  towards  Lancashire ;  and  the  chief 
ground  of  his  accusation  in  his  pass,  (which  was  shown  to  the  King,) 
was  because  he  denied  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  supre- 
macy ;  and  so  because  that  for  conscience'  sake  we  cannot  swear, 
but  have  learned  obedience  to  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  which  saith, 
'Swear  not  at  all ; '  hereby  an  occasion  is  taken  against  us  to  persecute 
us  :  and  it  is  well  known  that  we  have  not  sworn  for  any,  nor  against 
any,  but  have  kept  to  the  truth,  and  our  yea  hath  been  yea,  and  our 
nay,  nay,  in  all  things,  which  is  more  than  the  oath  of  those  that 
are  out  of  the  truth. 

King.  —  But  why  can  you  not  swear?  for  an  oath  is  a  common 
thing  amongst  men  to  any  engagement. 

R.  H.  —  Yes,  it  is  manifest,  and  we  have  seen  it  by  experience ; 
and  it  is  so  common  amongst  men  to  swear,  and  engage  either  for 
or  against  things,  that  there  is  no  regard  taken  to  them,  nor  fear  of 
an  oath  ;  that  therefore,  which  we  speak  of  in  the  truth  of  our  hearts, 
is  more  than  what  they  swear. 

King.  —  But  can  you  not  promise  before  the  Lord,  which  is  the 
substance  of  the  oath  ? 

R.  H.  —  Yes,  what  we  do  affirm,  we  can  promise  before  the  Lord, 
and  take  Him  to  our  witness  in  it ;  but  our  so  promising  hath  not 
been  accepted,  but  the  ceremony  of  an  oath  they  have  stood  for, 
without  which  all  other  things  were  accounted  of  no  effect. 

King.  —  But  how  may  we  know  from  your  words  that  you  will 
perform  ? 

R.  H.  —  By  proving  us  ;  for  they  that  swear  are  not  known  to  be 
faithful,  but  by  proving  them ;  and  so  we,  by  those  that  have  tried 
us,  are  found  to  be  truer  in  our  promises,  than  others  by  their  oaths; 
and  to  those  that  do  yet  prove  us,  we  shall  appear  the  same. 

King.  —  Pray,  what  is  your  principle? 

R.  H.  —  Our  principle  is  this, '  That  Jesus  Christ  is  the  true  Light, 
which  enlightenetli  everv  one  that  cometh  into  the  worhl,  that  all 


204  FRIENDS     IX    THE 

men  tlirougli  Ilim  might  believe;'  and  that  they  were  to  obey  and 
tblh)\v  tliis  Jjight  as  they  have  received  it,  whereby  they  may  be  led 
unto  God,  and  unto  righteousness,  and  the  knowledge  of  the  truth, 
that  they  may  be  saved. 

King.  —  This  do  all  Christians  confess  to  be  truth  ;  and  he  is  not 
a  Christian  that  will  deny  it. 

R.  H.  —  But  many  have  denied  it  both  in  words  and  writings, 
and  opposed  us  in  it;  and  above  a  hundred  books  are  put  Ibrth  in 
opposition  unto  this  principle. 

Then  some  of  the  lords  standing  by  tlie  King,  said,  that  none 
would  deny  that  every  one  is  enlightened. 

And  one  of  the  lords  asked,  how  long  we  had  been  called  Quakers, 
or  did  we  own  that  name? 

R.  H.  — That  name  was  given  to  us  in  scorn  and  derision,  about 
twelve  years  since ;  but  there  were  some  that  lived  in  this  truth 
before  we  had  that  name  given  unto  us. 

King.  —  How  long  is  it  since  you  owned  this  judgment  and  way  ? 

R.  H.  —  It  is  near  twelve  years  since  I  owned  this  truth,  accord- 
ing to  the  manifestation  of  it. 

King.  — Do  you  own  the  sacrament  ? 

R.  H.  —  As  for  the  word  sacrament,  I  do  not  read  of  it  in  the 
Scripture;  but  as  for  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ  I  own,  and  that 
there  is  no  remission  without  blood. 

King.  —  Well,  that  is  it ;  but  do  you  not  believe  that  every  one 
is  commanded  to  receive  it? 

R.  H.  — This  we  do  believe,  that  according  as  it  is  written  in  the 
Scripture,  that  C'hrist  at  his  last  supper  took  bread  and  brake  it; 
and  gave  to  his  disciples,  and  also  took  the  cup  and  blessed  it,  and 
said  unto  them,  '  And  as  often  as  ye  do  this,  (that  is,  as  often  as 
they  brake  bread,)  you  show  forth  the  Lord's  death  till  He  come  ;  ' 
and  this  we  believe  they  did, '  and  they  did  eat  their  bread  in  single- 
ness of  heart  from  house  to  house ; '  and  Christ  did  come  again  to 
them  according  to  his  promise ;  after  which  they  said,  '  We  being 
many  are  one  bread,  for  we  are  all  partakers  of  this  one  bread.' 

Then  one  of  the  King's  friends  said,  '  It  is  true  ;  for  as  many 
grains  make  one  bread,  so  they  being  many  members,  were  one  body.' 

Another  of  them  said,  '  If  they  be  the  bread,  then  they  must-  be 
broken.' 

R.  H.  —  There  is  a  difference  between  that  bread  which  He  brake 
at  his  last  supper,  wherein  they  were  to  show  forth,  as  in  a  sign, 
his  death   until  He  came,  and  this  whereof  they  spake,  they  being 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  205 

many  are  one  bread  ;  for  herein  they  were  come  more  into  the 
substance,  and  to  speak  more  mystically,  as  they  knew  it  in  the 
Spirit. 

King's  friends.  —  Then  they  said,  it  is  true,  and  he  had  spoken 
nothing  but  truth. 

King.  —  How  know  you  that  you  are  inspired  by  the  Lord? 

R.  H.  —  According  as  we  read  in  the  Scriptures,  that,  'The  in- 
spiration of  the  Almighty  giveth  them  understanding ; '  so  by  his 
inspiration  is  an  understanding  given  us  of  the  things  of  God. 

Then  one  of  the  lords  said,  How  do  you  know  that  you  are  led  by 
the  true  Spirit  ? 

R.  H.  —  This  we  know,  because  the  Spirit  of  Truth  reproves  the 
world  of  sin,  and  by  it  we  were  reproved  of  sin,  and  also  are  led 
from  sin,  unto  righteousness,  and  obedience  of  truth,  by  which 
effects  we  know  it  is  the  true  Spirit ;  for  the  spirit  of  the  wicked  one 
doth  not  lead  into  such  things. 

Then  the  King  and  his  lords  said  it  was  truth. 

King. —  Well  of  this  you  may  be  assured,  that  you  shall  none  of 
you  sutler  for  your  opinions  or  religion,  so  long  as  you  live  peacea- 
bly, and  you  have  the  word  of  a  King  for  it ;  and  I  have  also  given 
forth  a  declaration  to  the  same  j^urpose,  that  none  shall  wrong  you 
or  abuse  you. 

King. —  How  do  you  own  Magistrates,  or  magistracy? 

R.  H.  —  Thus  we  do  own  Magistrates :  whosoever  is  set  up  by 
God,  whether  King  as  supreme,  or  any  set  in  authority  by  him,  who 
are  for  the  punishment  of  evil-doers,  and  the  praise  of  them  that  do 
well,  such  we  shall  submit  unto,  and  assist  in  righteous  and  civil 
things,  both  by  body  and  estate :  and  if  any  Magistrates  do  that 
which  is  unrighteous,  we  must  declare  against  it ;  only  submit  under 
it  by  a  patient  suffering,  and  not  rebel  against  any  by  insurrections, 
plots,  and  contrivances. 

King. —  That  is  enough. 

Then  one  of  the  lords  asked.  Why  do  you  meet  together,  seeing 
every  one  of  you  have  the  church  in  yourselves  ? 

R.  H.  —  According  as  it  is  written  in  the  Scriptures,  the  church 
is  in  God,  Thess.  i.  1.  'And  they  that  feared  the  Lord,  did  meet 
often  together  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,' and  to  us  it  is  profitable,  and 
•  herein  we  are  edified  and  strengthened  in  the  life  of  Truth. 

King.  —  How  did  you  first  come  to  believe  tlie  Scriptures  were 
truth. 

R.  H.  —  I  have  believed  the  Scriptures  from  a  child  to  be  a  decla- 


206  FRIEXDS    IN    THE 

ration  of  truth,  wlu'ii  I  liad  but  ;i  literal  knowledge,  natural  educa- 
tion, and  tradition  ;  hut  now  I  know  the  Scriptures  to  be  true,  by 
the  manifestation  and  operation  of  the  Spirit  of  God  fulfilling  them 
in  me. 

King.  —  In  what  manner  do  you  meet,  and  what  is  the  order  in 
your  meetings? 

R.  H. —  We  do  meet  in  the  same  order  as  the  people  of  God  did, 
waiting  upon  Him  :  and  if  any  have  a  word  of  exhortation  from 
the  Lord,  he  may  speak  it;  or  if  any  have  a  word  of  reproof  or  ad- 
monition, and  as  every  one  hath  received  the  gift,  so  they  may  min- 
ister one  unto  another,  and  may  be  edified  one  by  another ;  whereby 
a  growth  into  the  knowledge  of  the  Truth  is  administered  to  one 
another. 

One  of  the  lords.  —  Then  you  know  not  so  much  as  you  may 
know,  but  there  is  a  growth  then  to  be  admitted  of 

R.  H.  —  Yes,  we  do  grow  daily  into  the  knowledge  of  the  Truth, 
in  our  exercise  and  obedience  to  it. 

King.  —  Are  any  of  your  friends  gone  to  Rome  ? 

R.  H.  —  Yes,  there  is  one  in  prison  in  Rome. 

King.  —  Why  did  you  send  him  thither  ? 

R.  H.  —  We  did  not  send  him  thither,  but  he  found  something 
upon  his  spirit  from  the  Lord,  whereby  he  was  called  to  go  to  de- 
clare against  superstition  and  idolatry,  which  is  contrary  to  the  will 
of  God. 

King's  friend  said,  There  were  two  of  them  at  Rome,  but  one  was 
dead. 

King.  —  Have  any  of  your  friends  been  with  the  great  Turk? 

R.  H.  —  Some  of  our  friends  have  been  in  that  country. 

Other  things  were  spoken  concerning  the  liberty  of  the  servants 
of  the  Lord,  who  were  called  of  Him  into  his  service,  that  to  them 
there  was  no  limitation  to  parishes  or  places,  but  as  the  Lord  did 
guide  them  in  his  work  and  service  by  his  Spirit. 

So  the  King  promised  that  we  should  not  any  ways  suffer  for  our 
opinion  or  religion :  and  so  in  love  passed  away. 

The  King  having  promised  Richard  Hubberthorn  over  and  again, 
that  his  friends  should  not  suffer  for  their  opinion,  or  religion,  they 
parted  in  love.  But  though  the  King  seemed  a  good-natured  pri-nce, 
yet  he  was  so  misled,  that  in  process  of  time  he  seemed  to  have  for- 
gotten what  he  so  solemnly  promised  "  on  the  word  of  a  King." 

Therg  is  reason  to  believe  that  Charles  II.  was,  at  this  time,  sin- 
cere in  his  promise  of  protection  to  Friends  in  the  enjoyment  of 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  207 

their  religious  belief  and  mode  of  worship ;  for  so  little  hold  had 
religious  principles  upon  hiui,  that  every  profession  of  them  was 
alike  indifferent  to  him,  so  that  it  did  not  interfere  with  his  safety 
and  self-gratification.  But  the  same  want  of  religious  principle  ren- 
dered his  "  word  of  a  khig  "  no  more  reliable  than  the  word  of  any 
other  time-server  in  his  profligate  Court. 

Under  the  fair-seeming  show  put  on  by  the  lords  and  the  Episco- 
pal clergy,  there  was  lurking  hatred  of  all  that  Avas  opposed  to  the 
Anglican  Church,  as  it  was  formally  established  by  law,  with  its 
forms  and  ceremonials,  and  a  burning  desire  for  revenge  on  those 
who,  in  years  just  passed  by,  when  contending  for  liberty  in  matters 
of  religious  belief,  had  placed  their  feet  on  the  necks  of  the  Royal- 
ists, and  made  them  keenly  feel  that,  whatever  their  rank  or  station, 
they  were  no  better  than  other  men.  For  nearly  twenty  years  they 
had  had  to  submit  to  the  powerful  hand  that  held  them  in  its  grasp, 
and  to  feel  the  sharpness  of  the  blood-stained  sword  wielded  by 
those  whom  they  hated  and  despised,  and  in  their  lack  of  Christian 
virtue  they  longed  to  retaliate. 

The  King's  promise  of  the  enjoyment  of  liberty  of  conscience 
made  at  Breda,  and  his  proclamation  concerning  the  concessions  to 
be  made  in  ecclesiastical  regulations,  put  forth  in  the  Tenth  month 
of  1660,  appeared  to  set  the  subject  of  freedom  in  religious  belief 
and  practice,  on  a  basis  that  would  screen  the  diflferent  professors  of 
Christianity  from  interference  or  persecution,  provided  their  conduct 
was  peaceable.  But  though  the  Puritan  Parliament,  while  in  power, 
had  passed  ordinances  establishing  their  particular  form  of  church 
belief  and  regulation,  it  had  never  repealed  the  old  laws  that  made 
episcopacy  the  national  form  of  church  'constitution  and  govern- 
ment. Prelacy,  therefore,  with  its  unchristian  power  and  privileges, 
was  re-established ;  the  bishops  were  again  admitted  to  the  House 
of  Lords,  and  places  of  profit  and  honor  were  monopolized  by  Epis- 
copalians, and  by  those  who,  having  little  or  no  religion,  were  free 
to  profess  any  that  opened  the  way  to  preferment. 

Edward  Hyde,  Earl  of  Clarendon,  was  the  Premier,  and  he  used 
his  talents  and  higli  position  to  advance  the  pretensions  of  the 
Anglican  Church,  and  to  make  the  most  of  every  opportunity  that 
presented,  to  distress  and  punish  the  deserters  from  its  doctrines  and 
ritual.  It  was  evident  there  was  a  determination  on  the  part  of  the 
episcopacy,  as  speedily  as  jiossible,  to  appropriate  for  their  own 
emolument,  for  the  teaching  of  their  own  creed,  and  for  the  promo- 
tion of  their  own  policy,  ail  the  endowments  accumulated  within 


208  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

what  was  designated  by  the  State  "  tlie  cluirch  ;"  which  they  ehiinied 
to  constitute  the  nation;  and  that  those  who  were  not  willing  to 
rank  themselves  among  its  members,  should  be  considered  outside 
of  national  protection. 

Although  both  houses  of  Parliament  at  first  returned  thanks  to 
the  King  for  his  "  most  gracious  procl^imatiou  "  in  reference  to  a 
modified  toleration  of  dissent,  yet  when  they  found  that  the  people 
in  their  excess  of  loyalty  aiul  licentious  indulgence  were  in  no  wise 
disposed  to  heed,  or  take  offence  at  changes  made  in  religious  pro- 
fession or  church  control,  they  refused  to  give  it  the  sanction  of  a 
law,  and  thereby  prevented  its  moderate  provisions  from  going  into 
effect.  The  doctrine  of  passive,  unconditional  submission  to  what 
was  sanctioned  by  the  King  was  insisted  on.  Every  Episcopal 
minister  who  had  been  ejected  from  his  "living"— if  he  had  not  at 
anytime  expressed  approbation  of  the  "murder"  of  Charles  I.,  or 
declared  against  infant  baptism— was  at  once  restored  to  his  bene- 
fice;  the  present  incumbent  being  commanded  to  give  it  up  peace- 
ably. Many  other  measures  indicated  that  nothing  but  a  plausible 
pretext  was  wanted,  to  let  loose  the  pent-up  malignant  passions,  and 
sweep  away  every  barrier  designed  to  obstruct  their  gratification, 
and,  if  possible,  drive  all  dissenters  into  a  commou  ruin. 

That  pretext  was  given  by  the  fanatical  outbreak  of  the  "Fifth 
Monarchy  Men."  These  deluded  enthusiasts  had  adopted  a  wild 
notion  that  Cromwell  was  anti-Christ,  and  that  as  he  was  gone,  the 
time  had  come  for  setting  up  what  they  designated  as  the  Fifth 
Monarchy;  in  which  "King  Jesus"  was  to  reign  and  govern. 
Under  the  leading  of  one  Venner,  a  wine  cooper,  they  sallied  from 
their  meeting-house,  in  the  evening  of  the  first  day  of  the  week,  m 
the  first  month  of  1661,  being  about  fifty  men,  well  armed,  and  de- 
termined to  put  down  the  newly  installed  King  and  Court,  and 
inaugurate  the  government  of  "King  Jesus,"  — who  was  to  appear 
in  pe'rson— and  of  the  saints.  Though  they  fought  desperately,  the 
whole  party  was  soon  killed  or  captured,  and  eleven  of  those  who 
surrendered  were  hanged. 

Although  this  insane  rebellion— if  rebellion  it  may  be  called-— 
did  not  extend  beyond  the  comparatively  few  Millenarians  in 
London,  and  was  completely  ended  in  three  or  four  days,  it  gave  the 
returned  loyalists  and  churcli  party  an  excuse  for  setting  at  naught 
the  promise  of  the  King,  at  Breda,  and  his  more  recent  declaration 
of  indulgence ;  and  for  adopting  measures  to  gratify  their  thirst 
for    vengeance  on   their   former  comjuerors,   and   their  hatred   of 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  209 

all  who  dissented  from  their  ecclesiastical  domination.  Taking 
advantage  of  the  impression  left  on  men's  minds,  by  the  events  of 
tiie  recent  civil  war,  their  present  revolt  from  the  moral  strictness 
of  former  Puritan  rule,  and  their  infatuated  delight  at  the  restora- 
tion of  the  monarchy,  the  religious  phrensy  of  the  Fifth  Monarchy 
Men  was  represented  by  some  of  those  in  power,  as  but  the  natural 
result  of  dissent  from  the  "  Church  ;  "  and  the  opinion  was  industri- 
ously promulgated  that  all  dissenters  —  schismatics,  as  they  were 
called — were  hostile  to  the  government,  were  plotting  against  it,  and 
unless  crushed  out,  would  on  the  first  favorable  opportunity  essay 
to  overturn  it.  Under  the  plea  of  preventing  treason,  at  first  an 
order  from  the  King  in  Council  was  proclaimed,  forbidding  the 
meetings  of  "  sectaries,"  .in  great  numbers.  This  was  quickly  fol- 
lowed by  another,  in  which  the  Anabaptists,  Quakers,  and  Fifth 
Monarchy  Men,  are  specially  named,  and  forbidden  to  assemble 
together  under  profession  of  worshipping  God,  unless  it  be  in  the 
parish  church  or  chapel,  or  a  family  meeting  to  worship  in  its  own 
house.  All  other  meetings  w^re  declared  riotous  and  illegal.  The 
different  civil  officers  were  enjoined  to  search  out  any  such  illegal 
meetings,  arrest  those  found  therein,  and  bind  them  over  to  appear 
at  the  next  session  of  the  proper  Court. 

The  Anglican  Church,  while  rejecting  and  denouncing  the  Church 
of  Eome,  as  apostate  and  corrupt,  yet  claimed  Divine  authority  for 
its  own  constitution  and  prelatic  incumbents,  as  being  transmitted 
from  the  commencement  of  the  Christian  Church,  through  the  papal 
hierarchy,  notwithstanding  the  unbelief  and  wickedness  that  had 
confessedly  prevailed  among  so  many  of  the  order.  By  this  figment 
of  apostolic  succession,  it  continued  to  delude  the  people,  ajid  per- 
haps deceive  some  of  its  own  ministers  into  the  belief  that  its  organ- 
ization, functions  and  authority,  came  down  from,  and  were  in  ac- 
cordance with,  those  of  the  primitive  believers.  As  the  kingdom  of 
its  acknowledged  head,  was  far  more  of  this  world  than  of  any  other, 
its  servants  considered  themselves  bound  to  fight  for  its  support  and 
defence,  and  hence  the  secular  power  was  freely  employed  to  enforce 
its  decrees,  and  destroy  those  it  considered  its  enemies. 

Although  from  their  first  rise.  Friends  had  declared  that  they 
believed  all  war  and  fighting  to  be  contrary  to  the  commands  of 
Christ  and  the  spirit  of  his  gospel,  and  therefore  they  could  not  par- 
ticipate therein,  nor  in  any  wise  give  countenance  thereto  ;  and  their 
quiet,  peaceable  behavior,  under  severe  persecution,  had  given 
evidence  that  this  belief  governed  their  whole  conduct;  and  al- 
14 


210  TR  TENDS    IN    THE 

though  the  loadcr.s  of  the  Fiftli  Monarchy  Men  had  borne  testhnony, 
just  prior  to  their  execution,  that  Friends  knew  nothing  of  their  in- 
tentions, nor  were  in  any  way  connected  with  them  ;  yet  it  suited  the 
present  policy,  to  chiss  theiu  with  these  insurgents,  and  anotlier  not 
numerous  nor  popuhir  body  of  professors,  apparently  with  the  design, 
that  if  these  were  first  put  down  or  destroyed,  the  way  would  be 
more  fully  open  to  make  a  direct  attack  upon  the  Presbyterians 
and  Independents.  The  flood-gates  of  cruel  abuse  and  persecution 
were  at  once  opened  ;  and,  with  the  proclamation,  the  arbitrary  and 
intolerant  course  authorized  by  it,  began  to  be  put  in  force  through- 
out all  parts  of  the  country. 

George  Fox  was  in  London  at  the  time  the  insurrection  broke 
out,  and  on  the  night  of  the  Seventh-day  following  it,  a  company 
of  troopers  came  to  the  house  where  he  was  staying,  seized  him,  and 
were  about  taking  him  to  prison,  Avhen  Esquire  Marsh,  who,  out  of 
friendship  for  him,  had  come  to  lodge  in  the  same  house  with  him, 
spoke  to  their  commander,  and  promising  to  be  responsil)le  for  his 
appearance  in  the  morning,  obtained  his  release.  On  First-day 
morning  another  company  of  soldiers  came  to  the  house,  before  the 
troopers  arrived,  and  took  George  away.  The  soldiers  were  "  ex- 
ceeding rude,"  and  when  they  had  brought  him  to  Whitehall,  where 
many  were  gathered,  he  began  to  preach  to  them.  Some  courtiers 
hearing  him  thus  engaged,  said  to  the  soldiers.  Why  do  you  let  him 
preach  ?  .  Put  him  where  he  cannot  stir  :  whereupon  they  put  him 
in  prison.  But  he  had  not  been  shut  up  many  hours,  before  Esquire 
Marsh,  by  speaking  to  one  of  the  lords,  had  him  set  free.  But 
many  Friends,  who  were  on  their  way  to  one  or  another  of  the 
meeting-houses,  were  greatly  abused,  and  thrust  into  prison. 

1660.  After  the  proclamation,  imprisonment  and  abuse  were  the 
common  lot  of  Friends  in  all  parts  of  the  country.  They  were  seized 
while  on  the  road  attending  to  their  necessary  business,  dragged  out 
of  their  houses,  beaten,  and  shut  up  in  prisons,  so  foul  and  so  crowded 
that  several  sickened  and  died.  George  Fox  says,  "  We  heard  of 
several  thousands  of  our  Friends  that  were  cast  into  ])risons  in  several 
parts  of  the  nation,  and  Margaret  Fell  carried  an  account  of  them 
to  the  King  and  Council.  The  next  week  we  had  an  account  of 
several  thousands  more  that  were  cast  into  prison,  and  she  went  and 
laid  them  also  before  the  King  and  Council.  They  wondered  how 
we  could  have  such  intelligence,  seeing  they  had  given  such  strict 
chai-ge  for  the  intercepting  of  all  letters :  but  the  Lord  did  so  order 
it,  that  we  had  an  account  notwithstanding  all  their  stoppings." 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  211 

Friends  iu  Londou  preimred  aud  had  presented  to  the  King  an 
address,  in  which  they  set  forth  their  peaceable  principles,  denied 
being  concerned  in  any  plots  against  the  government,  and  answered 
every  objection  raised  against  them,  as  being  disaffected  or  insub- 
ordinate to  the  powers  that  be.  They  also  set  forth  the  cruel  treat- 
ment they  i-eceived,  from  officers  and  the  people,  while  they  were 
harmless  and  unresisting ;  and  warned  those  in  power  of  what 
would  be  the  consequences,  if  they  persisted  in  persecuting  innocent 
people,  who  were  striving  to  serve  the  Lord  in  simplicity  and  sin- 
cerity, and  who  were  dear  to  Him  as  the  aj)ple  of  his  eye. 

George  Fox  also  issued  an  epistle  to  Friends,  consoling  and  en- 
couraging them  under  their  afflictions,  exhorting  them  to  stead- 
fastness, in  view  of  the  glorious  reward  that  awaited  them  in  a  world 
where  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling,  and  the  weary  are  forever 
at  rest.  He  also  advised  that  accounts  of  all  sufferings  endured  by 
Friends  be  sent  up  to  London. 

The  unremitting  efforts  of  Friends  to  move  those  in  authority  to 
give  heed  to  their  declarations  of  unresisting  obedience  to  the  laws ; 
either  actively  where  they  did  not  contravene  their  religious  prin- 
ciples, or  passively  by  suffering  whatever  penalties  were  inflicted 
where  active  compliance  could  not  be  yielded ;  the  accumulated 
evidence  that  they  were  iu  no  way  cognizant  of  or  connected  with 
the  Fifth  Monarchy  Men,  or  any  other  plotters  against  the  govern- 
ment, aud  the  strong  appeals  made  by  M.  Fell  and  some  other 
Friends,  to  the  King  and  Council  on  behalf  of  their  suffering  breth- 
ren, at  length  were  crowned  with  success,  and  the  King  issued  a  proc- 
lamation, ordering  all  those  Frieuds  who  had  been  imprisoned  iu 
consequence  of  the  measures  taken  in  reference  to  the  recent  insur- 
rection, to  be  discharged,  without  being  obliged  to  pay  any  fees. 

But  though  Friends  were  thus  exonerated  from  all  complicity 
with  those  who  rebelled  against  the  King,  and  the  prisons  were 
freed  from  the  thousands  that  had  crowded  them  —  in  some  nigh 
unto  suffocation  —  yet  many  were  still  deprived  of  liberty  on  ac- 
count of  refusing  to  pay  tithes,  or  to  take  an  oath  of  allegiance. 
The  common  people  continued  greatly  prejudiced  against  them,  and 
incited  thereto  by  wicked  and  designing  men,  they  joined  with  the 
soldiers  in  violently  disturbing  their  meetings  for  worship,  and  in 
often  harassing  and  maltreating  both  men  and  women,  engaged  in 
the  discharge  of  their  religious  duties. 

Some  old  laws,  enacted  in  the  i-eigns  of  Henry  VIII.,  Elizabeth, 
and  James  I.,  against  the  Papists,  inffictiug  severe  penalties  for  non- 


212  FK I  ENDS    IN    THE 

compliance  with  certain  requisitions  of  the  government  in  church 
matters,  were  now  revived,  and  distorted  so  as  to  ai)ply  them  to 
Friends,  and  under  the  influence  of  the  malignant  feeling  pre- 
vailing against  them,  proved  a  means  for  subjecting  many  to  unjust 
and  severe  punishment.  The  Act  passed  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII., 
empowered  any  two  Magistrates,  upon  complaint  made  against  a 
defendant  for  not  paying  tithes,  or  for  any  contumacy  committed 
in  any  suit  i'or  tithes,  to  commit  said  defendant  to  jail  ;  there  to  re- 
main until  he  obeys  the  law  and  satisfies  the  claim  ;  or  gives  surety 
for  his  c()mplian(;e. 

An  Act  passed  in  th.e  reign  of  Elizabeth,  imposed  a  fine  of  one 
shilling  on  every  person  over  sixteen  years  of  age,  "  for  each  Sunday 
or  Holiday,"  that  he  absented  himself  from  the  parish  church. 

By  another  Act,  a  fine  of  twenty  pounds  per  month  was  imposed 
on  every  one,  over  the  age  mentioned,  who  committed  the  same 
offence. 

By  a  third  Act,  persons  convicted  of  similar  wilful  absence  from 
church  were  made  liable  to  have  all  their  goods,  and  two-thirds  of 
their  lands  seized,  and  sold  to  pay  th^  said  fine  of  twenty  pounds 
j)i.,r  month  ;  the  same  to  be  repeated  every  year,  so  long  as  they  may 
forbear  to  be  present  at  the  church. 

By  another  Act,  passed  in  the  same  reign,  persons  so  absenting 
themselves  more  than  a  month,  without  lawful  cause;  attending  a 
conventicle,  or  persuading  another  to  do  so,  "  under  pretence  of  re- 
ligion," are  made  liable  to  be  committed  to  prison,  and  be  there  kept 
until  they  conform.  And  if  they  do  not  so  conform  within  three 
months, —  being  so  required  by  a  Magistrate  in  open  Assize, —  they 
abjure  the  realm.  If  they  refuse  to  abjure  the  realm,  or  if  they  re- 
turn without  the  Queen's  license,  they  shall  be  deemed  felons,  and 
be  executed  without  benefit  of  clergy. 

The  law  made  in  the  reign  of  James  I.,  made  it  imperative  on  all 
to  swear  allegiance  to  the  King,  denying  any  right  of  the  Pope  to 
interfere  with  the  kingdom,  or  any  power  in  him  to  excommunicate 
K)r  depose  the  King,  &c. 

There  were  few  of  the  testimonies  of  the  gospel,  for  maintaining 
which  Friends  suffered  more  in  person  and  estate,  than  that  against 
sweai'ing.  Founded  on  the  plain  and  emphatic  commands  of  Christ, 
and  his  Apostle  James,  it  allowed  of  no  compromise  or  subterfuge, 
in  those  who  believed  those  commands  comprehended  oaths  of  all 
descriptions,  and  who  acted  in  accordance  with  the  conviction  that 
they  must  obey  God  rather  than  man.     During  those  days  of  civil 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  213 

commotion,  when  the  reins  of  government  were  repeatedly  shifted 
from  one  hand  to  another,  the  party  in  power  sought  to  obtain  secu- 
rity, by  enlisting  men's  consciences  in  its  support,  through  what  was 
considered  the  sacredness  of  an  oath.  Though  as  each  came  into 
place  and  power,  the  same  form  was  gone  through  as  had  been  ob- 
served at  the  inauguration  of  that  which  went  out;  showing  that  an 
oath  added  nothing  to  correct  principles  where  they  existed,  and 
afforded  no  reliable  substitute  where  they  were  lacking;  yet  swear- 
ing was  insisted  on  by  those  who,  from  want  of  proper  enlightenment, 
and  in  obedience  to  long-established  custom,  disregarded  the  teach- 
ings of  experience,  and  considered  it  necessary  to  bind  effectually, 
not  only  men  believing  like  themselves,  but  others,  whose  tender 
consciences  would  not  allow  them  to  swei've  from  the  allegiance 
they  owed  to  Christ.  Hundreds  of  Friends  languished  long  in  jails, 
and  many  suffered  the  extreme  penalty  of  the  law,  because  they 
could  not  take  an  oath,  and  yet  none  of  them  was  ever  known  to 
plot  against  the  government  under  which  they  were  living,  or 
refuse  to  comply  with  any  law  that  did  not  interfere  with  their 
religious  principles. 

One  instance  is  recorded  of  a  Friend  wjio,  when  he  found  he  was 
about  t<3  be  premunired,  gave  way,  stifled  the  dictates  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  to  his  soul,  and  took  the  required  oath  of  allegiance.  But 
this  poor  man  was  mercifully  brought  to  a  sense  of  his  fall,  and 
favored  with  the  gift  of  repentance.  In  this  humble  condition,  he 
wrote  the  following  letter  to  those  with  whom  he  had  been  in  prison, 
and  who  remained  there : 

"My  dear  Friends. —  I  desire  to  lay  before  you  this  my  condition 
in  this  my.  fall,  that  my  fall  may  be  no  cause  lor  you  to  stumble,  but 
that  you  by  it  may  be  the  more  encouraged  to  stand ;  for  I  have 
yielded  to  the  betrayer,  and  so  betrayed  the  innocent  seed  in  me; 
for  I  forsook  the  counsel  of  the  Lord,  and  consulted  with  flesh  and 
blood,  and  so  I  fell  into  the  snare  of  the  world,  and  yielded  to  the 
covenant ;  and  so  I  rested  satisfied  in  what  I  luid  done,  for  some 
certain  hours;  but  when  the  Lord  in  his  power  looked  back  upon 
me,  then  I  remend)ered  what  I  had  done ;  tlien  I  remembered  that 
I  had  denied  truth  which  once  I  had  professed,  though  once  1 
thought  I  should  have  stood  when  others  fell.  So  the  terrors  of 
the  Lord  have  taken  hold  on  me,  and  I  lie  under  the  judgments  of 
the  Lord. 

"And  now  I  feel  the  truth  of  the  words  that  were  spoken  by 
Christ,  'That  he  that  faileth  in  one  tittle,  is  guilty  of  all ;'  and  now 


21-1  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

I  feel  the  truth  of  that, '  Thiit  it  i.s  better  to  forsake  wife  and  children, 
and  all  ihai  a  n:aii  hath,  even  life  itself,  for  Christ  and  the  truth's 
sake,  than  to  break  one  tittle  of  the  law  of  God  written  in  the  heart.' 
Si)  I  hope  that,  by  mercy  and  judiinient,  the  Lord  will  redeem  me 
to  himself  again.  The  Lord  may  suffer  some  to  fall,  that  the  stand- 
ing of  them  that  stand  faithful  may  seem  to  be  the  more  glorious, 
and  for  them  to  take  heed  lest  they  fall. 

"Now  I  know  and  feel,  that  it  is  better  to  part  with  any  thing  of 
this  worlil,  though  it  be  as  dear  to  one  as  the  right  hand,  or  the  eye, 
than  to  break  our  peace  with  God. 

"  Pray  for  me  ;  for  my  bonds  are  greater  than  yours. 

Edward  Chilton." 

Windsor,  tlie  2'2i]  of  the  Eleventh  month,  16G0. 

The  Parliament,  most  of  the  members  of  which  gave  little  evi- 
dence of  devotion  to  anything  but  monarchy  and  vice,  in  its  de- 
termination to  enforce  unqualified  obedience  to  the  King  and  the 
Anglican  hierarchy,  endeavored  to  degrade  religion  into  a  mere 
affair  of  State,  and  so  in  16G2,  took  upon  itself  to  enact  laws  which 
prescribed  the  avowal  of  certain  religious  opinions  as  essential  to 
holding  or  exercising  the  duties  of  any  civil  office  under  the  govern- 
ment. Thus  all  magistrates,  members  of  corporations,  town  clerks, 
ttc,  must  make  declaration,  that  the  "Solemn  League  and  Cove- 
nant," was  unlawful  and  not  binding  on  any  ;  and  they  must,  within 
one  year  prior  to  being  elected  or  appointed  to  any  such  office,  have 
taken  "  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,"  according  to  the  rites 
of  the  "  Church  of  England."  This  was  to  get  rid  of  the  Dissenters 
who  wei-e  in,  or  might  wish  to  hold  such  office. 

1661.  The  famous  Savoy  Conference  —  in  which  a  number  of 
Presbyterian  ministers  met  a  Commission  of  Episcopal  clergy  to 
attempt  so  to  modify  the  Liturgy,  &c.,  as  to  enable  the  former  and 
those  they  represented  to  contiinie  to  hold  the  "livings"  they  occu- 
pied—  having  failed  ;  and  the  minds  of  the  people  being  kept  con- 
stantly excited  with  reports  of  plots  and  insurrections  concocted  and 
about  to  be  set  in  action  by  the  Dissenters;  which  reports  were  got  up 
and  sent  on  their  travels  by  persons  about  the  Court,  the  way  was 
believed  to  be  prepared  for  taking  the  final  step  of  demanding  of 
all  ministers,  lecturers,  or  teachers  of  religion,  conformity  to  the 
established  "  Church,"  under  pains  and  penalties  for  refusing ;  by 
which,  if  it  was  not  hoped  to  induce  many  to  comply,  they  would  at 
least  offer  the  means  for  bringing  the  obnoxious  Dissenters  under 
Fuff'ering.     Accordingly  the  Act  of  Uniformity,  as  it  was  called,  was 


SEYEXTEENTH    CENTURY.  215 

passed,  aud  being  signed  by  tlie  King,  was  carried  into  effect  in  a 
very  short  time.  About  two  thousand  "  ministers  "  were  thus  obliged 
to  give  up  their  "  livings  "  to  others  who  were  prepared  to  comply 
with  the  course  required.  Although  the  Bishop  of  London  had 
said,  after  learning  the  views  of  the  Presbyterians  at  the  Savoy  Con- 
ference, "  Now  we  know  their  views,  we  will  make  them  all  knaves 
if  they  conform  ;  "  yet  many  did  not  scruple  to  comply ;  aud  Neal 
says,  that  "  Some  who  persuaded  their  brethren  to  dissent,  complied 
themselves  and  got  the  others'  '  livings.'  " 

It  was  not  to  be  expected  at  such  a  time,  and  while  such  a 
spirit  prevailed  among  those  in  power,  that  Friends  should  escape, 
without  another  effort  being  made  to  stop  their  bold  and  iaithful 
declarations  of  the  simple,  spiritual  religion  of  Christ,  and  the  order 
and  service  in  his  militant  church.  Those  who  had  now  got  posses- 
sion of  the  rich  and  high  places  in  the  so-called  church,  and  were 
determined  to  lord  it  over  the  whole  heritage,  were  resolved,  if  pos- 
sible, to  stop  the  mouths  of  the  zealous  and  indefatigable  Quakers, 
who  bore  an  uncompromising  testimony  against  th«  hierarchy,  and 
priestcraft  in  all  its  guises,  and  its  insatiable  greed  of  place  and 
profit.  They  were  an  unresisting  people,  who  sought  neither  civil 
offices  nor  lucrative  livings,  and  though  they  might  not  be  driven 
into  submis.<ion  to  what  they  delared  to  be  wrong,  if  heavy  fines 
and  imprisonments  were  imposed  for  not  complying  with  the  laws 
enacted,  their  estates  might  be  made  a  source  of  income  to  those 
who  were  legally,  however  unjustly,  authorized  to  inflict  punish- 
ment on  them. 

Accordingly  a  Bill  was  prepared,  and  while  it  was  in  the  hands 
of  the  Committee  appointed  by  Parliament,  George  Whitehead, 
Richard  Hubberthorn  aud  Edward  Burrough,  obtained  interviews 
with  the  metnbers,  and  plead  the  cause  of  their  suffering  brethren 
with  earnestness  and  truthfulness.  G.  Whitehead  gives  an  account 
in  his  journal  of  the  substance  of  what  was  urged  against  the  false 
charges  contained  in  the  Bill,  respecting  Friends,  and  the  principles 
they  held ;  also  against  the  unchristian  spirit  it  betrayed,  aud  the 
cruel  measures  it  enjoined  upon  a  people,  whose  whole  course  had 
showed  they  were  orderly,  inoffensive  and  practically  religious. 
They  declared  that  Friends  "  Met  together  in  the  name  and  fear  of 
the  Lord  God,  and  in  obedience  to  Him,  as  the  saints  of  old  did  ; 
so  that  they  might  as  well  go  about  to  make  a  law,  that  we  should 
not  pray  in  the  name  of  Christ  Jesus,  as  to  make  one  to  hinder  or 
suppress  our  meetings,  which  are  in  his  name,  and  from  which  we 


210  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

m:iy  no  more  rcrmiii,  than  Daniel  conld  forbear  praying  to  the  true 
(J()(l,  thoiiiih  it  was  contrary  to  King  Darius'  decree." 

Tlie  Bill  being  reported  to  the  House,  a  motion  was  made  and 
carried  —  Friends  having  petitioned  therefor  —  that  the  Quakers  be 
heard  at  the  bar.  The  aforementioned  Friends,  together  with  Ed- 
ward Pyott,  entered,  and  in  turn  addressed  the  Commons  ;  the  mem- 
bers being  nearly  all  present.  E.  Burrough  dwelt  on  the  fact  that 
the  meetings  of  Friends  did  not  endanger  the  public  safety,  and 
were  not,  as  alleged  in  the  Preamble — a  terror  to  the  people,  but 
were  peaceabU',  ami  for  the  worship  and  service  of  the  Almighty, 
which  was  in  accordance  with  the  command  of  God  ;  and  that  no 
hunum  law  should  contravene  his  commands;  if  it  did,  it  was  ipso 
facto,  null  and  void,  and  men  were  not  bound  to  obey  it.  R.  Hubber- 
thorn  arii'ued,  that  whereas  the  Preamble  charc-ed  that  Friends  main- 
tained  a  secret  and  strict  correspondence  among  themselves,  imj)lying 
there  was,  therefore,  danger  of  plotting  in  their  meetings,  the  very 
fact  of  their  being  open  and  public,  from  which  none  were  excluded, 
proved  that  no  such  purpose  could  be  designed;  and  that  if  such  a 
fear  existed,  or  Friends  entertained  any  such  evil  intent,  the  restrict- 
ing their  meetings  to  five  was  the  way  to  promote  such  secret  plot- 
ting. He  entreated  Parliament  not  to  punish  a  Christian  people, 
entertaining  no  disorderly  principles,  on  causeless  suspicion  of  dan- 
ger, nor  hinder  them  in  the  performance  of  their  religious  duty.  G. 
Whitehead  reviewed  the  history  of  Friends  from  their  rise  ;  showing 
that  though  they  had  been  cruelly  persecuted  under  different  rulers, 
they  had  never  rebelled  nor  sought  revenge.  That  if  the  King  and 
Parliament  should  now  i)ass  this  Bill  into  a  law,  and  thus  endeavor 
to  trample  an  innocent,  conscientious  people  under  foot,  it  would  in 
no  wise  tend  to  their  honor,  nor  add  to  their  security.  That  the 
King  had  solemnly  promised  liberty  of  conscience  to  those  who  were 
peaceable  ;  that  nothing  had  occurred,  and  nothing  had  been  proven 
against  Friends  to  deprive  them  of  the  benefit  of  that  promise,  and 
they  were  prepared,  at  any  time,  to  show  that  their  principles  were 
founded  on  the  righteous  law  of  God,  and  were  in  accordance  with 
the  doctrines  and  precepts  of  Christ.  Edward  Pyott  urged  upon 
them  the  rule  laid  down  by  Christ,  "  Whatsoever  ye  would  that 
men  should  do  unto  you,  do  ye  even  so  unto  them."  He  reminded 
them  that  this  was  conunanded  thevi  as  Avell  as  all  others,  by  Christ 
himself,  and  begged  them  to  consider  what  they  would  have  done, 
were  they  in  the  same  situation  as  Friends. 

Friends  had   previously  given  at  length  in  print  the  reasons  for 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  217 

their  conscientious  refusal  to  swear;  that  it  was  in  consequence  of 
the  express  command  of  Christ  and  his  Apostle  James,  and  from  no 
hesitation  about  owing  allegiance  to  the  King,  or  obedience  to  the 
laws  which  did  not  interfere  with  the  rights  of  conscience.  They 
also  pointed  out  how  the  proposed  law  would  open  a  wide  door  for 
all  low  and  wicked  people  to  maltreat  and  spoil  them. 

Several  of  the  members  seemed  affected  by  what  w'as  said,  and 
some,  curious  to  know  the  speakers  better,  pulled  G.  Whitehead 
by  the  arm  as  they  were  passing  out.  He  asked  what  was  wanted? 
they  replied,  "  Nothing,  but  to  look  upon  you."  George  was  then 
but  twenty-six  years  of  age. 

The  Bill,  however,  was  passed  [1602],  and  although  the  King  had 
told  the  Parliament  at  its  opening,  that  "  He  valued  himself  much 
upon  keeping  his  word,  and  upon  making  good  whatsoever  he  had 
promised  to  his  subjects ; "  and  although  he  had  sufficient  knowl- 
edge of  what  Friends  were  as  Christian  professors,  as  explained  to 
him  by  R.  Hubberthorn  in  the  interview  wherein  he  promised,  on 
the  word  of  a  king,  Friends  should  not  suffer  for  their  religion  or 
opinions,  while  peaceable,  yet  he  signed  it  and  it  became  a  law. 
So  worthless  is  "the  word  of  a  king"  who  is  devoid  of  religious 
principles.     The  law  was  as  follows  :  ^ 

"  An  Act  for  preventing  mischiefs  and  dangers  that  may  arise  by 
certain  persons  called  Quakers,  and  others  refusing  to  take  law- 
ful oaths. 

"  Whereas  of  late  times,  certain  persons  under  the  name  of  Qua- 
kers, and  other  names  of  separation,  have  taken  up,  and  maintained 
sundry  dangerous  opinions  and  tenets,  and  among  others,  that  the 
taking  of  an  oath,  in  any  case  whatsoever,  although  before  a  law- 
ful Magistrate,  is  altogether  unlawful,  and  contrary  to  the  word  of 
God  ;  and  the  said  persons  do  daily  refuse  to  take  an  oath,  though 
lawfully  tendered,  whereby  it  often  happens  that  the  truth  is  wholly 
suppressed,  and  the  administration  of  justice  much  obstructed:  and 
whereas  tlu;  said  persons,  under  a  pretence  of  religious  worship,  do 
often  assemble  themselves  in  great  numbers  in  several  parts  of  this 
realm,  to  the  great  endangering  of  the;  jjublic  peace  and  safety,  and 
to  the  terror  of  the  people,  by  maintaining  a  secret  and  strict  cor- 
respondence amongst  themselves,  and  in  the  meantime  separating 
and  dividing  themselves  from  the  rest  of  his  majesty's  good  and 
loyal  subjects,  and  iVoin  the  public  congregations,  and  usual  places 
of  divine  worship  : 

"  II.   For  the  redressing  therefore,  and  better  preventing  the  many 


218  FRIENDS  IX  tup: 

miscliu'f's  and  dangers  that  do,  and  may  aris(!  hy  such  dan^erouH 
tenet.s,  and  such  iinlawi'ul  assemhlu's,  (2)  lie  it  cnacLLMl  hy  tlu^ 
King's  most  excellent  niajesty,  by  and  with  tlie  advic(3  and  consent 
of  the  h)rds  spiritual  and  temporal,  and  commons  assembled  in 
Pai'liament,  and  by  authority  of  the  same,  that  if  any  pt'rson  or 
persons,  who  maintain  that  tlie  taking  of  au  oath,  in  any  case  soever 
(although  before  a  lawful  Magistrate),  is  altogether  unlawful,  and 
contrary  to  the  word  of  God,  from  and  after  the  four-and-twentieth 
day  of  March,  in  this  present  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  six 
Imiidred  and  sixty-one,  shall  wilfully  and  obstinately  refuse  to  take 
an  oath,  where,  by  the  laws  of  the  realm,  he  or  she  is,  or  shall  be 
bound  to  take  the  same,  being  lawfully  and  duly  tendered,  (8)  or 
shall  endeavor  to  persuade  any  other  person,  to  whom  any  such 
oath  shall  in  liive  manner  be  duly  and  lawfully  tendered,  to  refuse 
and  forbear  the  taking  of  the  same,  (4)  or  shall  by  printing,  writ- 
ing, or  otherwise  go  about  to  maintain  and  defend  that  the  taking  of 
an  oatli  in  any  case  whatsoever,  is  altogether  unlawful ;  (5  )  and  if  the 
said  persons,  commonly  called  Quakers,  shall  at  any  time  after  the 
said  four-and-twentieth  day  of  March,  depart  from  the  places  of 
their  several  habitations,  and  assemble  themselves  to  the  number  of 
five  or  more,  of  the  age  of  sixteen  years  or  upwards,  at  any  one 
time,  in  any  place  under  pretence  of  joining  in  a  religious  worship 
not  authorized  by  the  laws  of  this  realm,  that  then  in  all  and  every 
such  case  the  party  so  offending,  being  thereof  lawfully  convicted 
by  verdict  of  twelve  men,  or  by  his  own  confession,  or  by  notorious 
evidence  of  tlie  fact,"  &c.  The  penalty  for  the  first  ofi'ence  was  a 
fine  not  exceeding  £5,  and  in  case  of  its  non-payment,  three  months, 
imprisonment:  for  a  second  offence  a  fine  of  £10,  and  in  default  of 
payment  an  imprisonment  of  six  months  at  hard  lal)or,  and  for  a 
similar  offence  a  third  time,  to  be  transported  beyond  the  sea  to 
some  of  his  majesty's  possessions. 

The  regular  meetings  of  Friends  were  at  this  time  scattered 
throughout  England,  Scotland  and  Ireland,  and  in  some  neighbor- 
hoods they  were  numerous  and  large.  In  the  "  London  Friends' 
Meetings,"  it  is  stated  there  were  in  that  city  at  that  time  two  of 
what  were  caUed  public  meeting-houses;  where  some  ministering 
Friends  resorted,  to  meet  with  the  mixed  multitude  that  usually 
flocked  to  them,  with  the  expectation  of  hearing  the  doctrines  of 
the  gospel  as  held  by  Friends,  declared  and  elucidated,  under  the 
authority  of  the  Head  of  the  Church,  by  some  of  his  anointed 
servants.     Beside   these,  there   were  in  the   city  and  its  suburbs 


S  E  V  E  X  T  E  E  \  T  II    C  E  X  T  U  R  Y  .  219 

twenty  houses,  in   which  meetings  of  Friends  for  Divine  worship 
were  regularly  held. 

Other  dissenters  were,  under  other  laws,  liable  to  be  harassed  and 
suffer,  if  they  continued  to  assemble  for  public  worship ;  but  it  wa? 
evident,  from  the  provisions  of  this  special  law,  that  a  fearful  storm 
was  gathering  over  Friends,  which  would  try  the  foundation  on 
which  they  were  built,  and  bring  t!iose  who  were  faithful  to  their 
Divine  Master  into  great  suffering.  The  civic  officers  in  London 
were  speciallv  inimical  to  Friends.  The  Lord  Mayor  was  Richard 
Brown,  who,  having  been  a  Puritan  and  a  Republican  in  the  days 
of  the  Commonwealth,  thought  it  the  more  necessary  to  make 
an  unwonted  display  of  his  present  loyalty  to  the  King,  by  pei-secut- 
ing  and  mercilessly  beating  and  abusing  the  unresisting  Quakers. 
He  had  commanded  the  "  train  bands,"  when  the  Fifth  Monarchy 
Men  were  put  down,  and  had  received  knighthood  for  his  sub- 
serviency. He  had  a  congenial  associate  in  John  Robinson,  who  for 
his  services  to  the  royal  party,  had  been  made  Governor  of  the 
Tower.  Armed  with  the  authority  of  law,  unrestricted  by  the  few 
mutilated  rights  yet  accorded  to  Englishmen  not  in  harmony  with 
the  Court  and  Church,  and  devoid  of  those  principles  of  mercy  and 
justice  that  would  have  restrained  their  evil  passions,  these  two 
men  became  conspicuous  as  tools,  for  carrying  out  the  designs  of 
those  who  hoped,  by  unflagging  oppression  and  pitiless  distress,  to 
wear  out  the  constancy  of  Friends ;  to  force  them  to  betray  their 
principles,  and  bow  their  necks  to  the  galling  yoke  of  the  estab- 
lished Church. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

E.  Burrough  —  John  Burnyeat  —  Scothind— A.  JafiVay  —  Converts  —  Patrick 
Livingstone  —  Misrepresentation  —  Excommunication — Visits  to  Ireland  — 
Wm.  Eclmundson's  Account  of  tilings  in  Ireland  —  Persecution —  Friends 
on  the  Continent — Wni.  Ames  in  Germany  — E.  Burrough  and  S.  Fisher 
at  Duid<irk  —  Frietids  at  Pvome  —  John  Perrot — Catharine  Evans  and 
.Sarah  Cheevers  at  Malta. 

E     BURROUGH,  when  Ix^fore  the  (^Miimittee  of  Parliament,  iu 
•    relation  to  the  then  ])endiiig  Bill,  had  told  them  [ilainly,  that 
if  it  became  a  law,  lu;  slnndd  I'eel  it  his  duty  to  exlujrl  his  brelhreu 


220  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

Still  to  contimie  to  attcud  tlu'ir  mcetino-s.  lie  was  at  Bi'i.^tol  when 
iaforinatiou  reached  him  tliat  the  hiw  was  passed,  and  would  soon 
go  into  operation.  He  felt  that  he  must  liasten  back  to  London,  to 
strengthen  and  encourage  Friends  there,  hy  his  example,  and  by 
sharing  with  them  whatever  affliction  might  be  pcnnitle<l  to  come 
upon  them.  When  taking  leave  of  his  beloved  fellow  members,  he 
uttered,  what  the  event  proved  to  be,  a  prophetic  declaration  :  "  I 
go  up  to  London  again,  to  lay  down  my  life  for  a  testimony  to  that 
truth  I  have  declared,  through  the  power  of  the  Spirit  of  God." 

Before  entering  upon  the  brief  account  that  may  be  given  of  the 
general  suffering  among  Friends  that  ensued,  when  the  threatening 
storm  burst  in  full  force  upon  the  Society,  it  may  be  well  to  glance 
at  the  progress  made  by  Friends  in  other  parts,  where  the  seed  had 
been  sown. 

Scotland  had  partaken  of  the  fervent,  indefatigable  labors  of  John 
Burnyeat.  This  Friend  was  born  in  Cumberland,  antl  had  been 
convinced  of  the  truth  of  Friends'  doctrines,  under  the  ministry  of 
George  Fox,  in  16.33,  being  at  the  time  in  the  twenty-third  year  of 
his  age.  He  remarks  that  he  had  been  a  high  professor  of  religion, 
and  was  greatlv  esteemed  by  others,  who,  like  himself,  could  talk 
much  about  their  belief  in  Christ,  and  what  He  had  done  for  tliem 
as  a  Saviour,  in  offering  himself  as  a  sacrifice  for  their  sins  ;  but  who 
knew  little  or  nothing  about  Him  as  a  Light  in  their  consciences, 
and  a  Refiner  and  Sanctifier.  But  when  he  heard  G.  Fox,  in  the 
power  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  direct  "his  hearers  unto  the  light 
and  appearance  of  Christ  Jesus  their  Saviour  in  their  own  hearts, 
that  they  might  come  really  to  know  Him,"  the  witness  for  Truth  in 
his  breast,  convinced  him  that  this  was  glad  tidings  of  salvation  to 
him,  and  to  all  who  were  willing  thus  to  have  Christ  revealed  in 
them,  and  to  obey  his  blessed  voice. 

The  account  given  in  his  journal  of  his  own  experience  and  that 
of  his  companions,  is  so  descriptive  of  the  thorough,  heart  cleansing, 
transforming  process  througli  which  they  j)assed,  before  they  knew 
what  it  was  to  be  truly  grafted  into  Christ  as  fruit-bearing  branches, 
and  which,  all  who  are  really  born  again,  and  know  what  it  is  to 
enter  the  kingdom  of  God,  have  to  undergo,  that  it  may  be  properly 
introduced  here,  and  profitably  pondered  by  the  reader.  It  shows 
what  kind  of  Christian  believers  the  early  Friends  were,  and  how 
they  were  made  such. 

Speaking  of  the  work  of  regeneration,  as  it  was  begun  and  carried 


SEVEXTEENTH    CENTURY.  221 

on  in  his  soul,  and  in  the  souls  of  his  fellow  believers,  as  they  were 
made  willing  to  wait  upon  the  Light,  or  Grace  of  God,  and  yield 
obedience  to  its  requisitions  upon  them  —  he  says  : 

"  Through  which  deep  judgment  did  spring  in  my  soul,  and  great 
affliction  did  grow  in  my  heart ;  by  which  I  was  brought  into  tribu- 
lation and  sorrow,  such  as  I  had  never  known  before  in  all  my  pro- 
fession of  religion  ;  so  that  I  might  say,  in  spirit,  it  was  the  day  of 
Jacob's  troubles ;  for  the  God  of  heaven  by  the  light  of  his  blessed 
Son,  which  shined  in  my  heart,  let  me  see  the  body  of  death  and 
power  of  sin  which  reigned  in  me,  and  brought  me  to  feel  the  guilt 
of  it  upon  my  conscience  ;  so  that  I  could  say.  He  made  me,  even  as 
it  were,  to  possess  the  sins  of  my  youth.  And  notwithstanding  all 
my  high  profession  of  an  imputative  righteousness,  and  that  though 
I  lived  in  the  act  of  sin,  the  guilt  of  it  should  not  be  charged  upon 
me,  but  imputed  to  Christ,  and  his  righteousness  imputed  to  me, 
yet  I  found  it  otherwise  when  I  was  turned  unto  the  Light  which 
did  manifest  all  reprovable  things.  .  .  .  Then  I  saw  there  was 
need  of  a  Saviour  to  save  from  sin,  as  well  as  of  the  blood  of  a 
sacrificed  Christ  to  blot  out  sin,  and  of  faith  in  his  name  for  the 
remission  of  sins  passed.  .  ,  .  Then  when  the  war  was  truly 
begun,  all  my  high  conceit  in  my  invented  notional  faith,  and  my 
pretence  and  hopes  of  justification  thereby,  were  overthrown;  so 
that  all  I  had  budded  for  several  years  in  my  profession,  after  the 
days  of  my  mouth  —  in  which  tender  stirrings  were  in  me  after 
acquaintance  W'ith  the  Lord,  and  the  knowledge  of  and  peace  with 
him — was  seen  to  be  but  a  Babel  tower;   upon  which  God  brought 

confusion."  . "I  saw  I  had  been  feeding  with  all  the 

carnal  professors  of  religion  [on  the  tree  of  knowledge],  and  how  we 
had  made  a  profession  of  that  which  we  had  no  possession  of;  but 
our  souls  were  in  the  death,  feeding  upon  the  talk  of  that  which  the 
saints  of  old  did  enjoy ;  and  wherein  I  saw  there  was  no  getting  to 
the  tree  of  life,  that  our  souls  might  be  healed  by  the  leaves  of  it, 
and  so  feed  upon  the  fruit  thereof,  that  we  might  live  forever,  but 
as  there  was  a  coming  under  the  wounding,  slaying  sword  that  Christ 
brings  ;  by  which  the  life  of  the  old  man  comes  to  be  destroyed — who 
would  still  live  in  sin  and  serve  it,  and  yet  profess  faith  in  Christ 
and  to  be  his  servant  —  which  is  impossible.  I  saw  there  was  no 
remedy  [alternative],  cither  I  must  be  buried,  by  that  fiery  baptism 
of  Christ,  with  Him  into  death,  or  there  could  be  no  rising  with  Him 
into  newness  of  life  ;  there  might  be  a  rising  into  newness  of  profes- 
sion, notion  and  words ;  but  that  would  not  do ;  it  was  newness  of 


222  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

lifL-  I  must  ooine  to  ;  the  other  I  had  tried  over  and  over.  I  saw 
that  I  must  die  with  Him,  or  ho  phmted  with  Him  in  the  likeness 
of  his  death  ;  that  is  die  unto  sin,  if  ever  I  came  to  be  phmted  with 
Him,  in  the  likeness  of  his  resurrection,  and  so  live  unto  God  ; 
according  to  Romans,  vi."  .  .  .  .  "  Then  we  began  to  mourn  after 
a  Saviour  and  to  cry  for  a  deliverer  and  helper ;  for  the  day  of  the 
Lord  that  made  desolate  had  overtaken  us,  and  the  fire  and  sword 
that  Christ  brings  upon  the  earth,  by  which  He  takes  away  peace, 
hud  reached  unto  us,  and  yet  we  knew  not  from  whence  it  came, 
though    the    burning  and  the  judgment  thereby  were  begun,  by 

which  the  filth  was  to  be  taken  away ,  In  that  distress 

and  vale  of  tears  wherein  we  walked,  our  hearts  became  quite  dead 
to  the  world,  and  all  its  pleasures  and  glory,  and  also  to  all  our 
former  dead  profession ;  for  we  saw  there  was  no  life  in  it,  nor  help 
nor  salvation  from  it ;  though  some  of  us  had  tried  it  thoroughly. 

And  as  we  had  been  turned  to  the  light,  so  were  our 

understandings  informed,  and  we  got  to  some  degi'ee  of  staidness  in 
our  minds  —  which  before  had  been  as  the  troubled  sea  —  and  a 
hope  began  to  appear  in  us,  and  we  met  together  often,  and  waited 
to  see  the  salvation  of  God,  which  we  had  heard  of  that  He  would 
work  by  his  own  power.     And  after  we  had  met  together  for  some 

time, the  wonderful  power  from  on  high  was  revealed 

amongst  us  ;  and  many  hearts  were  reached  therewith,  and  broken 
and  melted  before  the  God  of  the  whole  earth  ;  and  great  dread  and 
trembling  fell  upon  many,  and  the  very  chains  of  death  were  broken 
thereby,  the  bonds  loosed,  and  many  souls  eased  and  set  at  liberty  ; 
and  the  prisoners  of  hope  began  to  come  forth,  and  they  that  had 
sat  in  darkness  to  show  themselves.  And  the  promises  of  the  Lord 
came  to  be  fulfilled  unto  many,  as  spoken  of  by  Isaiah,  xlix.  9,  and 

Ixii.  7,  and  Ixi.  23 Thus  being  gathered  by  the  Lord  Jesus 

Christ,  the  great  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  our  souls,  we  became  his 
sheep,  and  did  learn  to  know  his  voice  and  to  follow  Him  ;  and  He 
gave  unto  us  eternal  life,  and  manifested  the  riches  of  his  grace  in 
our  hearts,  by  which  we  were  saved,  through  faith,  and  delivered 
from  that  wrath,  fear  and  terror  which  had  been  so  weighty  upon 
our  souls,  and,  in  measure,  from  the  power  of  that  death,  which  had 
reigned  and  made  us  miserable  and  wretched  ;  and  we  came  to  par- 
take of  that  life  wherein  the  blessedness  doth  consist O  ! 

the  joy  and  the  great  delight  with  which  our  hearts  were  overcome 

at  many  times  in  our  reverent  and  holy  assemblies 

And  now  unto  them  that  had  known  the  night  of  sorrow,  was  the 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  223 

joyful  morning  come,  according  to  that  ancient  experience  of  David, 
Psalm,  XXX.  5,  and  such  as  had  been  in  the  foregoing  deep  afflic- 
tions, tossings  and  distresses,  came  to  witness  the  fulfilling  of  that 
great  gospel  promise  ;  '  O  !  thou  afflicted,  tossed  with  tempests  and 
not  comforted  ;  behold  I  will  lay  thy  stones  with  fair  colors,  and 
lay  thy  foundations  with  sapphires  :  and  I  will  make  thy  windows  of 
agates,  and  thy  gates  of  carbuncles,  and  all  thy  borders  of  pleasant 
stones.  And  all  thy  children  shall  be  taught  of  the  Lord,  and  great 
shall  be  the  peace  of  thy  children.  In  righteousness  shalt  thou  be 
established,  thou  shalt  be  far  from  oppression,  for  thou  shalt  not 
fear,  and  from  terror,  for  it  shall  not  come  near  thee.' " 

John  Burnyeat  came  fcn-th  in  the  ministry  in  a  little  more  than 
three  years  after  his  convinceraent,  but  did  not  travel  much  out  of 
his  own  county  for  some  time  after.  He  was  imprisoned  twentj'- 
three  weeks  in  Carlisle  jail,  after  being  beaten  and  otherwise  mal- 
treated, for  speaking  to  priest  Denton.  In  1658  he  travelled  into 
Scotland,  where  his  ministry  was  effectual  to  the  convincement  of 
several.  He  was  engaged  there  about  three  months,  and  travelled 
as  far  north  as  Aberdeen,  back  to  Edinburg,  and  west  to  Port  Pat- 
rick, preaching  in  ttfee  "  steeple-houses  and  markets,"  and  other 
places  where  the  people  congregated. 

In  1662,  William  Dewsbury  was  drawn  in  the  love  of  the  Gos- 
pel, to  visit  Scotland  a  second  time.     His  labors  appear  to  have 
been   more  immediately  productive  of  numerous  convincements  in 
and  about  Aberdeen,  than  those  of  the  Friends  who  preceded  him 
at  that  place.     No  doubt,  many  had  been  previously  preparing  to 
receive   the   glad   tidings  which   he  proclaimed   among  them.     J. 
Barclay,  in  reference  to  the  religious  engagements  of  the  different 
ministers  who  had  been  sent  into  Scotland,  and  the  effect  result- 
ing from  their  loving  labors,  says,  "The  gospel  messages  of  these 
and  other  zealous  witnesses,  reached  the  consciences  of  many-  who 
heard  them.     Yet  with  regard  to  Aberdeen  and  the  district  there- 
about, no  open  espousal  of  the  tenets  peculiar  to  the  people  called 
Quakers  took  place  until  towards  the  end  of  the  year  1662 ;  when 
William  Dewsbury  was  drawn  in  love  to  these  prepared  and  pant- 
ing souls,  to   proclaim   among  them  'The  acceptable  year  of  the 
Lord;'  even  deliverance  from  the  bondage  of  corruption,  by  the 
law  of  the  Spii'it  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus,     Thus  was  the  remarkable 
work  of  convincement  —  which  had  been  secretly  going  on  in  some 
hearts  for  several   years,  through  many  <lcep  conflicts  of  spirit  — 
helped   forward  to  such  a  point,  that  they  were  made  willing  even 


224  FRIENDS     IN    THE 

in  all  things,  to  take  uj)  the  daily  ctoss,  fJiour/h  in  varlou.x  re-^pecfs 
as  bitter  as  death,  and  to  follow  the  gui(hince-ot'  Christ  by  his  S})irit 
•within  tlicni,  whithersoever  lie  should  be  pleased  to  lead." 

Among  the  converts  made  then  and  there  [1662],  was  Alexander 
Jaffray.  He  had  been  in  religious  profession  with  the  Scotch  Pres- 
byterians, and  had  held  the  rank  of  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  city 
of  Aberdeen.  By  giving  heed  to  the  manifestations  of  Divine  Grace 
to  his  soul,  he  had  long  before  become  dissatisfied  with  many  of  the 
opinions  and  practices  to  which  his  education  had  led  him  to  attach 
much  importance,  had  been  enabled  to  put  them  away,  and,  in 
great  humiliation  of  self,  and  close  watchfulness  unto  prayer,  had 
been  kept  striving  for  "  A  state  of  pure  and  full  reliance  upon  the 
Lord's  direction ;  of  simple,  rpiiet  resignation  unto  the  Lord's  dis- 
posal in  all  things,  according  as  his  will  and  power  should  l)e  made 
known  in  the  secret  of  the  heart." 

Not  long  after  his  convincement,  A.  Jaffray  went  to  reside  at 
Inverary,  where  a  meeting  of  Friends  was  soon  established,  a  con- 
siderable number  of  the  more  respectable  citizens  adopting  the  prin- 
ciples preached  by  them.  After  the  Episcopal  clergy  had  got  the 
power  into  their  hands,  they  easily  persuaded {^(Vrch bishop  Sharp  to 
sanction  their  persecution  of  Friends,  and  having  summoned  A. 
Jaffray  to  appear  before  the  High  Commission  Court,  they  sentenced 
him  "  To  be  confined  to  his  own  dwelling-house,  and  keep  no  meet- 
ings therein,  nor  go  anywhere  without  the  bishop's  license,  under 
the  })enalty  of  a  fine  of  six  hundred  marks." 

Some  other  persons,  both  men  and  women,  well  known  and  highly 
respected,  having  joined  with  Friends  in  and  about  Aberdeen,  the 
usual  misrepresentation  and  gross  slander  of  them  and  their  princi- 
ples, were  industriously  spread  abroad;  especially  from  the  pulpits 
of  the  "ordained  ministers."  I'hus  R.  Barclay  says  they  were 
described,  "As  demented,  distracted,  bodily  possessed  of  the  devil  ; 
as  practising  abominations  under  color  of  being  led  to  them  by  the 
Spirit."  As  to  their  principles,  they  were  branded  with  being 
"  Blasphemous  deniers  of  the  true  Christ ;  of  heaven,  of  hell,  angels, 
the  resurrection  of  the  body,  and  day  of  judgment;  inconsistent 
with  magisti'acy  ;  nothing  better  than  John  of  Leyden,  and  his 
accomplices." 

For  a  time  these  calumnies  were  received  by  the  generality  of 
the  people  as  trutlis ;  but  it  was  not  long  before  sober-minded  indi- 
viduals began  to  investigate  for  themselves,  and  finding  that  these 
charges  were  untrue,  and  originated  in  prejudice  and  malice,  many 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  225 

were  led  to  embrace  the  doctrines  promulgated  by  Friends,  and  to 
he  willing  to  bear  the  testimonies  of  the  Gospel  maintained  by  them. 
Among  these  converts  were  George  Gray  and  Nancy  Sim,  both  un- 
learned and  in  humble  life,  yet  held  in  such  high  repute,  for  their 
blameless  lives  and  religious  experience,  that  the"  minister"  of  the 
})arish  in  which  they  lived  said,  boastingly,  "That  he  had  a  weaver 
and  a  poor  woman,  whom  he  would  defy  any  of  the  Quakers  to 
equalize,  either  for  knowledge  or  good  life."  When,  therefore,  he 
found  they  had  left  his  teachings  and  were  joined  with  Friends,  he 
was  greatly  incensed  ;  but  his  anger  availed  not,  for  George  Gray 
continued  steadftist  in  the  faith,  and  became  an  acceptable  minister, 
a  scribe  well  instructed  unto  the  Kingdom  of  heaven,  bringing  forth 
out  of  his  treasury  things  new  and  old.  Nancy  Sim  opened  her 
house  for  Friends  to  hold  their  meetings,  and  in  a  short  time  the 
people  flocked  to  them  in  such  numbers,  there  was  not  room  to 
accommodate  them,  so  that  it  was  frequently  necessary  to  adjourn 
to  the  fields. 

One  of  the  most  extraordinary  ministers  of  the  gospel  raised  up 
in  Scotland  in  those  early  days  of  the  Society,  was  Patrick  Living- 
stone, who  was  a  native  of  Montrose,  and  in  1659,  when  twenty-five 
years  of  age,  was  thoroughly  convinced  of  the  accordance  of  the 
doctrines  and  testimonie.s  of  the  gospel,  as  promulgated  by  Friends, 
with  the  truths  recorded  in  the  holy  Sci'iptures,  and  the  revelations 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  hearts  of  true  believers.  After  having 
been  some  time  settled  and  grounded  in  the  Truth,  with  his  strong 
will  so  subjected  to  that  of  his  Divine  master,  that  he  was  willing  to 
suft'er  reproach  and  persecution  for  his  name's  sake,  he  was  entrusted 
with  a  lai-ge  gift  in  the  ministry,  and  became  a  zealous  messenger 
of  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gospel  to  his  own  nation,  and  to  the  peo- 
ple of  England  and  Ireland.  He  was  a  valiant  soldier  in  the  Lamb's 
army,  not  turning  his  back  in  the  day  of  battle  and  suffering,  but, 
freed  from  the  fear  of  man,  strove  fervently  for  the  honor  of  his 
glorified  Captain,  and  the  promotion  of  his  cause,  ilis  services 
among  his  own  countrymen  were  eminently  blessed,  so  that  through 
his  means  the  number  of  members  in  Scotland  was  nuiltij)]ied  ;  and 
he  was  instrumental  in  settling  a  meeting  at  Kinmuck,  which  con- 
tinued to  increase  until  it  became  the  largest  in  that  nation. 

Persecution  soon  began  to  show  itself;  the  rabble,  prompted 
thereto  by  the  "  leaders  of  the  people,"  often  abused  Friends  greatly 
when  they  appeared  in  the  streets  of  the  towns,  stoning  them,  beat- 
ing them,  and  sometimes  pulling  out  their  hair.  Many  were  sub- 
15 


226  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

jected  to  long  iinprisonnu'iit ;  wlion,  as  in  iMi^laml,  tlicy  liad  to  l)ear 
the  barbarous  treatment  of  cruel  and  implacable  jailers.  Yet  here, 
as  in  other  places,  the  patient,  unresisting  endurance  of  the  sufferers, 
{)reached  louder  than  words;  so  that  while  the  peace  that  passeth 
all  understanding  rewarded  those  avIio  endured  hardness  as  good 
soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ,  others  were  thereby  drawn  into  ths  coni- 
nuiniou  of  Friends,  and  made  willing  to  share  in  their  bonds  and 
afflictions. 

The  misrepi'esentation  and  denunciation  of  the  ministers  were  ac- 
companied by  the  published  censure  of  the  presbytery,  and  the  ex- 
communication of  not  a  few  of  those  whom  they  had  on(!e  esteemed 
as  ornaments  of  their  "  church."  Among  others,  James  Urquhart 
was  excommunicated,  and  the  "minister"  of  the  parish  where  he 
resided,  named  Wm.  Forbes,  was  directed  to  publish  it  from  the 
pulpit.  Knowing  Urquhart  to  be  an  honest,  good  man,  the  minister 
was  very  loth  to  be  the  instrument  of  thus  publicly  branding  him 
as  a  heretic  and  disbeliever.  But  finding  that  unless  he  obeyed,  he 
would  be  likely  to  lose  his  stipend,  he  stifled  his  convictions,  and 
thus  publicly  denounced  him.  No  sooner  had  he  performed  the 
service  laid  upon  him  by  the  presbytery,  than  he  fell  into  great  dis- 
tress of  mind,  and  could  no  longer  ofiiciate  in  his  parish,  until  at 
length  he  was  brought  to  a  willingness  publicly  to  confess,  "  That 
his  discomposure  was  a  just  judgment  upon  him  for  cursing  with 
his  tongue  a  person  whom  he  believed  in  his  conscience  to  be  a  very 
honest  man." 

But  alas !  his  own  daughter,  Jane  Forbes,  having  forsaken  the 
vanities  of  the  world,  and  also  the  endearing  associations  of  her 
domestic  relations  and  associations,  to  obtain  peace  of  mind  by 
joining  the  Quakers,  she  was  excommunicated,  and  her  father  was 
required  publicly  to  pronounce  the  sentence.  The  poor  man  again 
struggled  to  overcome  his  convictions  that  the  whole  proceeding 
was  wrong,  or  to  escape  from  the  repulsive  service  required  of  him, 
but  being  threatened  with  ejection  from  his  living  unless  he  did  as 
he  was  bid,  he  determined  to  obey ;  but  when  about  to  read  the  ex- 
communication he  was  suddenly  struck  with  death. 

In  Ireland  many  foithful  laborers  were  continually  travelling  to 
and  fro  throughout  most  parts  of  the  country.  William  Edmund- 
son  speaks  of  Thomas  Loe,  John  Burnyeat  and  Robert  Lodge,  as 
laboring  abundantly  in  the  gospel  of  Christ  Jesus,  and  whose  exer- 
cises were  often  crowned  with  much  success.     He,  himself,  was  in- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  227 

defatigable  in  his  efforts  to  promote  the  cause  of  truth  and  right- 
eousness, and  often  suffered  deeply  and  resignedly  in  its  behalf. 
Resolute  and  undaunted,  he  was  always  ready  to  fiice  any  danger 
when  duty  called  ;  while  such  was  the  purity  of  his  life,  the  fervency 
of  his  spirit,  the  firmness  of  his  faith,  and  the  disinterested  compre- 
hensiveness of  his  Christian  love  for  the  souls  of  his  fellow  men, 
that  he  often  won  the  admiration  of  eveu  his  persecutors,  and  ob- 
tained great  influence  with  many  of  those  in  power. 

Referring  to  the  state  of  things  among  Friends  in  Ireland,  about 
the  end  of  the  Commonwealth  [1660],  he  says,  "  Many  people  were 
convinced  and  meetings  increased  mightily  ;  yet  some  who  were  con- 
vinced and  professed  truth  in  words,  did  not  walk  answerably  in 
their  conversations,  but  were  careless  and  loose ;  from  under  the 
cross  of  Christ,  both  in  words  and  deeds ;  which  gave  occasion  to 
our  adversaries  to  reproach  us,  and  speak  evil  of  the  way  of  truth, 
and  was  a  stumbling-block  to  others,  in  whom  were  desires  after 
the  Knowledge  of  God  and  the  way  of  life.  The  concern  of  this 
came  weightily  upon  me,  and  sunk  my  spirit  into  a  deep  exercise  for 
Truth,  which  was  discernible  in  my  face  and  body,  to  those  who 
knew  me;  and  I  was  made  a  threshing  instrument  in  the  hand  of 
the  Lord,  to  thresh  sharply,  and  to  reprove  and  rebuke  such  as 
walked  loosely  in  the  liberty  of  their  own  will  and  flesh,  and  held 
the  profession  of  truth  in  unrighteousness." 

Again,  in  reference  to  the  troubles  brought  upon  Friends  by  the 
proclamation  issued  by  the  King,  soon  after  his  restoration,  he  ob- 
serves, "  King  Charles  coming  in,  the  nation  was  in  heaps  of  con- 
fusion, and  people  ran  upon  us,  as  if  they  would  destroy  us  at  once 
or  swallow  us  up ;  breaking  up  our  meetings,  taking  us  up  on  the 
highways  and  haling  us  to  prison  ;  so  that  there  was  a  general  im- 
prisonment of  Friends  in  this  nation.  I  was  prisoner  at  Mary- 
borough with  many  more  Friends ;  yet  the  Lord  supported  and  bore 
up  our  spirits  above  sufferings  and  men's  cruelties.  Friends  were 
fresh  and  lively  in  the  Lord's  goodness  and  covenant,  of  light  and 
life ;  contented  in  the  will  of  God :  for  we  had  many  heavenly, 
blessed  meetings  in  prison,  and  the  Lord's  presence  was  with  us,  to 
our  great  comfort  and  consolation  in  Him,  who  wrougiit  liberty  for 
us  in  his  own  time." 

Feeling  it  laid  upon  him  as  a  religious  duty,  to  make  an  effort  to 
have  Friends  set  free,  Wm.  Edmundson,  prisoner  though  he  was, 
ajjplied  to  the  Sheriff"  who  granted  him  leave  of  absence  for  twenty 
days.     Hastening  to  Dublin  he  presented  a  petition  to  the  Earls  of 


228  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

Orrery  and  Momitratli,  who  at  that  time  were  tlie  Lord  Justices,  and 
to  Hii'  Morris  Eustace,  the  Chancellor ;  asking  that,  as  Friends  were 
guilty  of  no  breach  of  law,  nor  any  disloyalty  to  the  government, 
they  should  be  liberated  from  im])risonmeut.  He  says,  "  I  was 
closely  exercised  iu  that  service,  but  the  Lord's  power  gave  me 
courage,  opened  my  way  to  proceed,  and  gave  success  to  it,  so  that 
I  got  an  order  for  Friends'  liberty  throughout  the  nation  ;  though 
they  were  full  of  business,  and  abundan(^e  of  all  sorts  atUniding." 
Several  copies  of  tliis  order  having  been  made  out,  he  got  them  all 
signed  and  dispatched  to  the  BherifTs  of  the  respective  counties. 
Finding  on  his  return  to  the  })rison  at  Maryborough  that  bis  fellow 
prisoners  were  still  kept  there,  though  the  Government's  order  had 
been  received,  he  made  inquiry  for  the  cause,  and  learned  that  it 
was  for  the  fees  charged,  and  the  Sheriff  said  they  should  lie  there 
until  they  rotted,  unless  the  fees  were  paid.  William  now  applied 
to  the  Justices  of  the  county  for  a  statement  of  the  cause  for  which 
the  Friends  were  still  detained,  and  having  obtained  it,  he  at  t)nce 
set  off  again  for  Dublin.  He  arrived  at  the  residence  of  the  Earl 
of  Mountrath,  just  as  he  had  entered  his  coach  to  go  to  the  Council, 
and  the  Earl  seeing  him  coming,  stopped  the  coach  to  inquire  his 
business.  William  told  him  the  cause  of  his  present  journey  and 
handed  him  the  statement  of  the  Justices.  Being  invited  to  follow 
to  the  Council  chamber,  he  went;  where  he  was  furnished  with 
aiiotiier  order  to  the  Sheriffs  to  release  Friends  without  their  being 
required  to  pay  any  fees.  He  now  returned  again  to  the  prison 
and  saw  his  friends  set  free:  the  Sheriff  telling  him  he  was  a  devil. 
But  when  tlie  Episcopal  bishops  were  reinstated  in  their  dioceses, 
and  Parliament  had  passed  the  law  against  the  Quakers,  Friends 
in  Ireland  participated  in  the  suflering  which  their  fellow  members 
had  to  endure  throughout  the  kingdom. 

A  number  of  Friends  had  been  engaged  in  endeavoring  to  spread 
the  principles  held  by  them,  in  different  parts  of  the  Continent  of 
Europe,  but  the  three  who  labored  more  abundantly  there,  and  met 
with  the  most  success,  were  William  Ames,  William  Caton,  and 
John  Stubbs.  Under  the  ministry  of  the  two  first  named,  there  had 
been  several  of  the  citizens  of  Amsterdam  convinced  in  the  year 
1657,  (among  whom  were  the  parents  of  William  Sewel,  the  histo- 
rian,) and  a  meeting  was  established  there,  though  the  magistrates 
were  very  unfriendly.  As  those  Friends,  in  consequence  of  being 
called  to  other  fields  of  labor,  could  not  remain  long  with  those  who        ^ 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  229 

were  newly  gathered,  few  of  whom  had  much  religious  experience, 
their  meeting  soon  became  a  resort  for  persons  holding  extravagant 
opinions,  whose  conduct  tended  to  bring  Friends  into  disrepute.  In 
order  to  clear  the  truth  of  reproach,  Friends  testified  against  the 
unsound  and  fantastical  sentiments  of  those  who  had  intruded  into 
their  meetings,  and  printed  an  exposition  of  the  doctrines  they 
held,  and  the  mode  of  worship  approved  by  them.  This  tended  to 
counteract  in  measure  the  evil  consequences  that  had  followed  the 
conduct  of  those  not  belonging  to  the  Society ;  and  in  course  of  a 
few  years,  there  were  several  Friends  residing  in  diiferent  parts  of 
Holland. 

In  1659,  William  Caton  was  again  in  Holland,  when  he  found 
that  Friends'  meeting  in  Amsterdam  was  still  occasionally  much 
disturbed  by  disorderly  persons,  who  sometimes  behaved  in  a  riotous 
manner ;  calculated,  if  not  intended,  to  excite  displeasure  in  the 
Magistrates,  and  to  lead  to  the  interference  of  the  civil  authority. 
In  order  to  escape  this  annoyance,  he  advised  Friends  to  change  the 
place  for  meeting  frequently,  one  week  in  one  house,  the  next  week 
in  another ;  which  was  done  to  some  advantage. 

William  Ames  travelled  through  parts  of  Germany,  visiting 
serious-minded  people  where  he  heard  of  them,  and  dechu'ing  the 
message  with  which  he  was  entrusted,  wherever  he  found  an  opening 
to  I'eceive  it.  At  Heidelberg  [1660]  he  was  admitted  to  the  Court 
of  Charles  Lodo wick,. Elector  Palatinate,  who  treated  him  kindly, 
entertaining  him  at  his  own  table,  and  allowing  him  to  have  free 
intercourse  with  his  subjects.  At  the  town  of  Kriesheim,  not  far  from 
Worms,  he  met  with  a  company  of  Baptists,  and  a  conmderable  num- 
ber of  them  were  convinced  of  the  truth  by  his  preaching,  and  made 
open  profession  of  it  for  many  years  in  that  country.  After  Wil- 
liam Penn  had  got  possession  of  Pennsylvania,  these  German  Friends 
removed  there,  and,  settling  not  far  from  Philadelpiiia,  gave  the 
place  of  their  abode  the  name  of  Germautown. 

The  effect  produced  by  the  ministerial  labors  of  William  Ames, 
stirred  up  some  of  those  in  power,  to  enact  a  law  imposing  a  fine  on 
whoever  should  entertain  him ;  but  the  Elector  remitted  the  fine, 
and  when  the  Consistory  sent  Ames  word  to  ap[)ear  before  it,  the 
Prince  forbade  their  meddling  with  him.  William  also  travelled 
into  Bohemia  and  Poland,  but  it  does  not  appear  that  the  people  in 
those  countries  were  prepared  to  receive  the  doctrines  he  preached. 

In  1G59,  E.  Burrough  and  Samuel  Fisher  went  over  to  Dunkirk, 
which,  though  a  French  town,  contained  an  English  garrison,  and 


230  FRTI^XDS    IN    THE 

was  lu'ld  I)v  tli(>  Britisli  Ci-own.  On  arriviiiji^  thoy  were  sent  for  by 
the  deputy  Governor,  who,  with  the  council  of"  officers,  questioned 
them  as  to  their  principles,  and  the  business  on  whi('h  they  had  come. 
The  Friends  informed  them  they  had  come  under  a  sense  of  duty, 
to  endeavor  to  show  the  Jesuits,  Friars,  and  Priests,  the  error  of 
their  ways,  and  to  preach  the  everlasting  gospel  to  them  and  the 
people.  The  Council  wished  to  persuade  them  to  give  up  their  de- 
sign, and  to  depart  from  the  place,  treating  them,  however,  with 
courtesy.  They  told  the  officers  they  could  not  take  their  advice, 
as  they  believed  they  had  come  in  the  will  of  God,  and  they  must 
strive  to  perform  the  duty  He  had  laid  upon  them.  The  next  day 
they  managed  to  obtain  an  interview  with  the  Capuchin  friars,  in 
which  they  declared  unto  them  the  gospel  truth,  that  every  man  has 
received  a  nu'asure  of  Divine  Grace  or  Light  of  Christ,  which  was 
intended  to  enlighten  and  lead  him  in  the  way  of  salvation  ;  and 
that  the  Lord  was  about  to  search  and  try  them,  and  bring  their 
idolatrous  worship  and  ways  to  an  end.  They  afterwards  addressed 
a  number  of  Queries  to  tliem,  written  in  Latin.  They  then  sought 
and  obtained  interviews  with  Friars  of  other  orders,  and  with  the 
chief  of  the  Jesuits.  But  none  of  them  were  willing  to  accept  the 
doctrine  inculcated  by  the  Friends,  and  when  they  essayed  to  speak 
\vith  the  nuns,  the  latter  asked  them  if  they  were  oi'the  order  of  the 
Quakers?  and  on  their  replying  they  were  of  those  called  Quakers, 
the  nuns  said  they  were  forbidden  to  hear  them,  and  left  them. 

Hearing  that  after  they  had  left,  one  of  the  Chaplains  had  spoken 
against  them,  they  prepared  and  sent  to  him  six  Propositions,  which 
tliey  informed  him,  they  were  prepared  to  defend  and  prove  to  be 
true,  viz. : 

"1st.  That  Clirist  hath  enlightened  all  men  with  a  light  sufficient 
to  bring  them  to  salvation  if  they  follow  it. 

2d.  That  God  hath  given  Christ  to  be  the  Saviour  of  a//  men. 

8d.  That  none  are  justified  by  Christ  and  his  righteousness  with- 
out them,  but  as  they  have  received  Christ  and  his  righteousness, 
and  witnessed  them  revealed  in  themselves. 

4th.  Th.a':  +he  saints  of  God  may  be  perfectly  free  from  sin  in  this 
life,  so  as  no  more  to  commit  it. 

5th.  That  the  national  ministers  and  churches,  not  only  of  papLsts, 
but  of  the  protestants  also,  as  they  now  stand,  are  not  true  ministers 
and  churches  of  Christ. 

6th.  That  the  Scriptures  are  a  true  declaration,  given  forth  from 
the  S[)irit  of  God,  by  holy  men  of  God,  moved  by  it  to  write  them, 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  231 

and  are  profitable;  but  are  not  the  foundation,  nor  the  most  perfect 
rule  of  faith  and  life  to  the  saints." 

The  Chaplain,  however,  was  not  disposed  to  enter  into  a  disputa- 
tion with  them,  and  sent  them  word  "The  Governor  was  not  willing." 
After  this  the  Friends  had  several  meetings  with  the  soldiers  of 
the  garrison,  and  having  performed  the  service  required  of  them, 
after  another  interview  with  the  Governor  and  Council,  in  which 
they  had  much  religious  discourse,  they  returned  to  England. 

John  Stubbs  and  Samuel  Fisher  visited  Rome  in  1660,  and  ob- 
tained an  opportunity  to  speak  to  some  of  the  Cardinals  and  others 
of  the  Romish  hierarchy  ;  testifying  against  their  superstition  and 
idolatry,  and  the  dark  condition  of  the  papists  generally.  They 
also  circulated  some  works  setting  forth  the  truths  of  the  gospel ; 
which  some  of  the  monks  confessed  were  true,  but  said  that  if  they 
should  make  such  an  acknowledgment  openly,  they  might  expect 
to  be  burnt.  It  does  not  appear  that  these  two  Friends  were 
molested  while  in  the  Po]je's  dominions,  and  when  they  had  got 
through  with  the  work  in  which  they  were  engaged,  they  came 
safely  to  their  homes. 

About  this  same  time  John  Perrot  and  John  Love  went  to  Rome. 
On  their  way,  at  Leghorn,  they  were  arrested  and  brought  before 
some  of  the  officers  of  the  Inquisition,  who  interrogated  them  ;  but 
their  answers  were  such,  that  no  charge  could  be  laid  against  them, 
and  they  were  dismissed.  At  Venice,  John  Perrot  obtained  an 
interview  with  the  Doge,  and  after  free  conversation  with  him, 
presented  him  with  some  of  the  writings  of  Friends.  At  Rome  they 
bore  such  open  testimony  against  the  idolatry  of  i]^e  j^eople  as  to 
give  offence,  and  they  were  apprehended  and  lodged  in  the  Inquisi- 
tion, J.  Love- died  in  this  fearful  prison,  and  thougli  it  was  given 
out  at  the  time  that  he  starved  himself  to  death,  it  was  afterwards 
divulged  that  he  maintained  his  integrity  to  the  last,  and  that  there 
was  reason  to  believe  he  was  assassinated  in  the  night,  to  prevent 
hLs  giving  trouble  in  Rome.  Perrot  was  detained  a  long  time  in 
the  Inquisition,  and  would  seem  to  have  given  place  to  no  little 
spii'itual  pride  on  account  of  his  suffering  for  the  truth.  After  he 
was  released,  he  wrote  some  letters  to  Friends  in  England  couched 
in  language  strongly  savoring  of  spiritual  assumption  and  self-ex- 
altation; which  letters  he  signed  with  his  given  name  only  —  John, 
in  imitation  of  tlie  Apostle.  He  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of 
considerable  intellectual  ability,  and  to  have  come  in  measure 
under    the  power  of  true    religion;    but    for  want  of  keeping  in 


232  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

luiinility  ;tiul  on  tlic  watrli,  lie  lost  his  first  osttite,  and  ran  into 
op[)Osition  to  the  truth  ;  finally  becoming  an  open  apostate,  violat- 
ing and  setting  at  naught  the  testimonies  of  Truth  which  he  once 
had  maintained  and  contended  for.  His  subsequent  doings  will  be 
mentioned  in  another  place. 

In  1658,  Catharine  Evans  and  Sarah  Chovers,  of  whom  nuMition 
has  already  been  made,  embarked  for  Legliorn,  intending  to  journey 
to  Alexandria.  After  spending  some  days  in  religious  service  in 
Leghorn,  they  set  sail  for  Alexandria.  The  captain  of  the  vessel 
in  which  they  were,  concluded  to  stop  at  Malta  with  another  ship 
in  company  with  him.  The  women  Friends  had  a  presentiment 
when  arrived  there,  that  much  suffering  awaited  them,  though  of 
what  kind  they  did  not  see.  Having  met  the  English  Consul  in 
the  street,  the  day  after  their  arrival,  he  stopped  and  inquired  for 
what  purpose  they  had  come  there.  On  their  informing  him  how 
it  happened  they  were  there,  and  presenting  him  with  some  books,  he 
kindly  invited  them  to  make  his  house  their  home  while  they  stayed. 
Accepting  his  invitation,  they  remained  in  his  family  about  three 
months;  during  wliich  time  many  came  to  see  them.  Having  called 
on  the  Governor,  he  told  them  he  had  a  sister  in  tlie  nunnery  who 
was  desirous  to  see  them.  They  accordingly  went  to  the  place  and 
had  free  conversation  —  so  far  as  they  could  understand  each  other's 
language  —  with  the  nuns,  among  whom  they  distributed  some  books. 
While  on  this  visit,  one  of  the  monks  took  them  into  the  chapel, 
and  insisted  on  their  bowing  to  the  high  altar,  which  they  as  firmly 
refused,  letting  him  know  they  considered  it  would  be  idolatry.  On 
one  occasion  t^iey  went  into  one  of  the  places  of  worehip  while  they 
were  engaged  in  the  service,  and  Catharine,  turning  her  back  to  the 
high  altar,  kneeled  down  and  offered  up  praise  and  supidication  to 
the  Most  High.  The  priest  who  was  officiating,  putting  off  his 
robes,  came  and  kneeled  by  her,  so  remaining  until  she  was  done. 
He  then  offered  her  something  he  had  in  his  hand,  which  she  re- 
fusing to  take,  he  handed  it  to  Sarah,  but  she  returned  it  to  him 
again.  He  asked  them  if  they  were  Lutherans  or  Calvinists  ?  to 
which  they  replying,  No ;  he  asked  them  if  they  would  be  willing 
to  go  to  Rome?  They  said,  No.  Having  inquired  if  they  were 
not  Catholics?  they  told  him  they  were  servants  of  the  living  God. 
The  people  around  looked  on  with  wonder,  but  they  were  allowed 
to  depart  in  peace. 

They  now  had  a  sense  that  there  was  some  plotting  for  their  hurt, 
of  which  they  told  the  Consul,  and  their  suspicion  that  he  was,  in 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  233 

some  way,  accessory  to  it.  He  did  not  deny  it,  and  said  that  he 
wanted  some  sign  that  they  were  messengers  of  God.  A  few  days 
afterwards,  they  were  sent  for  by  the  Inquisition.  They  were  taken 
before  the  chief  Inquisitor,  who,  after  questioning  them  and  hearing 
their  replies,  told  them,  that  if  they  would  change  their  mind,  and 
'  do  as  they  commanded  them,  to  let  him  know,  otherwise  he  would 
use  them  as  he  pleased.  They  replied,  "  the  will  of  the  Lord  be 
done,'"  and  they  were  shut  up  in  an  inner  room,  with  only  two  small 
holes  in  it  for  the  admission  of  light  and  air.  As  the  weather  was 
extremely  hot,  they  thought  there  was  an  intention  to  suffocate  them. 
Again  and  again  they  were  brought  before  the  Inquisitor,  sometimes 
together  and  sometimes  separate,  and  various  means  were  resorted 
to,  to  induce  them  to  acknowledge  the  Catholic  religion,  and  the 
authority  of  the  Pope  and  his  subordinates,  but  they  steadily 
refused;  adhering  to  their  first  declaration,  that  they  had  been 
brought  there  innocently  on  their  part ;  that  they  were  servants  of- 
Jesus  Christ,  and  that  they  could  not  acknowledge  any  authority 
that  was  contrary  to  his,  nor  any  religion  but  that  which  was  in 
accordance  with  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  the  testimony  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  in  their  hearts.  Efibrts  were  repeatedly  made  to  compel  them 
to  swear  that  they  would  speak  the  truth,  when  they  were  questioned 
about  George  Fox,  what  induced  them  to  leave  their  own  country 
and  travel  abroad,  and  what  they  expecited  to  do  if  they  were  ever 
set  at  liberty.  But  while  they  affirmed  they  would  always  speak 
the  truth,  they  quoted  the  command  of  Christ  and  of  his  Apostle 
James,  not  to  swear,  as  being  impex'ative  to  them,  and  therefore  they 
could  not  conscientiously  take  an  oath.  On  being  asked  what 
Christ  it  was  they  owned?  they  replied  Jesus  Christ,  who  died  at 
Jerusalem. 

The  friars  tried,  in  many  ways,  to  entrap  them  in  their  talk,  and 
the  Chief  Inquisitor  luul  them  brought  before  him  time  after  time; 
sometimes  threatening  them  with  death,  and  sometimes  with  impris- 
onment for  life,  if  they  did  not  bow  to  his  authority,  recant  their 
religion,  and  become  members  of  the  Catliolic  Church.  But  they 
remained  firm  and  unyielding;  declaring  they  were  in  the  true 
faith,  and  were  resigned  to  leave  the  event  of  their  release  from  the 
persecution  and  suffering  they  endured,  to  Him  who  was  able  to 
uphold  them  under  all  that  He  might  permit  to  couu!  upon  tliem, 
and  who  would,  if  He  saw  fit,  release  them  in  his  own  time,  either 
by  taking  ihciii  to  hiiiiseli',  or  by  opening  their  pi'ison  doors  and 
letting   ihcm  go  free.      At  times,  as  they  felt  qualidcd,  they  si)oke 


234  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

boldly  :iij;aiiist  the  idolatry  and  suj)erstilion  tlicy  witnessed  around 
tiiem,  and  with  Divine  authority  rebuked  the  hypoerisy  and  dupli- 
city of  the  friars. 

The  room  in  which  they  wore  lonj^  kept,  was  not  only  small,  hot, 
and  without  proper  ventilation,  but  it  was  infested  with  a  cloud  of 
gnats,  which  were  incessantly  stinging  and  annoying  them  ;  so  that 
it  seemed  probable,  the  intention  of  tlu'ir  persecutors  was  to  wear 
out  life  by  these  combined  causes.  All  desire  for  food  left  them  ; 
they  fasted  for  days,  their  strength  failed,  and  an  eruption  broke, 
out  over  all  parts  of  their  bodies.  Faint,  and  deprived  of  every 
outward  thing  necessary  to  administer  relief  or  refreshment,  these 
devoted  women  looked  for  (U  ath  from  day  to  day,  if  not  by  the  slow 
torture  they  were  undergoing,  by  being  burnt  at  the  stake,  with 
which  they  were  repeatedly  threatened.  But  they  were  resigned  to 
whatever  might  be  permitted  to  come  upon  them,  and  amid  all  their 
■arilictious  were  permitted  to  enjoy  that  peace  which  passeth  all  un- 
derstanding, and  which  He  whom  they  served,  .alone  could  give. 

On  moi'e  than  one  occasion  a  physician  was  brought  to  see  thenri, 
but  they  declined  to  take  the  medicine  he  prescribed,  asking  the 
monk  who  accompanied  him,  if  their  object  was  to  try  to  lengthen 
out  their  lives,  in  order  to  keep  them  in  suffering?  He  attempted 
to  strike  Catharine  on  the  mouth  with  his  crucifix,  which  he  held 
up  before  her.  She  asked  him,  if  he  thought  that  was  the  kind  of 
cross  which  Paul  said  crucified  him  to  the  world  and  the  world  unto 
him  ?  He  said  it  was,  which  she  denying,  he  again  attempted  to 
strike  her  on  the  mouth.  She  told  him  the  apostles  were  no  strikers ; 
when  he  declared  she  should  be  first  whipped,  then  quartered  and 
her  body  burnt.  She  replied,  she  did  not  fear  him,  for  the  Lord 
was  on  their  side.  That  evening  there  was  a  proclamation  made  at 
the  gate  of  the  Inquisition,  drums  were  beaten,  and  there  seemed  to 
be  great  commotion  among  the  people.  The  Friends,  who  could 
hear  the  tumult,  supposed  their  burning,  which  had  often  been 
threatened,  was  now  about  to  be  executed.  It  turned  out,  however, 
that  all  the  noise  and  apparent  pi'eparation  for  some  great  event, 
had  been  got  up  to  frighten  them,  with  a  hope  they  would  thereby 
be  induced  to  comply  with  the  commands  of  the  Inquisitor;  but 
they  were  enabled  to  resign  themselves  into  the  Lord's  keeping, 
and  patiently  abide  the  issue. 

They  were  now  parted,  and  shut  up  in  rooms  distant  one  from 
another,  so  that  they  could  hold  no  intercourse  with  each  other, 
unless  occasionally  they  persuaded  some  one  to  carry  a  note.    Then 


SEVEXTEENTII    CENTURY.  235 

their  pens,  ink  and  paper,  were  taken  away,  and  no  one  was  per- 
mitted to  receive  or  deliver  a  message  from  or  to  either  of  them. 
This  separation  was  felt  by  them  to  be  the  greatest  affliction  they 
had  to  endure,  and  it  was  continued  a  whole  year. 

For  more  than  three  years  they  were  thus  closely  imprisoned,  ex- 
cept when  one  or  the  other  was  so  ill  that  it  became  necessary,  in 
order  to  preserve  life,  she  should  be  removed  to  where  there  was  a 
more  free  circulation  of  air.  During  all  this  time,  there  was  no  re- 
laxation of  artifice  and  effort,  to  induce  them  to  yield  obedience  to 
the  Church  of  Rome,  or  to  acknowledge  its  ministers,  its  ceremo- 
nials and  its  discipline,  to  belong  to  the  Church  of  Christ.  Threats 
of  being  put  in  chains,  of  whipping,  and  of  death  by  various  forms, 
were  freely  employed  to  drive  them  to  bow  to  a  crucifix,  or  to  a 
painting  of  a  saint,  or  to  partake  of  bread  and  wine,  which  the  monks 
affirmed  had  been  transformed  into  the  flesh  and  blood  of  Christ, 
by  their  consecration  ;  or  to  do  anything,  however  small,  that  might 
be  taken  as  an  evidence  of  their  submission  to  the  papal  hierarchy  ; 
l)ut  by  keeping  constantly  on  the  watch,  they  were  kept  in  the  Lord's 
holy  fear,  and  it  preserved  them  from  the  snares  of  death.  Thus 
they  were  kept  from  betraying  the  cause  of  their  Divine  Master,  and 
occasionally,  when  persons  came  to  their  rooms  to  look  at  them,  or 
for  other  purposes,  as  they  Avere  enabled,  they  preached  the  gospel 
to  them,  and  instructed  them  in  the  way  of  salvation. 

It  was  proposed,  at  one  time,  to  send  Catharine  to  Rome,  and  tlieii 
to  send  both,  but  the  Inquisitors  were  not  able  to  agree  about  it. 
One  of  the  friars  was,  therefore,  dispatched  there,  to  lay  the  charges 
that  had  been  drawn  up  against  them,  before  the  high  officers ;  but 
though  there  seemed  to  be  preparations  made  for  some  more  deci- 
sive measures  in  their  case,  nothing  came  of  it.  The  English  Consul 
came  to  see  them,  bringing  with  him  a  piece  of  money  sent  them  by 
an  English  Captain  then  in  the  port;  but  they  were  not  easy  to  re- 
ceive it.  The  Consul  was  much  afi'ected  with  seeing  the  condition 
they  were  in.  Catharine  reminded  him  of  their  having  told  him, 
he  was  conniving  at  their  being  brought  under  the  power  of  the 
Inquisition,  and  that  he  had  said  he  wanted  a  sign  that  they  were 
servants  of  God,  and  she  asked  him,  whether  what  they  then  told 
him  was  not  true,  viz.,  "  Thou  art  a  condemned  person,  and  staudest 
guilty  before  God  ;  yet  nevertheless  repent,  if  thou  canst  find  a 
place."  He  trembled,  and  was  so  overcome  he  could  hardly  stand. 
Not  long  after  he  died. 

Two  Englishmen  who  arrived  at  Malta,  hearing  of  their  impris- 


236  F  i:  I  K  N  D  S    IX    T  II  E 

oiiiiu'iit  in  tlic  In(|uisition,  inadc  (;r(':vt  efiorts  to  ohiiiiii  tlicir  rcloiise, 
and  tliouii'h  tliey  were  nut  successful  in  that,  yet  it  is  prohahle  their 
dechirations,  and  the  interest  they  inanifested  in  tlieir  welfare,  had 
a  good  effect  ;  for  the  Magistrates  had  them  hroniiht  before  them, 
inquired  whether  they  were  in  want  of  anything,  and  directed  their 
pens,  ink  and  ])a[)er  to  be  restored,  and  they  allowed  to  write  to 
England.  The  newly  appointed  Consul  and  Francis  Steward,  an 
Eugli>h  captain,  made  further  efforts  to  have  them  set  i'rev,  hut  the 
Magistrates  informed  them  it  could  not  be  done  without  an  order 
from  the  Po])e.  Yet  the  two  Friends  were  brought  into  the  court 
chamber,  and  had  an  opportunity  of  speaking  to  their  countrymen. 
"The  captain  of  the  ship,  who  also  was  there,  spoke  to  them  with 
tears  in  his  eyes,  and  told  them  what  he  had  done  in  their  behalf, 
but  in  vain.  'It  is  the  Inquisitor,'  said  he,  'who  will  not  let  yon 
go  free:  vou  have  preached  among  these  ])e()ple.'  To  which  they 
said,  that  they  had  witnessed  the  truth,  which  they  were  willing  to 
maintain  with  their  blood.  He  replied,  if  they  could  be  set  free,  he 
would  freely  give  them  their  passage,  and  pi'ovide  for  tlu'in.  And 
they  returned,  his  love  was  as  well  accepted  of  the  Lord,  as  if  he 
did  carry  them.  He  also  offered  them  money,  but  they  refused  to 
take  any.  They  then  gave  him  a  relation  of  their  imprisonment 
and  sufferings,  and  said  they  could  not  change  their  minds,  though 
they  were  to  be  burnt  to  ashes,  or  chopped  in  small  pieces.  In  the 
meanwhile  it  grieved  the  captain  that  he  could  not  obtain  their 
liberty  ;  and  going  away,  he  prayed  God  to  comfort  them  ;  and  they 
besought  the  Lord  to  bless  and  preserve  him  unto  evei'lasting  life, 
and  never  to  let  him,  nor  his,  go  without  a  blessing  from  Him,  for 
liis  love.  For  he  ventured  himself  exceedingly  in  that  place,  by 
laboring  to  get  their  freedom." 

These  outside  attempts  to  procure  the  release  of  the  Friends,  irri- 
tated the  Inquisitors,  friars  and  monks  greatly ;  but  though  they 
strongly  declared  they  would  take  away  their  lives  rather  than  let 
them  go,  unless  they  would  own  their  religion,  they  yet  feared  to 
proceed  so  far  with  two  subjects  of  Great  Britain,  who  were  known 
to  be  in  their  keeping.  They,  however,  were  shut  up  as  closely  as 
possible,  the  doors  of  their  rooms  not  being  opened  for  weeks,  and 
the  .system  of  abuse  and  annoyance  heretofore  practised,  being  kept 
up  by  those  who  passed  in  their  food,  and  other  ways  waited  on 
them.  They  refused  to  work  for  the  friars,  but  when  able  employed 
part  of  their  time  in  knitting  stockings  for  the  poor,  and  in  mend- 
ing the  clothing  of  other  prisoners,  when  it  was  brought  to  tliem. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  237 

Daniel  Baker,  a  minister  among  Friends,  who  had  left  England 
intending  to  go  to  Constantinople,  was  stopped  at  Smyrna  by  the 
English  Consul,  who  sent  him  to  Zante,  from  whence  he  went  to 
Leghorn.  While  here  he  felt  strongly  drawn  to  go  to  Malta  and 
see  if  he  could  extend  any  succor  to  Catharine  Evans  and  Sarah 
Chevers,  wdio  he  knew  had  been  prisoners  for  three  years  in  the 
Inquisition  there.  Accordingly  he  took  shipping  for  that  island, 
and  on  his  arrival  there  obtained  an  audience  with  the  grand  In- 
quisitor. As  he  spoke  the  Italian  language,  he  addressed  him  in  it, 
with  these  words,  "I  am  come  to  demand  the  just  liberty  of  my 
innocent  friends,  the  English  women,  in  prison  in  the  Inquisition." 
The  Inquisitor  asked  whether  he  was  related  to  them,  or  whether  he 
had  come  out  of  England  for  the  purpose  of  delivering  that  mes- 
sage. Finding  that  neither  was  the  case,  he  told  him  the  women 
should  remain  where  they  were  until  they  died,  unless  some  of  the 
English  merchants  would  be  bound  in  the  sum  of  four  thousand 
dollars,  that  if  allowed  to  go,  they  would  never  return  to  that  place. 
Neither  he  nor  the  two  women  were  willing  that  this  should  be 
done;  so  his  demand  was  fruitless.  He  then  proposed  to  the  In- 
quisitor to  be  imprisoned  for  them,  if  they  might  go  free ;  and  find- 
ing that  would  not  be  accepted,  he  offered  that  his  own  life  should 
be  taken,  if  by  that  means  he  could  purchase  their  discharge.  Such 
unselfish.  Christian  love  struck  the  priests  with  admiration;  but 
they  were  inexorable,  and  some  of  them,  fearing  the  influence  such 
a  man  might  have,  the  Pope's  deputy  threatened  him  with  the  In- 
quisition, and  wished  to  have  him  bound  not  to  speak  to  any  one 
while  he  stayed  on  the  island,  but  himself  and  the  British.  Daniel 
refused  to  comply,  and  they  were  afraid  to  push  the  matter  further. 
He  remained  in  the  town  three  weeks,  dui'ing  which  time  he  man- 
aged to  send  the  Friends  some  letters  and  receive  replies  from  them. 
He  also  got  to  see  them  at  a  distance,  and  to  address  a  few  words  of 
loving  encouragement  to  them. 

Some  time  after  Daniel's  departure,  the  Friends  were  told  that  if 
they  would  only  kiss  the  cross,  they  would  be  set  free,  and  might 
stay  at  the  Consul's  house  until  they  obtained  a  passage  to  Eng- 
land ;  but  they  refused,  declaring  they  would  never  purchase  their 
liberty  at  any  such  price.  After  they  had  been  imprisoned  about 
six  months  more  than  three  years,  Catharine  Evans  was  impressed 
with  a  sense  that  the  time  for  them  to  go  forth  was  come,  and  that 
their  api)lication  for  liberty  wotdd  now  be  granted.  Soon  after 
having  heard  that  the  In(juisitor  was  in  th<!  Inquisition  Court  cham- 


238  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

bor,  thoy  desired  to  be  allowed  to  go  and  speak  to  him.  Being  ad- 
mitted to  his  ])res('nee,  they  told  him,  though  they  had  committed  no 
wrong,  they  had  been  sufTering  nearly  four  years  for  eonseience'  sake, 
and  they  desired  that  an  end  should  be  put  to  their  imprisonment. 
He  spoke  courteously  to  them,  and  said  he  would  apply  to  the  Pope 
to  release  them  without  their  entering  into  any  obligation.  A  few 
days  after,  he  came  to  them  attended  by  the  Chancellor,  and  a 
Lieutenant,  and  asked  them  if  they  would  return  to  their  families, 
if  he  set  them  free?  They  replied,  that  if  it  were  the  will  of  the 
Almighty,  such  was  their  intent;  whereupon  the  Inquisitor  told  them 
they  were  discharged,  and  he  and  the  Magistrates  and  other  officers 
took  leave  of  them  respectfully,  saying  they  wished  them  a  pros- 
perous journey  home.  Catharine  and  Sarah  then  kneeled  down  and 
prayed  that  nothing  might  be  laid  to  their  [the  officers]  charge,  as 
they  knew  not  what  they  had  done.  They  were  detained  eleven 
weeks  longer  at  the  Consul's  house,  when  an  English  frigate  came 
into  the  port,  on  which  they  embarked,  and  stopping  a  short  time 
at  Leghorn,  they  arrived  .safe  in  England.  Friends  in  England 
had  not  been  unmindful  of  them  w'hile  in  their  bondage,  but  had 
used  every  means  at  their  command  to  obtain  their  liberation,  and 
it  was  thought  that  the  intercession  of  George  Fox  and  Gilbert 
Latey,  with  the  Lord  d'Aubigny,  the  Spanish  Ambassador  in 
Loudon,  who  at  their  instance  wrote  to  those  in  Malta,  was  a  cause 
of  their  release. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Apology  of  the  New  England  Persecutors — William  Lcddra  —  "Wenlock 
Christison  —  Edward  Wiiarton  —  Trouble  of  the  Court  —  Trial  of  W.  (.'hris- 
tison  —  A  new  Law  —  Friends  travel  into  Maine — Severe  Scourging — ]\Iary 
Tompkins — Alice  Ambrose  —  Ann  Coleman  —  Elizabeth  Hooten  —  Her 
Snftei-ings  in  Massachusetts  —  King's  Mandamus  —  It  is  taken  to  Boston  — 
G.  Fox  and  two  Representatives  from  Boston  —  The  Severity  of  Persecution 
abates  —  Last  instance  of  Woman- Whipping  in  Boston. 

BEFORE  noticing  the  continued  sanguinary  j^ersecutiou"  of 
Friends  in  New  England,  it  will  be  right  to  give  the  reader  some 
account  of  a  declaration  put  forth  by  the  Governor  and  Magistrates 
of  Boston,  in  justification  of  the  course  they  had  pursued  towards 
Friends,  and    especially  in  regard    to  taking    away  the    lives  of 


S  E  V  E  N  T  E  E  X  T  H    CENTURY.  239 

William  Robinson  and  Marniaduke  Stevenson.  This  apology  ap- 
pears to  have  been  prepared  and  published  between  the  time  when 
those  two  Friends  wei-e  executed,  and  the  subsequent  hanging  of 
Mary  Dyer.     [1659.] 

After  stating  their  conviction,  that  their  care  for  the  support  of 
the  law  of  the  land  and  the  law  of  God,  entitled  them  to  the  com- 
mendation of  all  prudent  and  pious  men,  yet  as  weaker  men  out  of 
pity,  and  for  want  of  full  information,  may  be  induced  to  blame 
them  as  bloody  persecutors,  they  think  it  requisite  to  rehearse  the 
gradual  steps  taken.  They  then  say  that  having  heard  of  the  "per- 
nicious principles  and  practices  "  of  the  Quakers,  they  had  thought 
it  right  and  for  the  good  of  the  people,  to  send  those  away  who 
arrived  at  their  shores,  in  order  to  secure  the  peace  and  order  which 
was  established,  and  prevent  their  destructive  opinions  from  under- 
mining the  same.     They  then  proceed  as  follows  :  .. 

"And  accordingly  a  law  was  made  and  published,  prohibiting  all 
masters  of  ships  to  bring  any  Quakers  into  this  jurisdiction,  and 
themselves  from  coming  in  on  a  penalty  of  the  house  of  correction, 
till  they  should  be  sent  away.  Notwithstanding  which,  l)y  a  back 
door  they  found  entrance,  and  the  penalty  inflicted  on  themselves 
proving  iusufiieient  to  restrain  their  impudent  and  insolent  obtru- 
sions, was  increased  by  the  loss  of  the  ears  of  those  who  offended 
the  second  time ;  which  also  being  too  weak  a  defence  against  their 
impetuous  frantic  fury,  necessitated  us  to  endeavor  our  security ; 
and  upon  serious  consideration,  after  the  former  experiments  by  their 
incessant  assaults,  a  law  was  made,  that  such  persons  should  be 
banished  upon  pain  of  death,  according  to  the  example  of  England, 
in  their  ])rovision  against  Jesuits ;  which  sentence  being  regularly 
pronounced  at  the  last  Court  of  Assistants,  against  the  parties  above 
named,  and  they  either  returning,  or  continuing  presumptuously  in 
this  jurisdiction  after  the  time  limited,  were  apprehended,  and  own- 
ing themselves  to  be  the  persons  banished,  were  sentenced  by  the 
Court  to  death,  according  to  the  law  aforesaid,  which  hath  been 
executed  upon  two  of  them.  Mary  Dyer  (upon  petition  of  her 
son,  and  the  mercy  and  clemency  of  this  Court,)  had  liberty  to  de- 
j)art  within  two  days;  which  she  hath  accepted  of  The  considera- 
tion of  our  gradual  proceeding  will  vindicate  us  from  the  clamorous 
accusations  of  severity,  our  own  just  and  necessary  defence  calling 
upon  us,  (other  means  failing,)  to  offer  the  point,  which  these  per- 
sons have  violently  and  wilfully  rushed  upon,  and  thereby  become 
felons  de  se ;  which,  might  it  have  been  prevented,  and  the  sov- 


240  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

crcisi'ii  law,  snlii-'f  popuJi,  l)con  preserved,  our  former  proceedings,  as 
•well  as  tlu>  sparing  Mary  Dyer  upon  an  inconsiderable  intercession, 
will  manifestly  evince,  that  we  desire  their  lives  absent,  rather  than 
their  deaths  present." 

Those  who  have  attempted  to  excuse  the  unchristian  course  of  the 
authorities  in  New  England,  in  their  treatment  of  Friends,  have 
asserted  they  believed  that  the  principles  held  by  Friends  were  cal- 
culated to  overturn  civil  government,  as  well  as  to  uproot  the 
cardinal  doctrines  of  Christianity.  Such  may  have  been  the  case 
with  some,  who  had  no  means  for  ascertaining  the  truth.  In  this 
supposed  justification,  sent  forth  to  the  world  by  the  active  mem- 
bers of  the  government,  they  state  they  had  heard  that  their  (the 
Q,ua"kers)  "principles  and  practices,"  were  destructive  of  good  order, 
&c.  Or,  as  Governor  Endicott  stated  in  an  address  to  King  Charles, 
after  the  judicial  murder  of  Mary  Dyer,  that  the  Quakers  "  were 
open  blasphemers,  seducers  from  the  glorious  trinity,  from  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  and  the  blessed  gospel  ;  open  enemies  to  the  govern- 
ment itself,  and  malignant  promoters  of  doctrines  directly  tending 
to  subvert  both  Church  and  State."  Upon  all  these  points  Friends 
had  made  clear  and  specific  statements ;  denying  the  truths  of  all 
such  charges,  and  emphatically  declaring  the  principle  of  Christi- 
anity firmly  held  by  them  in  common  with  all  other  orthodox  pro- 
fessors, and  the  obedient,  non-resisting  practices  those  })i'inciples  led 
them  into,  under  whatever  form  of  government  they  were  jdaced. 
These  declarations  were  not  made  in  a  cornei'.  They  were  openly 
avoAved  and  published  abroad  to  the  Avorld.  What  apology  then 
can  be  made  for  men  in  power,  who  hastily  and  hotly  condemned 
innocent  men  and  women  to  death  upon  mere  hearsay  evidence  of 
the  religious  opinions  they  held  ;  refusing  to  examine  into  the  truth 
or  falsity  of  the  allegations,  vague  and  trivial  as  those  allegations 
were,  and  sternly  and  persistently  foi'bidding  their  victims  to  plead 
on  their  own  behalf?  The  same  kind  of  reasoning  as  is  used  in  the 
Magistrates'  apology,  would  justify  every  "auto  daj'e"  lighted  by 
the  Inquisition. 

That  civil  government  is  a  Divine  ordinance  has  always  been 
acknowledged  by  Friends,  to  be  executed  for  the  encouragement 
and  protection  of  those  who  do  well,  and  for  the  terror  and  punish- 
ment of  thos3  who  do  evil.  But  no  government  can  change  the 
intrinsic  character  of  right  and  wrong.  It  may  make  this  or  that 
lawful  or  unlawful ;  but  it  cannot  make  that  right  !)y  law  which  is 
morally  wrong  in  itself.     The  almighty  Ruler  of  the  universe,  in 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CEXTURY.  241 

sanctioning  civil  government,  conferred  no  power  on  it  to  contra- 
vene his  will,  or  to  take  from  his  creature  man  the  obligation  to 
reverence  and  obey  Him  in  all  things.  The  duty  of  subjects  to 
render  obedience  to  law,  therefore  runs  parallel  with  the  obligation 
on  rulers  to  require  nothing  contrary  to  the  known  will  of  the 
Supreme  Lawgiver.  Where  this  parallelism  is  broken,  by  those  in 
authority  enacting  and  enforcing  laws  that  come  in  conflict  with 
the  teaching  of  the  New  Testament,  or  with  the  iniiuediate  disclosure 
of  the  Divine  will  to  the  soul,  obedience  to  the  higher  law  is  a  duty 
that  cannot  be  set  aside  by  human  authority,  although  that  author- 
ity may  wickedly  extend  the  power  it  usurps,  to  inflict  punishment 
for  not  conforming  to  its  unrighteous  behests. 

The  coui'se  of  the  INIassachusetts  Governor  and  Courts  was  in 
accordance  with  the  principles  on  which  the  Puritans  had  before 
acted,  a  determined  attempt  to  crush  out  all  liberty  of  conscience, 
which  nevertheless  they  claimed  for  themselves.  For  in  the  afore- 
mentioned address  to  King  Charles,  they  say,  they  "  Had  chosen 
rather  the  pure  Scripture  worship,  with  a  good  conscience,  in  that 
remote  wilderness  among  the  heathen,  than  the  pleasures  of  England, 
with  subjection  to  the  imposition  of  the  then  so  disposed,  and  so  far 
prevailing  hierarchy ;  which  they  could  not  do  without  an  evil  con- 
science." It  has  been  already  seen  how  determined  they  were  that 
others,  not  of  the  same  faith  with  themselves,  should  not  enjoy  the 
same  rights  as  they  possessed  ;  and  it  will  be  further  exemplified  by 
the  continuance  of  the  narrative  of  the  transactions  in  New  Eng- 
land, in  relation  to  Friends. 

It  was  before  mentioned,  when  giving  some  account  of  the  perse- 
cution of  Friends,  at  Boston,  that  William  Leddra  and  Wenlock 
Christison,  had  been  banished  from  that  Colony  on  pain  of  death. 
The  former,  whose  home  was  in  Barbadoes,  Avhere  he  had  lived  for 
some  years,  had  suffered  grievously,  while,  in  obedience  to  what  he 
believed  to  be  his  religious  duty,  he  was  travelling  from  place  to 
place  in  the  Colonies,  preaching  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  to  the 
people.  But  stripes  and  imprisonment  could  not  turn  him  aside 
from  obeying  the  requirings  of  his  Lord  and  blaster,  and  so,  though 
knowing  that  obedience  would  i)robal)ly  cost  hinf  his  life,  when  it 
was  made  known  to  him  he  must  return  to  Boston,  he  freely  gave 
up  and  went  there.  This  was  "in  the  Tenth  month  of  1660.  He 
was  at  once  arrested  and  committed  t<j  jail,  where  he  was  chained 
fast  to  a  large  log  of  wood,  and  kept  in  that  condition,  without  fire, 
for  several  months,  though  the  weather  was  cold.  On  the  ninth  of 
16 


242  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

the  First  nioiith,  1G61,  lie  was  again  brought  before  the  Court,  still 
chained  to  the  log,  and  on  his  asking  the  jailer,  when  he  intended 
to  take  the  irons  from  his  legs?  he  rej)lied,  "  When  thou  art  going 
to  be  hanged." 

Sewel,  who  took  great  pains  to  obtain  correct  inf  irination,  gives 
the  foHowing  account  of  the  trial  and  execution:  —  "  W.  Leddra 
then  being  brought  to  the  bar,  it  was  told  him  by  the  rulers,  speak- 
ing of  their  law,  that  he  was  found  guilty,  and  so  that  he  was  to  die. 
He  said,  '  What  evil  have  I  done? '  The  answer  was,  his  own  con- 
fession was  as  good  as  a  thousand  witnesses.  He  asked,  what  that 
was  ?  To  which  they  answered,  that  he  owned  those  Quakers  that 
'were  put  to  death,  and  that  they  were  innocent.  Besides,  that  he 
would  not  put  off  his  hat  in  Court,  and  that  he  said  thee  and  tlioa. 
Then  said  William  to  them.  'You  will  put  me  to  death  for  speak- 
ing English,  and  for  not  putting  off  my  clothes?  '  To  this  Major- 
General  Denison  returned,  '  A  man  may  speak  treason  in  English.' 
And  William  replied,  '  Is  it  treason  to  say  ihee  and  thou  to  a  single 
person?'  But  none  answei'ed,  only  Simon  Broadstreet,  one  of  the 
Court,  asked  him  whether  he  would  go  for  England  ?  To  which  he 
answered,  'I  have  no  business  there.'  Hereupon  Broadstreet,  point- 
ing to  the  gallows,  said,  '  Then  you  shall  go  that  way.'  To  which 
William  returned,  'What!  will  ye  put  me  to  death  for  breathing  in 
the  air  in  your  jurisdiction  ?  And  for  what  you  have  against  me,  I 
appeal  to  the  laws  of  England  for  my  trial ;  and  if  by  them  I  am 
guilty,  I  refuse  not  to  die.'  Of  this  no  notice  was  taken,  but  instead 
thereof,  they  endeavored  to  persuade  him  to  recant  of  his  error,  (as 
they  styled  it,)  and  to  conform  ;  to  which,  with  a  grave  magna- 
nimity, he  answered,  'What!  to  join  with  such  murderers  as  you 
are?  Then  let  every  man  that  meets  me  say,  Lo,  this  is  the  man 
that  hath  forsaken  the  God  of  his  salvation.' 

"  Whilst  the  trial  of  W.  Leddra  was  thus  going  on,  Wenlock 
Christison,  who  was  already  banished  upon  pain  of  death,  came  into 
the  Court.  This  struck  a  damp  upon  them,  insomuch  that  for  some 
space  of  time  there  was  silence  in  the  Court. 

"  It  having  been  told  W.  Leddra,  that  at  the  last  General  Court 
he  had  liberty  given  him  to  go  for  England,  or  to  go  out  of  their 
jurisdiction,  and  that  promising  to  do  so,  and  come  there  no  more, 
he  might  save  his  life ;  he  answered,-'  I  stand  not  in  my  own  will,  but 
in  the  will  of  the  Lord:  if  I  may  have  my  freedom,  I  shall  go,  but 
to  make  you  a  promise,  I  cannot.'  But  this  was  so  far  from  giving 
.content,  that  they  proceeded  to  pronounce  sentence  of  death  against 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  243 

him ;  which  being  done,  he  was  led  from  the  Court  to  prison  again. 
The  day  before  his  death,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  friends ;  from 
which  the  following  extracts  are  taken  : 

"'Most  dear  and  inwardly  beloved,  — The  sweet  influences  of  the 
morning  star,  like  a  flood  distilling  into  my  innocent  habitation,  hath 
so  filled  me  with  the  joy  of  the  Lord  in  the  beauty  of  holiness,  that 
my  spirit  is  as  if  it  did  not  inhabit  a  tabernacle  of  clay,  but  is  wholly 
swallowed  up  in  the  bosom  of  eternity,  from  whence  it  had  its  being. 

"'Alas,  alas,  what  can  the  wrath  and  spirit  of  man,  tliat  lusteth 
to  envy,  aggravated  by  the  heat  and  strength  of  the  king  of  the 
locusts,  which  came  out  of  the  pit,  do  unto  one  that  is  hid  in  the 
secret  places  of  the  Almighty,  or  unto  them  that  are  gathered  under 
the  healing  wings  of  the  Prince  of  Peace  ?  under  whose  armor  of 
light  they  shall  be  able  to  stand  in  the  day  of  trial,  having  on  the 
breast-plate  of  righteousness,  and  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  which  is 
their  weapon  of  war  against  spiritual  wickedness,  principalities  and 
powers,  and  the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of  this  world,  both  within  and 
without.  Oh,  my  beloved  !  I  have  waited  as  a  dove  at  the  windows 
of  the  ark,  and  have  stood  still  in  that  watch,  which  the  Master, 
(without  whom  I  could  do  nothing,)  did  at  his  coming  reward  with 
fulness  of  his  love  ;  wherein  my  heart  did  rejoice,  that  I  might  in  the 
love  and  life  of  God  speak  a  few  words  to  you,  sealed  with  the  spirit 
of  promise,  that  the  taste  thereof  might  be  a  savor  of  life  to  your 
life,  and  a  testimony  in  you  of  my  innocent  death  :  and  if  I  had 
been  altogether  silent,  and  the  Lord  had  not  opened  my  mouth  unto 
you,  yet  He  would  have  opened  your  hearts,  and  there  have  sealed 
my  innocency  with  the  streams  of  life,  by  which  we  are  all  baptized 
into  that  body  which  is  in  God,  in  whom  and  in  whose  presence  there 
is  life:  in  which,  as  you  abide,  you  stand  upon  the  pillar  and  ground 
of  truth.         ........ 

"  '  As  the  flowing  of  the  ocean  doth  fill  every  creek  and  branch 
thereof,  and  then  retires  again  towax'ds  his  own  being  and  fulness, 
and  leaves  a  savor  behind  it,  so  doth  the  life  and  virtue  of  God  flow 
into  every  one  of  your  hearts,  whom  He  hath  made  partakers  of  his 
divine  nature;  and  when  it  withdraws  but  a  little,  it  leaves  a  sweet 
savor  behind  it,  that  many  can  say,  they  are  made  ck'an  tlirougli 
the  word  that  He  hath  spoken  to  them  :  in  which  iiniocent  condi- 
tion you  may  see  what  you  are  in  the  presence  of  God,  and   what 

you  are  without  Him And  although  y(Hi  know  these 

things,  and  many  of  you,  much  more  tliau  I  can  say ;  yet,  for  tlie 
love  and  zeal  I  bear  to  the  truth  and  honor  of  God,  and  tender 


244  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

flesiro  of  my  soul  to  tljose  that  are  young ;  that  they  may  read  me  in 
tliat  from  whieli  I  write,  to  strengthen  them  against  the  wiles  of  the 
subtile  serpent  that  beguiled  Eve,  I  say,  stand  in  the  watch  within, 
ill  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  which  is  the  very  entrance  of  wisdom,  and 
the  state  where  you  are  ready  to  receive  the  secrets  of  the  Lord : 
hunger  and  thirst  patiently,  be  not  weary,  neither  doubt.  Stand 
still,  and  cease  from  thy  own  working,  and  in  due  time  thou  shalt 
enter  into  the  rest,  and  thy  eyes  shall  behold  his  salvation,  whose 
testimonies  are  sure  and  righteous  altogether:  let  them  be  as  a  seal 
upon  thine  arm,  and  as  jewels  about  thy  neck,  that  others  may  see 
what  the  Lord  hath  done  for  your  souls.  Confess  Him  before  men, 
yea,  before  his  greatest  enemies ;  fear  not  what  they  can  do  unto 
you  :  greater  is  He  that  is  in  you,  than  he  that  is  in  the  world  :  for 
He  will  clothe  you  with  humility,  and  in  the  power  of  his  meekness 
you  shall  reign  over  the  rage  of  all  your  enemies  in  the  favor  of 
God  ;  wherein  as  you  stand  in  faith,  ye  are  the  salt  of  the  earth;  for 
many  seeing  your  good  works  may  glorify  God  in  the  dav  of  their 
visitation. 

Your  Brother, 

WrLLiAM  Leddra.' 
Boston  Jail,  First  month  13tli,  1661. 

"  Ths  next  day  after  this  letter  was  written,  the  execution  of  W. 
Leddra  was  performed,  which  was  on  the  14th  of  the  First  month. 
After  the  lecture  was  ended,  the  Governor,  John  Eudicott,  came 
witli  a  guard  of  soldiers  to  the  prison,  where  W.  Leddra's  irons  were 
taken  off,  with  which  he  had  been  chained  to  a  log  both  night  and 
day  during  the  cold  winter  ;  and  how  they  were  knocked  off,  accord- 
ing to  what  the  jailer  once  said,  as  hath  been  related  before.  Wil- 
liam then  having  taken  his  leave  of  Wenlock  Christison,  and  others 
then  in  bonds,  when  called,  went  forth  to  the  slaughter,  encom- 
passed with  a  guard  to  prevent  his  speaking  to  his  friends;  which 
Edward  Wharton,  an  inhaljitant  of  Salem,  and  also  banished  on 
pain  of  death,  seeing,  and  speaking  against,  one  amongst  the  com- 
pany said,  'O  Edward,  it  will  be  your  turn  next! '  To  which  Cap- 
tain Oliver  added, '  If  you  speak  a  word,  I  '11  sto})  your  mouth.'  Then 
W.  Leddra  being  brought  to  the  foot  of  the  ladder,  was  pinioned, 
and  as  he  was  about  to  ascend  the  same,  he  took  leave  of  his  friend, 
E.  Wharton,  to  whom  he  said,  'All  that  will  be  Christ's  disciples, 
must  take  up  the  cross.'     He  standing  upon  the  ladder,  somebody 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  245 

said,  'William,  have  you  anything  to  say  to  the  people?'  There- 
upon he  spoke  thus,  '  For  the  testimony  of  Jesus,  and  for  testify- 
ing against  deceivers  and  the  deceived,  I  am  brought  here  to  suffer.' 
This  took  so  much  with  the  people,  that  it  wrought  a  tenderness  in 
many.  But  to  quench  this,  priest  Allen  said  to  the  spectators, 
*  People,  I  would  not  have  you  think  it  strange  to  see  a  man  so  will- 
ing to  die,  for  that's  no  new  thing.  And  you  may  read  how  the 
apostle  said,  that  some  should  be  given  up  to  strong  delusions,  and 
even  dare  to  die  for  it.'  But  he  did  not  say  where  the  apostle 
speaks  so.  As  the  executioner  was  putting  the  halter  about  his  neck, 
he  was  heard  to  say,  '  I  commit  my  righteous  cause  unto  thee,  0 
God.'  The  executioner  then  being  charged  to  make  haste,  W.  Led- 
dra,  at  the  turning  of  the  ladder,  cried,  '  Lord  Jesus,  receive  my 
spirit;'  and  so  he  was  turned  off,  and  finished  his  days.  The  hang- 
man cut  down  the  dead  body,  and  lest  it  should  be  as  barbarously 
used  as  tiiose  of  William  Robinson  and  Marmaduke  Stevenson, 
(which  none  holding  when  cut  down,  fell  to  the  ground  to  the  break- 
ing of  W.  Robinson's  skull,)  Edward  Wharton,  John  Chamberlain, 
and  others,  caught  the  body  in  their  arms  and  laid  it  on  the  ground, 
till  the  hangman  had  stripped  it  of  its  clothes.  The  body  being 
stripped,  William's  friends  took  it,  laid  it  in  a  coffin,  and  buried  it. 
For  further  confirmation  of  what  hath  been  related,  the  following 
letter  of  one  of  the  spectators,  that  was  there  accidentally,  may  be 
added : 

"'Boston,  Marcli  2t),  1661. 
"  '  On  the  14th  of  this  instant,  there  was  one  William  Leddra,  who 
was  put  to  death.  The  people  of  the  town  told  me,  he  might  go 
away  if  he  would;  but  when  I  made  further  inquiry,  I  heard  the 
Marshal  say,  that  he  was  chained  in  prison,  from  the  time  he  was 
condemned,  to  the  day  of  his  execution.  I  am  not  of  his  opinion  : 
but  yet  truly  methought  the  Lord  did  mightily  appear  in  the  man. 
I  went  to  one  of  the  Magistrates  of  Cambridge,  who  had  been  of  the 
jury  that  condemned  him,  (as  he  told  me  himself, )  and  I  asked  him 
by  what  rule  he  did  it  ?  He  answered  me  that  he  was  a  rogue,  a 
very  rogue.  But  what  is  this  to  the  question,  (I  said,)  where  is  your 
rule?  He  said,  he  had  abused  authority.  Then  I  goes  after  the 
man,  ( W.  Leddra,)  and  asked  him,  whether  he  did  not  look  on  it 
as  a  breach  of  rule  to  slight  and  undervalue  authority  ?  And  I  said 
that  Paul  gave  Festus  the  title  of  honor,  though  he  was  a  heathen. 
"  1  do  not  say  that  these  Magistrates  are  heathens,"  1  said.  Then 
when  the  man  was  on  the  ladder,  he  looked  on  me,  and  called  me 


246  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

friend,  and  said,  "  Know  that  tliis  day  I  am  willing  to  offer  up  my 
life  for  ilu>  witness  of  Jesus."  Then  I  desiretl  leave  of  the  officers  to 
speak,  and  said,  Gentlemen,  I  am  a  stranger  both  to  your  persons 
and  country,  and  yet  a  friend  to  both,  and  I  cried  aloud,  for  the 
Lord's  sake,  take  not  away  the  man's  life;  but  remember  Gamaliel's 
counsel  to  the  Jews.  If  this  be  of  man  it  will  come  to  nought,  but 
if  it  be  of  God,  ye  cannot  overthrow  it:  but  be  careful  ye  be  not 
found  fighters  against  God.  And  the  captain  said,  Why  had  you 
not  come  to  the  prison  ?  The  reason  was,  because  I  heard  the  man 
might  go  if  he  would  ;  and  therefore  I  called  him  dowu  from  the 
tree,  and  said.  Come  down,  AVilliam,  you  may  go  if  you  will.  Theu 
Captain  Oliver  said,  it  was  no  such  matter;  and  asked,  Avhat  I  had 
to  do  with  it  ?  And  besides,  bade  me  begoue :  and  I  told  them,  I 
was  willing:  for  I  cannot  endure  to  see  this,  I  said.  And  when  I 
■was  in  the  town,  some  did  seem  to  sympathize  with  me  in  my  grief. 
But  I  told  them  they  had  uo  warrant  from  the  word  of  God,  nor 
precedent  from  our  country,  nor  power  from  his  majesty,  to  hang 
the  man.  I  rest  your  friend, 

Thomas  Wilkie.'  " 

To  Mr.  George  Ladi],  master  of  tlie 
"Ainei'ica,"  now  at  B:ubadoes. 

Edward  Wharton,  who,  though  under  sentence  of  banishment 
on  pain  of  deatli,  had  striven  to  keep  as  near  to  his  dear  friend  Wm. 
Leddra,  as  the  blood-staiued  executioners  of  his  sentence  would 
permit,  was  an  inhabitant  of  Salem,  and  had  been  convinced  of  the 
principles  of  Friends  early  after  they  were  first  promulgated  in  that 
Colony.  He  had  been  kept  close  prisoner  in  Boston  for  nearly  a 
vear  prior  to  his  being  brought  before  the  Court  to  receive  sentence. 
While  before  them  he  inquired  of  Governor  Endicott  what  he  had 
to  lay  to  his  charge?  Who  replied,  his  not  taking  off  his  hat.  E. 
Wharton  observed,  that  wearing  his  hat  was  no  ground  for  perse- 
cuting him,  and  he  repeated  his  request  to  be  informed  what  was 
the  specific  charge  against  him.  But  he  could  obtain  no  other  re- 
ply to  this,  than  "  You  shall  know-  that  afterwards  :  "  he  was  theu 
sent  back  and  confined  in  the  same  cell  with  Wra.  Leddra.  When 
again  l)rought  before  the  Court  he  again  asked,  "  For  wdiat  he  was 
treated  as  an  evil-doer?" 

"  The  Court. —  Your  hair  is  too  long,  and  you  have  disobeyed  the 
commandment  which  say eth,  '  Honor  thy  father  and  mother.' 

E.  W.—  Wiierein  ? 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CEXTURY.  247 

Court. —  In  that  you  will  uot  put  off  your  hat  to  magistrates. 

E.  W. —  I  own  aud  love  all  magistrates  and  rulers,  who  are  for 
the  punishment  of  evil-doers,  aud  for  the  praise  of  them  that  do 
well. 

Rawsou. —  Hold  up  your  hand. 

E.  W. —  I  will  not.     Thou  hast  no  evil  to  charge  me  with. 

Rawsou. —  Hear  your  sentence  of  banishment. 

E.  W.— Have  a  care  what  you  do;  for  if  you  murder  me,  my 
blood  will  lie  heavy  upon  you. 

Rawson. —  Edward  Wharton,  attend  to  your  sentence  of  banish- 
ment. You  are,  upon  pain  of  death,  to  depart  this  jurisdiction  ;  it 
being  the  eleventh  of  this  instant,  March  [1661],  by  the  one  and 
twentieth  of  the  same,  on  pain  of  death." 

E.  Wharton  told  the  Court,  he  had  no  intention  to  go  away,  and 
then  addressing  the  persons  assembled  on  the  injustice  and  inhu- 
manity of  the  proceedings,  told  them  he  had  been  taken  from  his 
home  where  he  was  following  his  lawful  calling,  and  led  through  the 
country  like  a  culprit,  without  being  able  to  find  out  of  what  he  was 
accused,  and  now  he  bid  them  take  notice,  there  had  been  nothing 
alleged  against  him,  but  the  length  of  his  hair,  and  wearing  his 
hat. 

As  E.  Wharton  was  a  man  of  good  repute  and  influence  among 
his  fellow-citizens,  many  of  whom  had  expressed  their  indignation 
at  the  imprisonments,  and  cruel  scourgings  already  inflicted  upon 
him,  on  account  of  his  religious  belief  and  the  kindness  shown  by 
him  to  his  suffering  brethren  and  sisters  in  the  same  household  of 
faith,  his  case  gave  great  uneasiness  to  his  persecutors,  and  they 
were  anxious  to  get  rid  of  him  as  speedily  as  possible. 

The  Court  of  Boston  found  it  had  entered  upon  a  course  the  end 
of  which  it  could  not  discern  ;  but  which,  as  it  dyed  the  hands  of  its 
members  more  and  more  deeply  with  blood,  multiplied  the  number 
who  were  liable  to  become  its  victims,  while  it  was  exciting  more 
strongly  the  opposition  of  their  own  people,  and  calling  forth  the 
condemnation  of  its  fellow  colonists.  Fears,  lest  the  home  govern- 
ment—  now  restored  to  a  monarchy,  with  the  episco})al  hierarchy 
re-established  in  power  —  might  call  it  to  account  for  its  illegal  and 
inhuman  proceedings,  began  to  shake  its  arrogant  assumption  of 
power,  and  to  lead  its  members  to  doubt  the  policy  of  continuing  the 
execution  of  their  murderous  laws,  even  under  the  pretext  of  main- 
taining tlieir  rigid  religious  belief  and  discipline  intact.   There  were 


248  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

manv  within  its  jurisdiction,  who  hud  ulrcudy  comniitted  wliiit  the 
law  designated  an  oti'ence  incurring  the  penalty  of  banishment  on 
pain  of  death,  and  there  were  several  wiio  had  been  sent  away  after 
receiving  that  sentence.  These  latter,  both  men  and  women,  had 
left  their  homes  and  gone  forth  at  their  Masters  bidding,  to  do  his 
work,  with  their  lives  in  their  hands;  and  the  experience  acquired 
within  the  short  time  since  the  punishment  of  death  had  been  pre- 
scribed for  Quakers,  once  banished  and  again  found  within  the  limits 
of  its  power,  convinced  the  Court,  that  however  much  it  hated  and 
despised  them,  they  counted  not  their  lives  dear  unto  themselves, 
and  so  soon  as  they  believed  <luty  required  it,  they  would  return  to 
warn  its  members  of  the  wickedness  of  the  coui-se  they  were  pursu- 
ing, and  meekly  suffer  whatever  might  be  permitted  to  come  upon 
them.  But  it  appeared  to  have  determined  that  one  already  within 
their  grasp,  shouhl  not  escape  the  doom  they  had  prepai-ed  for  such 
incorrigible  Quakers. 

Sewel  in  his  account  of  the  trial  of  Wm.  Leddra  mentions,  that 
while  it  was  going  on,  Wenloek  Christison  walked  into  the  Court. 
He  was  a  man  naturally  of  resolute  and  independent  spirit,  Avhich, 
having  been  brought  under  the  yoke  and  government  of  Christ,  left 
him  firm  in  purpose  and  unflinching  in  manner,  when  engaged  in 
his  Master's  service,  and  required  to  stand  in  opposition  to  the 
unrighteous  exactions  of  his  fellow-men. 

The  Court  was  about  to  pass  sentence  of  death  on  Wm.  Leddra, 
when  Wenloek  entered.  He  had  before  suffl'red  under  sentence  of 
the  Court,  and  knew  well  the  spirit  and  temper  of  its  members.  His 
unexpected  appearance,  boldly  facing  the  men  who  had  declared 
he  should  die,  should  he  again  be  found  within  their  jurisdiction, 
struck  them  with  such  surprise  and  feai',  that  it  was  some  time 
before  they  could  proceed  with  their  business.  At  length  one  of  the 
Magistrates  said,  "  Here  is  another,  fetch  him  to  the  bar. 
Rawson. —  Is  not  your  name  Wenloek  Christison  ? 
W.  C— Yes. 

Endicott. — -Wast  thou  not  banished  on  pain  of  death? 
W.  C. —  Yea,  I  was. 
Endicott.-;-What  dost  thou  here  tlien  ? 

W.  C. —  I  am  come  to  warn  you  that  you  shed  no  more  innocent 
blood  ;  for  the  blood  that  you  have  shed  already  cries  to  the  Lord 
for  vengeance." 

He  was  then  sent  to  tlie  prison.  On  the  day  of  Wm.  Leddra's 
execution  he  was  again  brought  before  the  Court. 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CEXTURY.  249 

"Member  of  the  Court. —  Unless  you  renounce  your  religion  you 
shall  surely  die. 

W.  C. —  Na,y,  I  will  not  change  my  religion  nor  seek  to  save  my 
life  ;  neither  do  I  intend  to  deny  my  Master;  but  if  I  lose  my  life 
for  Christ's  sake,  and  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  I  shall  save  my 
life." 

Some  of  the  members  refusing  to  condernn  him  at  that  time,  he 
Tvas  I'emanded  to  the  prison,  and  a  person  afterwards  saying  to  him 
that  William  Leddra  was  dead,  and  "  O  !  thy  turn  is  next,"  he  re- 
plied, "  The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done." 

At  the  next  General  Court  in  the  FourtTi  month,  1661,  he  was 
again  arraigned,  and  Governor  Eudicott  asked  him,  "  What  he  had 
to  say  why  he  should  not  die? 

W.  C. —  I  have  done  nothing  worthy  of  death  ;  if  I  had,  I  refuse 
not  to  die. 

Endicott. —  Thou  art  come  in  amongst  us  in  rebellion,  which  is 
the  sin  of  witchcraft,  and  ought  to  be  punished. 

W.  C. —  I  came  not  in  among  you  in  rebellion,  but  in  obedience 
to  the  God  of  heaven,  not  in  contempt  of  any  one  of  you,  but  in 
love  to  your  souls  and  botlies ;  and  that  you  shall  know  one  day, 
when  you  and  all  men  must  give  an  account  of  the  deeds  done  in 
the  body.  Take  heed,  for  you  cannot  escape  the  righteous  judg- 
ments of  God. 

Major-General  Adderton. —  You  pronounce  woes  and  judgments, 
and  those  that  are  gone  before  you,  pronounced  woes  and  judg- 
n>ents,  but  the  judgments  of  the  Lord  are  not  come  upon  us  yet. 

W.  C. —  Be  not  proud,  neither  let  your  spirits  be  lifted  up.  God 
doth  but  wait  until  the  measure  of  iniquity  is  filled  up,  and  you 
have  run  your  ungodly  race;  then  will  the  wrath  of  God  come  upon 
you  to  the  uttermost.  And  as  for  thy  part,  it  hangs  over  thy  head, 
and  is  near  to  be  poured  down  upon  thee,  and  shall  come  as  a  thief 
in  the  night,  suddenly,  when  thou  thinkest  not  of  it.*  By  what  law 
will  you  put  me  to  death  ? 

Court. —  We  have  a  law,  and  l)y  our  law,  you  are  to  die. 

W.  C— So  said  the  Jews  of  Christ,  we  have  a  law,  and  by  our 
law  he  ought  to  die.     Who  empowered  you  to  make  that  law? 

Court. —  We  have  a  patent  and  are  patentees;  judge  whether  we 
have  not  power  to  make  laws  ? 

*  Ft  w;is  cerl.aiiily  ;i  i-ein!irk:il)lc  ooiiiculciico,  if  we  call  it  iiotliing  more,  that 
not  long  after,  General  Adderton,  when  retiirnin-^  from  reviewing  some  sol- 
diers, was  suddenly  thrown  fnjm  his  horse  and  killed  instantly. 


250  FRIENDSIN    THE 

W.  C. —  Wliat!  Imve  you  power  to  make  laws  repugnant  to  the 
laws  of  England  ? 

Eudicott. —  Nay. 

W.  C. —  Then  you  are  gone  beyond  your  hounds,  and  have  for- 
feited your  patent;  and  this  is  nioi-e  than  you  can  answer.  Are 
you  subjects  to  the  King ;  yea  or  nay  ? 

Rawson. —  What  will»)'ou  infer  from  that,  what  good  will  that  do 
you? 

W.  C. —  If  you  are,  say  so  :  for  in  your  petition  to  the  King,  you 
desire  that  he  will  protect  you,  and  that  you  may  be  worthy  to 
kneel  among  his  loyal  subjects. 

Court. —  Yes  :  we  are  so. 

W.  C. — Weil,  so  am  I;  and  for  anything  I  know,  am  as  good  as 
you,  if  not  better ;  for  if  the  King  did  but  know  your  hearts  as  God 
knows  them,  he  would  see  they  are  as  rotten  towards  him  as  they 
are  toward  God.  Therefore,  seeing  that  you  and  I  are  subjects  to 
the  King,  I  demand  to  be  tried  by  the  laws  of  my  own  nation. 

Court. —  You  shall  be  tried  by  a  bench  and  jury." 

[Heretofore  tlie  Court  had,  itself,  exercised  the  powers  of  accuser, 
judge  and  jury,  but  as  taking  of  life  without  trial  by  jury  was  in 
opposition  to  the  law  of  England,  it  begau  to  fear  the  consequences 
if  it  persevered  in  the  practice.] 

"  W.  C. —  That  is  not  the  law,  but  the  manner  of  it:  for  if  you 
will  be  as  good  as  your  word,  you  must  set  me  at  liberty  ;  for  I  never 
heard  or  read  of  any  law  that  was  in  England  to  hang  Quakers. 

Endicott. —  There  is  a  law  to  hang  Jesuits. 

W.  C. —  If  you  put  me  to  death,  it  is  not  because  I  go  under  the 
name  of  a  Jesuit,  but  a  Quaker ;  therefore  I  appeal  to  the  laws  of 
my  own  nation. 

Court. —  You  are  in  our  hands,  and  have  broken  our  laws,  and 
we  w'ill  try  you. 

W.  C. —  Your  ii'ill  is  your  law,  and  what  you  have  |)ower  to  do 
thai  you  will  do,  and  seeing  that  the  jury  must  go  forth  on  my  life, 
this  I  say  to  them,  in  the  fear  of  the  living  G^d  :  Jury,  take  heed 
what  you  do,  for  you  have  sworn  by  the  living  God,  that  you  will 
true  trial  make,  and  just  verdict  give  according  to  the  evidence. 
What  have  I  done  to  deserve  death  ?  Keep  your  liands  out  of  inno- 
cent blood." 

The  jury  being  charged  by  the  Court,  went  out  and  quickly  re- 
turned with  a  verdict  of  guilty. 

"Secretary. —  Wenlock  Christison,  hold  up  your  han^J. 


S  E  Y  E  X  T  E  E  X  T  II    CENTURY.  251 

W.  C. —  I  \y\\\  not.     I  am  here  and  can  hear  thee. 

Pet-retary. —  Guilty  or  not  guilty? 

W.  C —  I  deny  all  guilt,  for  my  conscience  is  clear  in  the  sight 
of  God. 

Endicott. —  The  jury  hath  condemned  thee. 

W.  C. —  The  Lord  doth  justify  me;  wlio  art  thou  that  condemnest?"' 

"  Then  they  voted  as  to  the  sentence  of  death,  hut  were  in  a  man- 
ner confounded,  for  several  could  not  vote  him  guilty  of  death.  The 
Governor  seeing  this  division,  said,  '  I  could  find  in  my  heart  to  go 
home : '  being  in  such  a  rage,  that  he  flung  something  furiously  on 
the  table;  which  made  Weulock  say,  'It  were  better  for  thee  to  be 
at  home  than  here,  for  thou  art  about  a  bloody  piece  of  work.'  Then 
the  Governor  put  the  Court  to  vote  again  ;  but  this  was  doue  con- 
fusedly, which  so  incensed  the  Governor,  that  he  stood  up  and  said, 
'You  that  will  not  consent,  record  it :  I  thank  God  I  am  not  afraid 
to  give  judgment.'  '  Wenlock  Christison,  hearken  to  your  sentence  : 
you  must  return  to  the  place  whence  you  came,  and  thence  to  the 
place  of  execution,  and  there  you  must  be  hanged  until  you  are 
dead,  dead,  dead.' 

W.  C. —  'The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done,  in  whose  will  I  came 
amongst  you,  and  in  whose  counsel  I  stand,  feeling  his  eternal 
power,  that  will  uphold  me  unto  the  last  gasp.'  Moreover, 
'  Known  be  it  unto  you  all,  that  if  ye  have  power  to  take  ray 
life  from  me,  my  soul  sliall  enter  into  everlasting  rest  and  peace 
with  God,  where  you  yourselves  shall  never  come.  And  if  ye 
have  power  to  take  my  life  from  me,  which  I  do  question,  I  do 
believe  you  shall  never  more  take  Quakers'  lives  from  them  ;  note 
my  words :  do  not  think  to  weary  out  the  living  God,  by  taking 
away  the  lives  of  his  servants.  What  do  you  gain  by  it?  for  the 
last  man  that  you  have  put  to  death,  here  are  five  come  in  his  room. 
And  if  ye  have  power  to  take  my  life  from  me,  God  can  raise  up  the 
same  principle  of  life  in  ten  of  his  servants,  and  send  them  among 
you  in  my  room,  that  you  may  have  torment  upon  torment,  which 
is  your  portion  ;  for  there  is  no  peace  to  the  wicked,  saith  my  God.' 

Endicott. —  Take  him  away." 

Wenlock  was  conducted  back  to  prison,  where  were  upwards  of 
twenty  Friends  incarcerated ;  five  of  whom  had  been  banished  on 
pain  of  death. 

George  Bishop  having  published  a  work,  giving  an  account  of 
the  sufferings  of  Friends  in  some  of  the  New  England  Colonies,  in- 
flicted under  the  sanction  of  laws  enacted  there,  also  luirrating  the 


252  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

doiugs  ot  tlie  Courts,  ami  the  si'iitiiiients  avowed  by  some  of  their 
members,  it  had  come  to  the  Kuig's  knowledge,  who  said  he  would 
put  a  stop  to  it.  It  is  probable,  that  by  some  means  this  had 
reached  the  ears  of  Governor  Endieott  and  his  coadjutors;  for  iu 
five  days  after  they  had  sentenced  W.  Christisou  to  be  hung,  the  day 
before  that  appointed  for  his  execution  tlie  Marshal  and  Constable 
came  to  the  prison,  and  informed  him  and  his  companions  in  tribula- 
tion, tliey  were  sent  by  the  Court  to  acquaint  them  with  their  new  law. 

"  W.  C. —  What  means  this  :  have  ye  a  neiv  law  f 

Marshal.^  Yes, 

W.  C. —  Then  ye  have  deceived  most  people. 

Marshal.—  Why  ? 

W.  C. —  Because  they  did  think  the  gallows  had  been  your  last 
weapon.  Your  Magistrates  said  that  your  law  was  a  good  and 
wliolesome  law,  made  for  your  peace  and  the  safeguard  of  your 
courtry.  What !  are  your  hands  now  become  weak  ?  The  power 
of  God  is  over  you  all." 

Thus  the  prison-doors  were  opened,  and  twenty-seven  men  and 
women  Friends  ;  some  of  whom  had  been  long  pent  up  in  its  cramped 
and  unventilated  cells,  were  set  at  liberty ;  two  of  tliem  however, 
Peter  Pearson  and  Judith  Brown,  to  undergo  the  penalty  })re- 
scribed  by  the  "  new  law  ;  "  which  was  whipping  at  the  cart's  tail, 
tiirough  the  different  towns,  as  the  victims  were  thus  driven  out  of 
the  limits  of  the  Coh)ny.   [IGGl.] 

This  was  not  a  new  law,  liaving  been  enacted  by  the  authorities 
in  Boston,  in  1658.  It  autliorized  any  j^erson,  to  apprehend  a 
"  vagabond  Quaker,"  wiio  did  not  give  respect  "  by  the  usual  ges- 
tures thereof ;"  to  take  him  or  her  before  a  Magistrate,  who  shall 
grant  a  warrant  "  to  the  constable  or  other  meet  person,"  who  shall 
"have  him  or  her  stripped  naked  from  the  middle  upward,  and  tied 
to  a  cart's  tail,"  and  whipped  through  the  town ;  then  transfer  him 
or  her  to  the  constable  of  the  next  town,  and  so  on  until  out  of  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  Court.  In  case  of  the  return  of  a  "  vagabond 
(Quaker,"  who  had  been  thus  punished,  he  or  she  was  to  be  placed 
in  jail,  and,  unless  the  Court  ordered  otherwise,  he  or  she  was  to  be 
branded  on  the  left  shoulder  with  the  letter  R,  then  severely  whipped 
and  sent  away  as  before.* 

The  two  Friends,  P.  Pearson  and  J.  Brown,  were  strangers  in  the 
country.  They  were  stripped  to  the  waist,  tied  to  the  cart,  and 
lashed  through  the  streets  of  Boston  :  where  they  further  .suffered  is 

*  "Blue  Laws  of  Connecticut,  Qualcer  Laws,"  &c. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  253 

not  mentioned.  The  Friends  libenited,  began,  at  once,  to  preach 
boldly  to  the  peojile,  and  with  such  effect,  that  the  Magistrates,  at 
their  wits'  end  how  to  stop  the  spread  of  Quaker  ])rinciples,  called 
out  the  soldiers,  and  ordered  a  company  of  them  to  drive  all  the 
Quakers  out  of  the  Colony,  and  into  the  wilderness ;  which  was 
done.  But  notwithstanding  the  torture  of  the  lash  that  awaited 
them,  they  all  returned ;  those  who  were  residents,  to  their  homes, 
and  those  who  had  come  to  the  place  under  a  sense  of  religious 
duty,  to  enter  again  on  the  service  required  of  them. 

The  plea  now  resorted  to  for  inflicting  punishment  on  Friends 
was,  that  they  were  "  vagabonds ;  "  though  those  who  were  residents 
in  the  Colony,  both  men  and  women,  were  known  to  be  honest  and 
industrious  persons,  some  of  them  with  families  which  they  sup- 
ported reputably  by  their  respective  callings ;  and  those  who  came 
from  other  places  were  of  good  families,  were  amply  able  to  bear 
their  own  expenses,  and  were  engaged  in  the  performance  of  what 
they  believed  to  be  a  religious  duty. 

Scourging  in  the  severest  manner  was  now  the  common  lot  of 
those  who  publicly  preached  the  doctrines  of  Friends,  or  who 
allowed  meetings  for  worship  to  be  held  by  them,  in  their  houses. 
Space  cannot  be  allowed  for  narrating  the  many  cases  of  barbarous 
whipping  inflicted.  It  may,  howevei',  be  noticed,  that  in  1662, 
three  women  Friends,  viz.,  Mary  Tomkins,  Alice  Ambrose  and  Ann 
Coleman,  from  England,  accompanied  by  Edward  Wharton,  of 
whom  mention  has  been  already  made,  travelled  north  into  Maine, 
declaring  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel  to  the  people.  At  Dover, 
where  they  had  an  opportunity  to  satisfy  many  who  resorted  to  the 
inn  where  they  put  up,  to  inquire  what  their  hope  and  belief  were, 
the  minister  of  the  town,  in  order  to  prejudice  his  hearers  against 
them,  declared  that  they  denied  "  magistracy,  ministers,  the  churches 
of  Christ,  aud  the  three  persons  in  the  trinity."  To  which  they 
replied,  "  Take  notice,  people,  this  man  falsely  accuseth  us,  for  godly 
magistrates  and  the  ministers  of  Christ  we  own,  and  the  churches 
of  Christ  we  own,  and  that  there  are  three  that  bear  record  in 
heaven,  which  three  are  the  Father,  Word  and  Spirit,  we  own." 
Tlie  priest  went  away  in  a  rage,  and  many  were  convinced  of  the  truth. 

Major  Shapleigh,  a  Magistrate  in  Maine,  invited  them  to  his  house, 
—  where  he  had  a  priest  residing  with  him,  who  went  away  —  and 
allowing  a  meeting  to  be  held  there,  he  and  his  wife  were  con- 
vinced, dismissed  their  minister,  and  had  a  meeting  of  Friends  held 
regularly  under  their  roof.     In  the  Tenth  month  of  the  same  year 


254  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

the  same  women  Friciidi^  returiuMl  to  iMainc,  to  vi.sit  and  .strengthen 
the  new  converts;  and  when  at  Dover,  the  minister  who  had  op- 
l)osed  them,  when  there  before,  instigated  the  Magistrates  to  arrest 
and  punish  them.  Accordingly  they  were  brouglit  before  one  of 
thera,  who  issued  a  warrant,  drawn  up  by  the  minister,  wlio  acted 
as  liis  clerk,  and  addressed  to  the  constables  of  eleven  towns,  as 
follows,  "  You  and  every  of  you  are  required,  in  the  King's  ma- 
jesty's name,  to  take  these  vagabond  Quakers,  Ann  Coleman,  Mary 
Tomkins  and  Alice  Ambrose,  and  make  them  fast  to  the  cart's  tail; 
and  driving  your  cart  through  your  several  towns,  to  whip  them 
on  their  backs,  not  exceeding  ten  stripes  apiece  on  each  of  them,  in 
each  town,  and  so  convey  them  from  constable  to  constable,  till  they 
come  out  of  this  jurisdiction,  as  you  will  answer  it  at  your  peril." 
While  this  inhuman  punishment  was  being  inflicted  at  Dover,  two 
of  the  spectators,  who  rebuked  the  "  minister  "  for  laughing,  as  he 
witnessed  the  application  of  tlie  knotted  scourge  to  the  bare  bodies 
of  his  feeble  victims,  were  placed  in  the  stocks  for  this  manifesta- 
tion of  sympathy.  At  the  third  town  through  which  they  were 
lashed,  their  "torn  bodies  and  weary  steps"  so  deeply  affected  the 
inliabitants,  that  one  of  them  persuaded  the  constable  to  make  him 
his  deputy,  and  upon  obtaining  the  warrant,  he  at  once  set  them  at 
liberty,  and  they  went  on  into  Maine  to  the  house  (jf  Major  Shapleigh. 
1(362.  After  finishing  their  work  in  that  section  of  country,  they 
believed  it  required  of  them  to  return  to  Dover.  Arriving  there  they 
went  to  Friends'  meeting  on  the  First-day  of  the  week.  While  Alice 
Ambrose  was  engaged  in  prayer,  two  constables,  who  were  brothers, 
entered,  and  seizing  her,  dragged  her  out  of  the  house,  and  through 
deep  snow  and  over  stumps  and  trees  for  the  distance  of  a  mile. 
Mary  Tomkins  was  then  subjected  to  similar  cruelty,  and  they  were 
locked  up.  The  next  morning,  a  canoe  being  procured,  they  w'ere 
told  they  were  to  be  taken  down  to  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  and 
there  put  in  the  water;  so  that  they  should  not  trouble  them  any 
more.  On  their  refusing  to  go  voluntarily,  M.  Tomkins  was  seized, 
thrown  on  her  back,  and  thus  dragged  down  the  hill  in  such  a 
violent  manner,  that  she  repeatedly  fainted.  Alice  Ambrose  was 
brought  down  with  the  same  ferocious  cruelty,  forced  into  the  water 
and  kept  floating  alongside  the  canoe  until  she  was  nearly  drown-ed. 
But  before  their  murderous  purpose  could  be  accomplished,  there  sud- 
denly arose  so  violent  a  storm  that  the  constables  and  an  "  elder,'' 
named  Hate-evil  Nutwel,  who  was  with  them,  were  obliged  to  seek 
shelter.     Afterwards  the  three  women  Friends — Ann  Coleman  shar- 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CEXTURY.  255 

ing  in  the  same  persecution  —  were  taken  buck  to  the  house,  and  at 
midnight  were  driven  out  into  the  wilderness  to  perish,  unsheltered, 
from  the  cold  and  snow ;  Alice  Ambrose's  clothes  being  frozen  stiff 
upon  her.  But  the  Master  whom  they  served,  and  who  numbered 
the  very  hairs  of  their  heads,  supported  and  cheered  them  by  his 
invisible  presence,  healed  them  of  their  many  injuries,  and  enabled 
them  to  pursue  their  gospel  labors  in  different  places,  notwithstand- 
ing their  portion  repeatedly  was  whipping  or  being  kept  in  the  stocks. 

Before  leaving  the  New  England  persecution  of  Friends,  it  may 
be  well  to  notice  the  case  of  Elizabeth  Hooten,  who,  after  having 
been  engaged  in  religious  service  in  Virginia,  as  before  mentioned, 
had  come  into  Boston,  and  with  Joan  Brocksoppe  —  a  woman  Friend 
as  old  as  herself — was  imprisoned  there  for  a  considerable  length 
of  time.  [1661.]  When  liberated,  they  were  carried  many  miles  into 
the  wilderness  and  there  left,  without  food  or  means  of  shelter. 
Nevertheless  they  travelled  through  the  woods  until  they  reached 
Rhode  Island,  where  they  were  kindly  entertained.  Thence  they 
sailed  for  the  West  Indies,  and  after  being  engaged  there  in  religious 
service,  believing  it  required  of  them,  they  returned  to  Boston.  On 
their  arrival  they  Avere  immediately  arrested,  and  carried  on  board 
the  ship  that  brought  them ;  which  going  to  Virginia,  lauded  them 
there.  Thence  Elizabeth  sailed  for  England  and  remained  there 
for  some  time.  Still  feeling  it  required  of  her  to  go  again  to  Boston, 
she  nuide  preparation  therefoi-,  and  having  obtained  a  license  from 
the  King  to  settle  in  any  of  the  colonies  of  the  kingdom,  and  "  To 
buy  a  house  for  herself  to  live  in,  for  Friends  to  meet  in,  and  ground 
to  bury  their  dead  in,"  she,  with  her  daughter  Elizabeth,  then  a 
young  woman,  set  sail  and  shortly  reached  the  place  of  destination. 

Directly  after  arriving,  E.  Hooten  endeavored  to  purchase  a  house 
and  lot,  but  the  Magistrates,  though  they  paid  so  much  respect  to 
the  King's  license  as  not  to  fine  the  captain  of  the  ship  who  brought 
her  over,  steadily  refused  to  allow  her  to  purchase  property  within 
their  jurisdiction.  Finding  her  efforts  to  establish  a  home  there, 
fruitless,  she  proceeded  to  accomplish  tlie  mission  of  gospel  love  she 
had  long  believed  herself  called  to,  towards  the  inhabitants  of  the 
northern  part  of  MiLssachusetts.  In  the  course  of  this  service,  she  en- 
dured much  suffering.  [1602.]  At  Hampton,  she  was  imprisoned  for 
some  time.  At  Dover,  she  was  kept  in  the  stocks,  and  then  thrust 
into  prison,  wliere  she  remained  four  days.  At  Cambridge,  she  was 
shut  up  in  a  "noisome  dungeon  "  two  days  and  nights,  "  without 
food  or  drink,  and  with  nothing  to  sit  or  lie  on  but  the  damp  floor." 


256  FRTEXDS     IN    THE 

As  the  weather  was  cohl,  her  suffering  was  great,  aiul  a  Friend  hav- 
ing hrouglit  lier  some  milk,  to  keep  her  from  sinking,  lie  was  sum- 
marily brought  before  the  authorities,  who  lined  him  £5,  and 
committed  him  likewise  to  prison.  The  next  day  Elizabeth  was 
ordered  before  the  sattie  Court,  which  sentenced  her  to  be  whipped 
through  three  towns  and  expelled  the  Colony.  She  was  then  fastened 
to  the  whipping-post,  and  had  ten  lashes  laid  on  her  bare  back.  At 
Watertown,  she  again  received  ten  lashes,  and  at  Dedhara,  being  tied 
to  a  cart's  tail,  ten  lashes  more  were  laid  on  with  great  severity. 
Torn  and  bruised  as  she  was,  she  w-as  placed  on  horseback,  and  with- 
out allowing  her  to  take  her  clothing,  carried  many  miles  into  the 
wilderness,  and  left  there  near  night,  with  nothing  to  protect  her 
from  the  inclement  cold,  or  to  defend  her  from  the  wolves,  which 
were  numerous.  There  was  no  doubt  but  her  persecutors  thought 
she  must  perish.  But  if  so,  their  design  was  frustrated  :  the  eternal 
God  was  her  refuge,  and  underneath  were  the  everlasting  arms, 
which  bore  her  up,  and  enabled  her  to  reach  a  town  called  Reho- 
both  in  the  morning;  whence  she  travelled  into  Rhode  Island,  and 
coming  among  Friends  there,  she  gave  thanks  to  God  who  had 
counted  her  worthy  to  suffer  for  his  great  name  sake,  and  signally 
supported  her  through  so  many  and  grievous  cruelties. 

As  her  clothing,  and  some  other  articles  belonging  to  her,  were 
at  Cambridge,  Elizabeth  and  her  daughter  went  there,  and  having 
obtained  her  goods,  they  started  to  return  to  Rhode  Island,  and  in 
the  forest  met  Sarah  Coleman,  an  aged  Friend  living  at  Scituate. 
Soon  after,  they  were  all  arrested  and  carried  back  to  Cambridge, 
where  they  were  shut  up  in  the  prison.  When  brought  before  the 
authorities,  they  were  sentenced  to  be  whipped  through  three  towns, 
and  expelled  the  Colony.  This  was  executed  in  the  same  barbarous 
manner  as  before,  and  they  then  carried  over  the  line  into  Rhode 
Island.  [1662.] 

Undeterred  by  the  severities  practised  upon  her,  this  dedicated 
woman  did  not  hesitate  to  obey  the  requirings  of  her  Divine  Master, 
and  at  two  different  times  in  1()62,  after  her  expulsion,  as  before 
narrated,  she  returned  to  Boston,  and  each  time  was  treated  in  the 
same  merciless  manner,  with  imprisonment  and  severe  scourging 
through  various  towns.  xVgain,  in  1665,  she  was  in  Boston,  and 
spoke  to  the  peoi)le  attending  the  funeral  of  Governor  Endicott, 
calling  their  attention  to  the  miserable  condition  in  which  he  died. 
For  this  she  wa.s  imprisoned  ;  as  she  was  afterwards  at  Braintree 
and  Salem.     Her  peaceful  end  will  be  noticed  hereafter. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  257 

It  has  been  previously  stated,  t'at  in  consequence  of  tlie  dissatis- 
faction and  con)])laint  among  many  of  the  inhal)itants  of  the  Colony 
in  Massachusetts,  arising  from  the  execution  of  William  Eobinson, 
Marraaduke  Stevenson  and  iNFary  Dyer,  those  in  authority  at  Boston, 
had  issued  a  defence  of,  or  rather  an  apology  for,  their  infliction  of 
the  penalty  of  death  on  account  of  religious  belief;  a  copy  of  which 
apology  had  been  forwarded  to  the  rulers  in  England.  [1659.]  So 
soon  as  it  became  known  there,  some  Friends,  especially  Edward 
Burrough,  reviewed  it,  and  exposed  its  weakness  and  absurdity; 
which  review  was  presented  to  the  King,  who  expressed  his  disap- 
probation of  the  action  of  the  Colonial  Government.  Upon  intelli- 
gence of  the  hanging  of  William  Leddra  reaching  the  mother  coun- 
try, it  moved  Friends  there  deeply,  and  E.  Burrough  sought  and 
obtained  an  interview  with  the  King,  in  which  he  told  him,  that 
"  A  vein  of  innocent  blood  was  opened  in  his  kingdom,  which,  if  not 
stopped,  would  overrun  all;"  to  which  the  King  replied,  "But  I 
will  stop  that  vein."  E.  Burrough  then  said,  it  should  be  done 
speedily,  "for  we  know  not  how  many  may  soon  be  put  to  death." 
"  As  speedily  as  you  will,"  said  the  King,  and  ordering  his  secre- 
tary to  be  called,  a  mandamus  was  forthwith  drawn  up  and  signed. 

A  day  or  two  after,  E.  Burrough  again  waited  on  the  King,  and 
asked  hira  if  he  would  be  willing  to  depute  one  called  a  Quaker,  to 
carry  his  mandamus  to  New  England.  The  King  replying  favor- 
ably, Samuel  Shattock  was  named,  and  he  was  duly  empowered  to 
take  the  mandamus  and  deliver  it  to  the  Governor.  S.  Shattock 
had  been  banished  from  Boston,  on  pain  of  death,  and  it  was  pecu- 
liarly appropriate  that  such  an  one  should  be  the  messenger  of  the 
King's  determination,  to  stop  the  further  effusion  of  blood,  for  hold- 
ing the  religious  principles  of  Friends.  The  mandamus  was  as 
follows  : 

"  Charles  R.  —  Trusty  and  well-beloved,  we  greet  you  well.  — 
Having  been  informed  that  several  of  our  subjects  amongst  you, 
called  Quakers,  have  been,  and  are  imprisoned  by  you,  whereof 
some  have  been  executed,  and  others,  (as  hath  been  represented 
unto  us,)  are  in  danger  to  undergo  the  like ;  we  have  thought  fit  to 
signify  our  pleasure  in  that  behalf  for  the  future;  and  do  hereby 
require,  that  if  there  be  any  of  those  people  called  Quakers  amongst 
you,  now  already  condemned  to  suffer  death,  or  other  corporeal  pun- 
ishment, or  that  are  imi)risoned,  and  obnoxious  to  the  like  condem- 
nation, you  are  to  forbear  to  proceed  any  further  (herein  ;  but  that 
you  forthwith  send  the  said  persons,  (whether  condemned  or  impris- 
17 


258  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

oned,)  over  into  tliis  our  kinudoni  of  ICnj^luTid,  togothor  with  the 
respective  crimes  or  offences  laid  to  their  charge ;  to  the  end  that 
such  course  may  be  taken  with  them  here,  as  sliall  be  agreeable  to 
our  laws,  and  their  demerits.  And  for  so  doing,  these  our  letters 
shall  be  your  sufficient  warrant  and  discliarge. 

"Given  at  our  ('onrt  at  Whitehall,  the  !)th  day  of  September, 
1661,  in  the  thirteenth  year  of  our  reign. 

"  By  his  majesty's  command, 

"  William  Morris." 

The  superscription  was: 

"  To  our  trusty  and  well-beloved  John  Endicott,  Esq.,  and  to  all 
and  every  other  the  Governor,  or  Governors  of  our  Plantations  of 
New  England,  and  of  all  the  Colonies  thereunto  belonging  ;  that 
now  are,  or  hereafter  shall  be;  and  to  all  and  every  the  ministers 
and  officers  of  our  said  Plantations  and  Colonies  whatsoever,  within 
the  continent  of  New  England." 

Having  so  far  succeeded  in  their  efforts  to  protect  and  aid  their 
beloved  and  suffering  brethren  in  New  England,  there  being  no 
vessel  in  port  likely  to  sail  soon  for  Boston,  Friends  at  once  offered 
Ralph  Goldsmith,  who  was  master  of  a  good  ship,  £300  if  he  would 
sail  within  ten  days  —  with  or  without  freight  —  and  carrv  S.  Shat- 
tock  to  Boston.  In  six  weeks  the  vessel  anchored  in  that  harbor. 
It  was  on  the  First-day  of  the  week,  nevertheless  many  citizens  who 
were  expecting  letters,  or  anxious  to  hear  the  news,  went  on  board  ; 
but  it  had  been  agreed  that  no  letters  should  be  delivered,  and  no 
information  given  of  the  business  on  which  they  had  come,  until  the 
messenger  had  gone  on  shore  and  delivered  the  mandamus;  so  all 
were  told  that  no  letters  would  be  delivered  until  the  next  day. 
The  visitors  returning  into  the  town,  reported  having  seen  S.  Shat- 
tock,  the  banished  Quaker,  on  board,  which  produced  no  little  ex- 
citement among  the  citizens,  and  especially  among  the  members  of 
the  Quaker-hanging  court. 

"The  next  morning  Samuel  Shattock,  the  King's  deputy,  and 
Ralph  Goldsmith,  the  commander  of  the  vessel,  went  on  shore  ;  and 
sending  the  men  that  landed  them  back  to  the  ship,  they  two  went 
through  the  town  to  the  Governor,  John  Endicott's  door,  and 
knocked.  He  sending  a  man  to  know  their  business,  they  sent 
him  word  their  business  was  from  the  King  of  England,  and  that 
they  would  deliver  their  message  to  none  but  the  Governor  him- 
self.    Thereupon  they  were   admitted  to  go  in,  and  the  Governor 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CENTURY.  259 

came  to  tliem,  and  commanded  Shattock's  hat  to  be  taken  off,  and 
having  received  the  deputation  and  mandamus,  he  laid  ofi'  his  own 
hat ;  and  ordering  Shattock's  hat  to  be  given  him  again,  he  looked 
upon  the  papers,  and  then  going  out,  went  to  the  Deputy  Governor, 
and  bid  the  King's  deputy  and  the  master  of  the  ship  to  follow  him. 
Being  come  to  the  Deputy  Governor,  and  having  consulted  with 
him  about  the  matter,  he  returned  to  the  two  aforesaid  persons  and 
said, '  We  shall  obey  his  majesty's  command.'  After  this,  the  mas- 
ter of  the  ship  gave  liberty  to  the  passengers  to  come  ashore,  which 
they  did,  and  met  together  with  their  friends  of  the  town,  to  offer 
up  praises  to  God  for  this  -wonderful  deliverance." 

The  Council  having  met,  issued  an  order  to  the  keeper  of  the 
prison  to  set  at  liberty  all  the  Quakers  then  in  confinement. 

Fearing  lest  advantage  might  be  taken  of  their  having  gone  be- 
yond the  authority  granted  in  the  charter  of  the  Colony,  and  the 
opprobrium  their  course  had  excited  in  England,  so  as  to  deprive 
them  of  the  government,  the  Council  resolved  to  send  the  chief 
"minister,"  John  Norton,  and  Simon  Broadstreet,  a  principal  Mag- 
istrate, over  to  England,  to  make  such  explanations  and  present 
such  reasons  for  their  action,  as  might  remove  the  unfavorable 
opinions  prevailing  there,  and  ward  off  any  unpleasant  consequence 
therefrom.  On  arriving  there,  they  found  the  high  church  party, 
then  in  power,  looked  on  them  very  coldly,  and  some  Royalists  in 
favor  at  Court,  wished  to  have  them  tried,  so  that  they  were  glad 
to  escape  being  called  officially  to  account,  and  to  return  home  so 
soon  as  they  could  get  away. 

George  Fox  gives  in  his  journal  the  following  account  of  his 
interview^  vyith  them :  "  Some  time  after  this,  several  New  England 
Magistrates  came  over,  wnth  one  of  their  priests.  We  had  several 
discourses  with  them  concerning  their  murdering  o.ur  friends,  the 
servants  of  the  Lord ;  but  they  were  ashamed  to  stand  to  their 
bloody  actions.  At  one  of  those  meetings  I  asked  Simon  Broad- 
street,  one  of  the  New  England  Magistrates,  Whether  he  had  not 
an  hand  in  putting  to  death  those  four  servants  of  God,  whom  they 
hanged  for  being  Quakers  only,  as  they  had  nicknamed  them  ?  He 
confessed  he  had.  I  then  asked  him,  and  the  rest  of  his  associates 
then  present.  Whether  they  would  acknowledge  themselves  to  be 
subjects  to  the  laws  of  England  ?  And  if  they  did,  by  what  law  they 
had  put  our  friends  to  death?  They  said,  they  were  subjects  to 
the  laws  of  England,  and  they  had  put  our  friends  to  death  by  the 
same  law  as  the  Jesuits  were  put  to  death  here  in  England.     I 


2f)0  FKIENDS    TNT    T  IT  K 

askc<l  tlicin  tlicn,  Whether  tliey  did  believe  tliose  Friends  of 
ours,  whom  they  hud  ])iit  to  death,  were  Jesuits  or  jesuitieally 
affected?  They  said,  Nay.  Then,  said  I,  ye  have  murdered  them, 
it'  ye  iiave  put  them  to  death  by  the  law  that  Jesuits  are  put  to 
death  lien>  in  En<i:land,  and  yet  confess  they  were  no  Jesuits.  By 
this  it  plainly  appears  ye  have  put  them  to  death  in  your  own  wills, 
without  any  law.  Then  Simon  Broadstreet,  finding  himself  and  his 
coin  pan  v  ensnare<l  by  their  own  words,  said,  Did  we  come  to  catch 
them  V  I  told  them,  they  had  catched  themselves,  and  they  might 
jnstiv  be  (piestioned  for  their  lives;  and  if  the  father  of  William 
Uohinson,  who  was  one  of  those  that  were  put  to  death,  was  in  town, 
it  was  probable  he  would  question  them,  and  bring  their  lives  into 
jeopardy.  Hereupon  they  began  to  excuse  themselves,  saying, 
'  There  was  no  persecution  now  amongst  them  ; '  but  next  morning 
we  had  letters  from  New  England,  giving  us  account  that  our  friends 
were  persecuted  there  afresh.  Thereupon  we  went  to  them  again, 
and  showed  them  our  letters,  which  put  them  both  to  silence  and  to 
shame.  In  great  fear  they  seemed  to  be,  lest  some  should  call  them 
to  account  and  prosecute  them  for  their  lives,  especially  Simon 
Broadstreet ;  for  he  had  at  first  before  so  many  witnesses  confessed, 
'  He  had  a  hand  in  putting  our  friends  to  death,'  that  he  could  not 
get  from  it ;  though  he  afterwards  through  fear  shuffled,  and  would 
have  unsaid  it  again.  After  this  he  and  the  rest  soon  left  the  city, 
and  got  back  to  New  England  again.  I  went  also  to  Governor 
Winthrop,  and  discoursed  with  him  about  these  matters;  but  he 
assured  me, '  He  had  no  hand  in  putting  our  friends  to  death,  or  in 
any  way  persecuting  of  them,  but  was  one  of  them  that  protested 
against  it.' " 

But  though  the  command  of  the  King  disappointed  whatever 
expectation  the  rulers  may  have  entertained  of  taking  the  lives  of 
otiier  members  of  the  "cursed  sect"  by  hanging,  yet,  as  has  been 
.seen,  it  by  no  means  mitigated  their  intolerant  bigotry,  or  moved 
their  determination  to  prevent  the  hated  Quakers  taking  root  in  the 
soil  of  Massachusetts,  if  it  could  be  prevenfeed  by  the  persevering 
infliction  of  the  severest  physical  suffering.  How  steadily  and  un- 
mercifully they  pursued  the  inhuman  course  they  had  nnirked  out, 
the  few  instances  already  given,  and  the  records  of  the  different 
courts  fully  attest.  As  it  is  undesirable  to  recur  to  this  painful 
subject  again,  it  may  be  here  stated,  that  as  death  removed  the 
members  of  the  Court  that  had  first  passed  and  executed  the 
iniquitous  punitive  laws  against  Friends  —  and  the  circumstances 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  26 1 

attending  the  deaths  of  many  of  them  were  remarkable- -persecution 
in  New  England  subsided.  But  as  Friends  increased  in  numbers, 
60  as  to  render  it  necessary  to  build  more  meeting-houses  to  accom- 
modate the  many  converts  that  flocked  to  their  meetings,  the 
"ministers,"  who  could  not  bear  to  see  peoj^le  resorting  to  other 
places  than  their  own  steeple-houses  for  divine  worship,  repeatedly 
stirred  up  the  Magistrates  to  acts  of  persecution,  in  order  to  stop  it; 
and  occasionally  the  law  for  scourging  was  carried  into  execution. 
The  last  instance  of  this  kind  was  at  Boston,  in  1677,  when  a  wo- 
man Friend  from  Barbadoes,  named  Margaret  Brewster,  who  had 
come  to  New  England  to  warn  the  inhabitants  of  the  approach  of  a 
pestilence  that  would  sweep  many  away,  believing  it  to  be  required 
of  her,  entered  one  of  the  public  places  of  worship  in  Boston,  clothed 
in  sack-cloth,  with  her  face  blackened,  and  ashes  on  her  head,  as  a 
sign.  Being  taken  before  the  Court,  with  four  other  Friends,  who  ac- 
companied her,  she  told  them  that  she  had  felt  this  service  required 
of  her  by  her  Divine  Master,  and  had  not  been  willing  to  give  up  to 
perform  it  until  brought  so  low  by  sickness  that  her  life  was  dei- 
spaired  of,  when  she  yielded ;  and  now,  if  it  was  the  will  of  the 
Almighty  that  she  should  lay  down  her  life  for  having  j)erformed 
her  duty,  she  was  content.  She  was  ordered  to  be  stripped  to  the 
waist  and  have  twenty  lashes.  This  was  done,  and  two  days  after, 
twenty-two  Friends  were  subjected  to  the  same  punishment,  simply 
because  they  were  attending  their  place  of  worship.  But  this  act 
of  barbarism  produced  such  an  excitement  among  the  people,  that 
on  the  next  First-day  the  meeting-house  of  Friends  was  so  greatly 
crowded,  and  so  much  disapprobation  of  the  course  pursued  by  the 
Court  was  expressed,  that  the  members  of  it  became  alarmed,  and 
hearing  some  time  after  that  the  home  government  was  dissatisfied 
with  their  proceedings,  the  law  fell  into  disuse,  and  whipping 
Quakers  came  to  an  end. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  not  long  after  the  warning  given  by 
Margaret  Brewster,  a  fatal  epidemic,  then  called  the  "Black  Pox," 
spread  throughout  New  England,  carrying  many  of  the  inhabitants 
to  the  grave. 

Repeated  complaints  having  been  made  to  the  home  government 
that  the  Massachusetts  Colonies  W'ere  executing  laws  contrary  to 
those  of  England,  a  Commission  was  sent  over  in  lG(i4,  to  examine 
:  nd  rectify  them  ;  but  the  rulers  refused  to  comply  with  their  direc- 
tion. But  in  1682,  the  General  Court  in  Boston,  finding  that  the  com- 
plaints had  assumed  a  much  more  grave  form,  and  tlu  re  was  danger 


262  FRIENDS     IN    THE 

of  losinu'  tlu'ir  charter,  authorized  its  agent  near  the  royal  Court, 
to  offer  tlie  King  a  l)ribi'  of  two  thousand  guineas  if  he  wouhl  inter- 
fere, and  stop  the  proceedings.  They,  however,  were  not  successful, 
and  in  1G8.'>,  a  quo  ivarraido  was  issued,  for  them  to  show  cause  why, 
in  consequence  of  the  violation  of  the  terms  of  their  charter,  by 
many  of  the  laws  being  opposed  to  those  of  England,  it  should  not 
be  forfeited.  Conscious  that  they  could  make  no  valid  defence,  they 
allowed  judgment  to  go  by  default,  and  the  charter  was  taken 
away.*  A  new  charter  was  afterwards  granted  by  William  and 
Mary.t 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Friends'  Marriages  declared  Legal — .John  Perrot  and  his  Party  —  Sufferings 
under  the  "  Conventical  Act" — Neal's  account — Duty  of  Publicly  Assem- 
bling for  Divine  Worship  —  Begnming  of  Persecution  in  London  —  Cases 
before  Brown,  the  Lord  Mayor  — Trial  of  J.  Crook  —  Necessity  for  Friends 
being  cautions  about  Pleading  to  Indictments  —  Letters  from  Prisoners. 

TN  1661,  Judge  Archer,  in  one  of  the  Courts  in  England,  gave 
judgment  that  the  marriages  of  Friends  were  legal.  A  person  had 
brought  suit  to  obtain  possession  of  some  property  belonging  to  a 
child  whose  father  was  deceased,  and  mother  married  a  second  time; 
basing  his  claim  on  the  assumption,  that  the  marriage  of  the  father 
and  mother  w-as  not  according  to  the  laws  of  England,  and  therefore 
the  child  was  illegitimate,  and  could  not  inherit.  The  Judge  charged 
tlie  jury,  that  the  fully  expressed  consent  and  declaration  of  the  par- 

*  Fowler's  Local  Laws  of  Massachusetts,  pages  29,  30. 

t  Governor  Endicott  was  stricken  with  a  disease  of  so  loathsome  a  char- 
acter, and  the  offensiveness  of  tlie  smell  was  so  great,  that  his  attendants  could 
hardly  bear  to  be  with  lihn,  and  so  he  died. 

Major-General  Addertoii,  who  upbraided  Wenlock  Christison  with  pro- 
nouncing judgments  tlial  never  were  fultilied,  was  soon  after  thrown  from 
his  horse  and  instantly  killed. 

John  Norton,  the  jtriest  who  attempted  to  justify  the  barbarous  cruelty 
inflicted  on  William  Brend,  and  urged  the  execution  of  William  Eobinson 
and  M.  Stevenson,  was  struck  with  death  soon  after  returning  home  from 
his  place  of  worship  on  First-day,  and  was  heard  to  say,  the  hand,  or  the 
judgment  of  the  Lord,  is  upon  me,  and  sunk  down  and  died. 

Richard  Bellingham,  who  became  Governor  after  Endicott,  became  de- 
ranged, and  so  continued  until  his  death. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTUUY.  263 

ties,  const'tute  marriage,  as  Adam  took  Eve  for  his  wife  in  Paradise. 
The  jury  brought  in  a  verdict  for  the  child,  thus  substantiating  the 
marriage ;  after  which  the  marriage  of  Friends  Avas  never  called  in 
question. 

As  Friends  believed  marriage  was  an  ordinance  of  God,  they  held 
that  He  alone  could  rightly  join  any  therein,  and  that  the  interven- 
tion of.a  priest  or  minister,  was  not  only  uncalled  for,  but  added  noth- 
ing to  the  sacredness  of  the  marriage  covenant.  The  opinion  that 
the  solemnization  of  the  rite,  was  a  function  belonging  to  a  minister 
of  the  gospel.  Friends  knew  was  altogether  unscri})tural,  but  it  was 
cherished  by  the  clergy,  as  it  augmented  their  importance,  and 
added  to  their  revenue. 

Conscious,  that  to  secure  happiness  in  married  life,  it  was  of  the 
greatest  importance  there  should  be  union  between  the  parties  in 
spiritual  views  as  well  as  in  temporal  concerns ;  and  that  where  this 
is  not  the  case,  the  natural  consequences  are  uneasiness  and  disagree- 
ment on  the  most  serious  of  subjects;  and  that  the  offspring  of  such 
connection,  are  liable  to  grow  up  with  no  fixed  religious  opinions,  or 
with  opposing  sentiments  and  feelings,  sometimes  leading  to  the  in- 
terruption of  that  love  and  harmony  which  should  reign  in  the  fam- 
ily, Friends  required  their  members  to  choose  their  companions  for 
life,  from  among  those  of  their  own  Society.  This  practice  has  proved 
a  great  blessing  to  the  members  and  the  Society,  and  its  abandon- 
ment'must  lead  to  laxity  of  family  discipline,  uncertainty  as  to  re- 
ligious profession,  and  weakness  in  the  Body. 

After  the  return  of  John  Perrot — who  has  been  mentioned  already 
—  to  London,  elated  liy  the  attention  paid  him  by  several  Friends, 
on  account  of  his  supposed  sufferings  in  Rome,  and  his  apparent 
sanctity,  as  evinced  by  his  appearance  and  manner,  he  soon  began 
to  manifest  a  spirit  of  self-exaltation,  and  to  claim  a  deeper  sight 
and  sense  in  spiritual  things  than  other  Friends  had  attained.  [ItJGl.] 
As  an  evidence  of  this  he  gave  out,  he  had  seen  that  the  custom 
among  Friends  of  taking  off  the  hat  at  the  time  of  public  prayer, 
was  a  mere  formality  and  in  conformity  with  the  spirit  of  the  world  ; 
and  that  it  was  wrong  to  shave  off  the  beard.  Both  these  notions 
he  carried  into  practice,  and  a  consideral)le  numl)('r  of  Friends,  de- 
ceived by  the  plea  of  greater  spirituality,  joined  with  him,  and 
thereby  created  a  party  opposed  to  George  Fox,  and  the  great  body 
of  sound,  substantial  Friends.  This  caused  much  grief  and  exercise 
to  George  Fox,  who  felt  deeply  tiie  injury,  disunity  arising  from 
unsound  notions,  would  do  to  the  Society,  and  the  occasion  it  vvouhl 


264  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

give  to  it."<  cneniies  to  niif^rcpresent  and  traduce  it.  lie  accordingly 
gave  fortli  a  declaration  to  all  his  icllow  jirofessors,  warning  tliem, 
that  "Wliosoever  became  tainted  with  the  spirit  of  John  Perrot,  it 
will  perish;"  lind  concluding,  he  warns  the  disaffected,  "  O !  con- 
sider! the  light  and  power  of  God  goes  over  you  all,  and  leaves 
you  in  the  fretting  nature,  out  of  the  unity  which  is  in  the  ever- 
lasting light,  life  and  power  of  God.  Consider  this  before  the  day 
be  gone  from  you,  and  take  heed  that  your  niemorial  be  not  rooted 
out  from  among  the  righteous." 

Great  labor  and  care  were  bestowed  by  Friends,  not  only  to  pre- 
vent the  spread  of  this  defection,  but  to  bring  those  back  who  were 
carried  away  by  it;  but  it  continued  to  give  trouble  for  several 
years.  Perrot  himself  continued  to  de(;line  more  and  more  from  the 
prin<'iples  of  truth,  of  which  he  had  once  made  so  high  a  profession; 
so  that  after  going  to  reside  in  America,  he  professed  to  feel  that  it 
w-as  not  right  to  assemble  for  the  purpose  of  Divine  worship,  unless 
moved  s])ecially  thereto  by  the  internal  monitor;  and  finally,  he 
threw  off  all  appearance  and  profession  of  a  Friend,  and  having 
obtained  an  office  under  the  government,  became  an  exacter  of 
oaths,  and  an  enemy  to  those  he  had  formerly  professed  to  be  united 
with  in  the  bonds  of  Christian  fellowship. 

It  has  been  mentioned  already,  that  an  Act  of  Parliament  had 
been  passed  [1661-2],  requiring  every  one  holding  office,  as  Judge, 
Magistrate,  Clerk,  town  officer,  &c.,  to  deny  the  legality  of  the 
"  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,"  or  that  it  was  binding  ;  and  also  to 
take  the  "sacrament"  according  to  the  rites  of  the  "Episcopal 
Church,"  at  least  once  witlun  a  year  of  the  time  of  entenng  office. 
This  was  to  exclude  all  "  Dissentere  "  from  those  offices  ;  so  that  their 
places  might  be  filled  by  persons  disposed  to  carry  out  the  designs 
of  the  "  Church  "  and  Court  party.  The  Commissioners  appointed 
to  see  that  this  law  was  executed,  had  been  so  busily  engaged  in 
the  work,  that  by  the  beginning  of  1662,  the  time  when  the  law  es- 
pecially aimed  at  Friends  went  into  effect,  those  who  were  likely  to 
be  called  on  to  execute  it,  were  in  no  wise  disposed  to  relax  its 
severity.  Although  the  title  of  the  Act  against  Friends  alludes 
only  to  their  refusal  to  take  oaths,  yet  provision  is  made  in  the  law 
itself,  to  prevent  more  than  five  of  tliem,  over  sixteen  years  of  age, 
assembling  for  Divine  worship,  and  if  they  persisted  in  doing  so,  to 
punish  them  in  the  severest  manner.  Other  Dissenters  from  the 
"  established  Church,"  were  liable  to  suffer  for  non-conformity,  and 
holding  their  own  religious  meetings.     How  firmly  they  stood  for 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  265 

tlieir  riyht.s  and  religion,  cannot  here  be  set  fortli  ;  doubtless  some 
of  them  suffered  for  obeying  the  dictates  of  conscience. 

Neal,  in  his  history,  says,  "  Before  the  Conventicle  Act  took 
place,  the  laity  were  courageous,  and  exhorted  tlieir  ministers  to 
preach  till  they  went  to  prison ;  but  when  it  came  home  to  them- 
selves and  they  had  been  once  in  jail,  they  began  to  be  more  cau- 
tious, and  consulted  among  themselves  how  to  avoid  the  edge  of 
the  law,  in  the  best  manner  they  could.  For  this  purpose  their 
assemblies  were  frequently  held  at  midnight,  and  in  the  most  private 
places ;  and  yet,  notwithstanding  all  their  caution,  they  were  fre- 
quently disturbed  ;  but  it  is  remarkable  that  under  all  their  hard- 
ships, they  never  made  the  least  i-esistance,  but  went  quietly  along 
with  the  soldiers  or  officers,  when  they  could  not  fly  from  them." 
"  So  great  was  the  severity  of  these  times,  that  many  were  afraid  to 
pray  in  their  families,  if  above  four  of  their  acquaintance,  who  came 
only  to  visit,  were  present.  Some  families  scrupled  asking  a  bless- 
ing on  their  meat,  if  five  strangers  were  at  the  table.  In  London, 
where  the  houses  join,  it  was  thought  the  law  might  be  evaded,  if 
the  people  met  in  several  houses,  and  heard  the  minister  through  a 
window,  or  hole  in  the  wall;  but  it  seems  this  was  overruled,  the 
determination  being  in  the  breast  of  a  single  mercenary  justice  of 
the  peace." 

Friends  had  long  been  inured  to  suffering,  and  it  was  now  evi- 
dent their  sincerity  and  fortitude  would  be  put  to  the  severest  test, 
while  braving  the  malice  and  cruelty  of  their  enemies,  and  patiently 
resigning  their  property,  their  liberty  and  their  lives,  rather  than 
forego  their  testimony  to  public  worship,  or  flinch  from  the  per- 
formance of  the  duty  required  of  them  when  assembled  for  that 
purpose.  Governed  by  the  convictions  of  Divine  Grace  on  their 
minds,  and  the  principles  taught  in  the  holy  Scriptures,  they  could 
not  compromise  the  testimonies  of  the  gospel  committed  to  them  to 
illustrate  before  the  world,  nor  shrink  from  confessing  Christ  openly 
before  men,  by  refusing  to  meet  boldly  in  his  name  at  their  accus- 
tomed places  for  worship,  and  there  striving  to  worship  Him,  who  is 
a  Spirit,  in  spirit  and  in  trutii.  As  witnes.ses  for  the  truth,  and  to 
the  inalienable  riglit  of  liberty  of  conscience  in  all  matters  of  religion, 
they  were  bound  to  bear  a  faithful  testimony  against  the  unright- 
eous assumption  of  the  "C'liurch"  and  clergy,  against  the  arbitrary 
and  tyrannical  course  of  tlii^  government,  as  well  as  against  the  pro- 
fanity, del)auchery  and  practical  infidelity  that  had  overrun  the 
country.      While  they  thus  made  tluiuiselves  hated  by  many  of  the 


268        >  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

h\tj:]\  professors,  and  scorned  by  the  nuiltitudinous  lil)ortines  and 
woildlinii's,  who  longed  to  see  them  swept  out  of  their  way,  they 
showed  themselves  to  be  a  peaceable  and  unresisting  people,  who, 
however  much  injured  and  trampled  on,  would  seek  no  revenge,  but 
if  smitten  on  one  cheek,  would  rallicr  turn  the  other  for  a  blow,  than 
strike  back. 

In  the  speech  of  George  AVhitehcad  before  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, when  the  Bill  against  Friends  was  under  consideration,  he 
said,  that  if  the  Bill  should  become  a  law,  it  would  give  encourage- 
ment to  wicked,  rude  and  lawless  persons  to  abuse  Friends,  even  be- 
yond the  intention  of  the  framers  of  the  law;  and  almost  as  soon  as 
it  came  into  operation  this  was  made  manifest.     It  a])pears  that  the 
first  who  made  an  attack  on  Friends  in  London,  on  account  of  their 
assembling  for  divine  worship,  was  one  Philip  Miller,  who,  with- 
out being  in  any  office,  or  having  warrant  or  authority,  went  into 
Friends'  meeting,  in  Johns  street,  followed  by  a  rabble  from  the 
street,  and  flourishing  a  cane,  seized  upon  whom  he  pleased,  and 
then,  procuring  a  constable,  had  them  brought  before  a  Magistrate, 
who  committed  them  to  prison.     A  few  days  after  he  came  to  the 
same  meeting,  bringing  a  constable  with  him.     He  ordered  all  as- 
sembled to  depart,  and  finding  they  did  not  obey,  he  began  beating 
those  about  him  with  his  cane,  and  charged  the  constal)le  to  bring 
such  as  he  chose  to  select — among  whom  ^vas  John  Crook,  a  valued 
minister— before  a  Magistrate.     This  Magistrate  required  them  to 
promise  to  appcift-  Ijefore  the  Court  of  Justices  at  Hick's  Hall  the 
next  morning,  and  dismissed  them.    The  next  morning,  on  their  ap- 
pearing before  the  Court,  nine  of  them  were  committed  to  Newgate. 
This  was  but  one  instance  of  very  many  similar  ;  for  often  common 
soldiers  and  others  of  low  character,  broke  in  violently  where  Friends 
were  engaged  in  solemn  worship,  beat  and  dragged  both  men  and 
women,  sometimes   tearing  the  clothes  off"  their  backs,  and  when 
asked  for  their  authority,  held  up  their  clubs  or  swords,  and  said 
those  were  their  authority.    It  appeared  as  though  those  in  "  church" 
and  State,  who  aimed  at  destroying  the  Society,  supnosed  that  by 
carrying  out  tlieir  iniquitous  laws  at  once,  and  making  a  clean  sweep 
of  ail  the  more  influential  Friends,  ministers  and  others,  and  com- 
mitting them  to  prison,  others  would  be  intimidated  and  discouraged, 
and  thus  the  meetings  be  broken  up  and  discontinued. 

Sewel  speaking  of  the  persecution  at  this  time  says:  "There  was 
published  in  print  a  short  relation  of  the  persecution  throughout  all 
England,  signe.l  by  twelve  persons,  showing  that  more  than  four 


8EVEXTEEXTII     CENTURY.  267 

thousand  and  two  hundred  of  those  called  Quakers,  both  men  and 
women,  were  in  prison  in  England  ;  and  denoting  the  number  of 
them  that  were  imprisoned  in  each  county,  either  for  frequenting 
meetings,  or  for  denying  to  swear,  &c.  Many  of  these  had  been 
grievously  beaten,  or  their  clothes  torn  or  taken  avvay  from  them  ; 
and  some  were  put  into  such  stinking  dungeons,  that  some  great 
men  said,  they  would  not  have  put  their  hunting-dogs  there.  Some 
prisons  were  crowded  full  of  both  men  and  women,  so  that  there  was 
not  sufficient  room  for  all  to  sit  down  at  once  ;  and  in  Cheshire,  sixty- 
eight  persons  were  in  this  manner  locked  up  in  a  small  room  ;  an 
evident  sign  that  they  were  a  harmless  people,  that  would  not  make 
any  resistance,  or  use  force.  By  such  ill-treatment  many  grew  sick, 
and  not  a  few  died  in  such  jails ;  for  no  age  or  sex  was  regarded, 
but  even  ancient  people  of  sixty,  seventy,  and  more  years  of  age, 
were  not  spared  :  and  the  most  of  these  being  tradesmen,  shop-keep- 
ers and  husbandmen,  were  thus  reduced  to  poverty  ;  for  their  goods 
were  also  seized  for  not  going  to  church,  (so  called,)  or  for  not  pay- 
ing tithes.  Many  times  they  were  fain  to  lie  in  prison,  on  cold  nasty 
ground,  without  being  suffered  to  have  any  straw ;  and  often  they 
have  been  kept  several  days  without  victuals :  no  wonder  therefore 
that  many  died  by  such  hard  imprisonments  as  these. 

"  At  London,  and  in  the  suburl)s,  were  about  this  time  no  less  than 
five  hundred  of  those  called  Quakers,  imprisoned,  and  some  in  such 
narrow  holes,  that  every  person  scarcely  had  conveniency  to  lie 
down  ;  and  the  felons  were  suffered  to  rob  them  of  their  clothes  and 
money.  Many  that  were  not  im25risoned,  nevertheless  suffered  hard- 
ships in  their  religious  meetings,  especially  that  in  London,  known 
by  the  name  of  BuU-and-Mouth.  Here  the  trained  bands  came 
frequently,  armed  generally  with  muskets,  pikes  and  halberds,  and 
conducted  by  a  military  officer,  by  order  of  the  city  magistracy; 
and  rushing  in,  in  a  very  furious  manner,  fell  to  beating  them  ; 
whereby  many  were  grievously  wounded,  some  fell  down  in  a  swoon, 
and  some  were  beaten  so  violently,  that  they  lived  not  long  after  it. 
Among  these  was  one  John  Trowel,  who  was  so  bruised  and  crushed, 
that  a  few  days  after  he  died.  His  friends  therefore  thought  it  ex- 
pedient to  carry  the  corpse  into  the  aforesaid  meeting-place,  that  it 
might  lie  there  exposed  for  some  hours,  to  be  seen  of  every  one. 
This  being  done,  raised  commisei-ation  and  pity  among  manyof  llu' 
inhabitants;  for  the  corpse,  beaten  like;  a  jelly,  looked  black,  aiul 
was  swelled  in  a  din'ful  manner." 

The  jury   which    was  called   by  the  Coroner  in    the  above  case, 


268  FUIEXDS    IN    THE 

fiioiiiili  satislicd  iVoin  tlie  evidence  tluit  :i  nuirder  liad  been  com- 
mitted, refused  to  return  any  verdict,  fur  fear  of  its  bringing  a 
heavy  fine  on  the  city. 

But  however  indefatigable  and  merciless  the  persecution,  and 
however  grievous  the  suffering,  if  it  sifted  out  some  who  were  either 
unfaithful  to  their  convictions,  or  had  never  been  i'ully  convinced 
of  the  precious  truths,  for  maintaining  which  Friends  were  now  con- 
stantly in  jeopardy  of  their  liberty  and  lives,  it  failed  entirely  to 
effect  the  object  had  iu  view  by  their  enemies.  When  b(!aten  and 
dragged  out  of  their  meeting-houses,  so  soon  as  the  opportunity 
jiresented  they  went  into  them  again.  When  the  houses  were 
taken  possession  of  and  Friends  locked  out,  they  met  in  the  streets 
before  them,  and  thus  the  audience  was  often  largely  increased  ;  and 
often  when  one  minister,  while  speaking,  was  pulled  down  and  taken 
to  prison,  another  was  prepared  to  take  his  or  her  place,  declaring 
the  truths  of  the  gospel,  and  encouraging  the  brethren  and  sisters 
to  unyielding  obedience  to  manifested  duty.  Even  children,  under 
the  influence  of  that  love  for  Christ  and  his  cause,  which  is  begotten 
by  walking  in  accordance  with  the  uuuiifestations  of  Divine  Grace, 
were  made  willing  to  take  part  iu  suffering  for  the  good  cause,  and, 
hand  in  hand  with  their  elders,  to  persevere  in  meeting  for  divine 
worship. 

Eobinson,  the  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower,  sent  two  boys  to  Bride- 
well for  being  at  meeting ;  the  one  thirteen  and  the  other  sixteen 
years  of  age.  Besse,  in  his  "  Collection  of  the  sufferings  "  of  Friends, 
says,  "  The  constancy  of  these  young  lads  was  remarkable  ;  who  hav- 
ing their  arms  put  into  the  stocks,  and  there  so  pinched  for  the  space 
of  two  houi-s,  that  their  wrists  were  very  much  swollen,  yet  continued 
undaunted;  nor  could  the  keepers  force  them  to  work,  they  assert- 
ing their  innocence,  and  refusing  to  eat  except  at  their  own  charge. 
They  wrote  also,  during  their  imprisonment,  an  epistle  to  Friends' 
chi.dren,  exhorting  them  to  stand  faithful  to  their  testimony  against 
all  unrighteousness."  It  would  be  impossible,  within  the  prescribed 
limits,  to  give  a  detailed  account  of  the  many  grievous  cases  that 
were  continually  occurring.  The  cruelty  practised  on  Friends,  not 
only  when  beaten  and  otherwise  maltreated  when  their  meetings 
were  assailed  and  broken  up,  but  when  brought  before  the  Magis- 
trates, was  great  and  almost  universal.  Brown,  the  Lord  Mayor, 
distinguished  himself  by  the  ferocity  of  his  treatment  and  his  im- 
placable hati'ed  of  Friends.  Two  or  three  instances  illustrative  of 
the  course  he  pursued   may  l)e  given  :  they  are  taken  from  Sewel. 


SEVEXTEENTH    CENTURY.  269 

Daniel  Baker,  mentioned  in  the  first,  was  a  minister,  aii'l  has  b;'en 
already  mentioned  in  the  account  of  the  imprisonment  of  Catharine 
Evans  and  >Sarah  Chevers. 

"About  midsummer  [1662],  Daniel  Baker,  with  four  others,  were 
taken  by  a  band  of  soldiers  from  the  Bull-and-jMouth  meeting,  and 
carried  to  Paul's  yard,  where,  having  been  kept  for  some  hours, 
they  were  brought  to  Newgate;  but  in  the  evening  they  were 
brought  before  Alderman  Brown,  to  whom  Baker  with  meekness 
said,  '  Let  the  fear  of  God  and  his  peace  be  set  up  in  thy  heart.' 
But  Brown  fell  a  laughing,  and  said,  '  I  would  rather  hear  a  dog 
bark  ; '  and  using  more  such  scoffing  expressions,  he  charged  Baker, 
&c.,  with  the  breach  of  the  King's  law  in  meeting  together.  To 
which  Baker  said,  '  The  servants  of  God  in  the  apostles'  days,  were 
commanded  to  speak  no  more  in  the  name  of  Jesus ;  and  they 
answered,  and  so  do  I  too,  whether  it  be  better  to  obey  God  than 
men,  judge  ye.'  He  also  instanced  the  case  of  the  three  children 
at  Babylon,  and  Daniel  who  obeyed  not  the  King's  decrees.  But 
Brown  grew  so  angry,  that  he  commanded  his  men  to  smite  Daniel 
on  the  face.  This  they  did,  and  pulling  him  four  or  five  times  to  the 
ground,  they  smote  him  with  their  fists,  and  wrung  his  neck  so,  as 
if  they  would  have  murdered  him.  This  these  fellows  did  to  please 
Brown,  showing  themselves  to  be  ready  for  any  service,  how  abom- 
inable soever." 

There  being  no  charge  made  against  these  Friends,  Brown  as 
usual,  tendered  them  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  committed  them  to 
prison,  there  to  remain  until  they  would  take  it. 

"  One  John  Brain,  being  taken  in  the  street,  and  not  in  any  meet- 
ing, was  brought  l)y  some  soldiers  before  Brow'n  ;  who,  seeing  him 
with  his  hat  on,  ordered  him  to  be  pulled  down  to  the  ground  six 
or  seven  times,  and  when  he  was  down,  they  beat  his  head  against 
the  ground,  and  stamped  upon  him  ;  and  Brown,  like  a  mad-man, 
bade  them  pull  off  his  nose ;  whereupon  they  very  violently  pulled 
him  l)y  the  nose.  And  when  he  got  up,  tliey  pulled  him  to  the 
ground  l)y  the  hair  of  his  head,  and  then  by  the  hair  pulled  him  up 
again.  And  when  he  would' have  spoken  in  his  own  behalf  against 
this  cruelty,  Brown  bade  them  stoj)  his  mouth.  Whereui)on  they 
not  only  struck  him  on  the  mouth,  but  stopped  his  mouth  and  nose 
also  so  close,  that  he  could  not  draw  breath,  and  was  liked  to  be 
choked:  at  which  actions  Brown  fell  a  laughing,  and  at  length  sent 
him  to  jail, 

"Thomas  Spire,  being  1)rought  before  Brown,  he  conunanded  his 


270  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

hat  to  be  taken  off;  and  because  it  was  not  done  with  such  violence 
as  he  intended,  he  caused  it  to  be  put  upon  his  head  again,  saying, 
'  It  should  not  be  pulled  ofTso  easily.'  Then  he  was  pulled  down  to 
the  ground  by  his  hat,  and  pulled  up  again  by  his  hair.  William 
Hill  being  brought  before  him,  he  commanded  his  hat  to  be  pulled 
off,  so  that  his  head  might  be  bowed  down  :  whereupon  he  being 
jndled  to  the  ground,  was  plucked  up  again  by  the  hair  of  his  head. 
George  Ableson  was  thus  pulled  five  times  one  after  another  to 
the  ground,  and  plucked  up  by  his  hair,  and  so  beaten  on  his  face, 
or  the  sides  of  his  head,  that  he  staggered,  and  bled,  and  for  some 
days  was  under  much  pain. 

"Nicholas  Blithold  being  brought  before  Brown,  he  took  his  hat 
with  both  his  hands,  endeavoring  to  pull  him  down  to  the  ground  ; 
and  because  he  fell  not  quite  to  the  ground  forward,  he  pushed  him, 
to  throw  him  backwards ;  and  then  he  gave  him  a  kick  on  the  leg, 
and  thrust  him  out  of  doors.  Thomas  Lacy  being  brought  before 
him,  he  himself  gave  him  a  blow  on  the  face ;  and  Isaac  Merrit, 
John  Cook,  Arthur  Baker,  and  others,  were  not  treated  much  better; 
so  that  he  seemed  more  fit  to  have  been  a  hangman,  than  an  alder- 
man, or  justice." 

In  order  that  our  readers  may  form  some  truthful  conception  of 
the  course  generally  pursued  by  the  Courts  before  which  they  were 
arraigned,  the  following  extracts  are  taken  from  an  account  of  the 
trial  of  John  Crook,  published  shortly  after  it  occurred.  As  already 
stated,  he  had  been  taken  from  a  meeting  in  London,  by  a  person, 
not  an  officer,  and  without  warrant  or  authority.   [1662.] 

"  C.  Judge. —  Call  John  Crook  to  the  bar;  which  the  crier  did 
accordingly,  he  being  amongst  the  felons  as  aforesaid. 

J.  C.  being  brought  to  the  bar : 

C.  Judge. —  When  did  you  take  the  oath  of  allegiance? 

J.  C. —  I  desire  to  be  heard. 

C.  Judge. —  Answer  to  the  question,  and  you  shall  be  heard. 

J.  C. — I  have  been  about  six  weeks  in  prison,  and  am  I  now  called 
to  accuse  myself?  For  the  answering  to  this  question  in  the  nega- 
tive, is  to  accuse  myself,  which  you  ought  not  to  put  me  upon  ;  for, 
Nemo  debet  seipsum  prodere.  I  am  an  Englishman,  and  by  the  law 
of  England  I  ought  not  to  be  taken,  nor  imprisoned,  nor  dis-seised 
of  my  freehold,  nor  called  in  question,  nor  put  to  answer,  but  accord- 
ing to  the  law  of  the  land  ;  which  I  challenge  as  my  birthright,  on 
my  own  behalf,  and  all  that  hear  me  this  day;  (or  words  to  this 
purpose.)     I  stand  here  at  this  bar  as  a  delinquent,  and  do  desire 


SEVEXTEENTII     CEXTURY.  271 

that  my  accuser  may  be  l)roiiij:lit  forth  to  accuse  me  for  my  delin- 
quency, and  tlien  I  shall  answer  to  my  charge,  if  any  I  be  guilty  of. 

C.  Judge. — You  are  here  demanded  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance, 
and  when  you  have  done  that,  then  you  shall  be  heard  about  the 
other ;  for  we  have  power  to  tender  it  to  any  man. 

J.  C. —  Not  to  me  upon  this  occasion,  in  this  place  ;  for  I  am 
brought  hither  as  an  offender  already,  and  not  to  be  made  an 
offender  here,  or  to  accuse  myself;  for  I  am  an  Englishman,  as  I 
have  said  to  you,  and  challenge  the  benefit  of  the  laws  of  England. 

Ch.  Judge. —  We  sit  here  to  do  justice,  and  are  upon  our  oaths; 
and  we  are  to  tell  you  what  is  law,  and  not  you  us  :  therefore,  sirrah, 
you  are  too  bold. 

J.  C. —  Sirrah  is  not  a  word  becoming  a  judge  :  for  I  am  no  felon  : 
neither  ought  you  to  menace  the  prisoner  at  the  bar:  for  I  stand 
here  arraiuned  as  for  my  life  and  liberty,  and  the  preservation  of  my 
wife  and  children,  and  outward  estate,  (they  being  now  at  the  stake ;) 
therefore  you  ought  to  hear  me  to  the  full,  what  I  can  say  in  my 
own  defence,  according  to  law,  and  that  in  its  season,  as  it  is  given 
me  to  speak  :  therefore  I  hope  the  Court  will  bear  with  me,  if  I  am 
bold  to  assert  my  liberty,  as  an  Englishman,  and  as  a  Christian  ; 
and  if  I  speak  loud,  it  is  my  zeal  for  the  truth,  and  for  the  name 
of  the  Lord  ;  and  mine  innocency  makes  me  bold  — 

Judge. —  (Interrupting  John  Crook.)     It  is  an  evil  zeal. 

J.  C. —  No  :  I  am  bold  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Almighty,  the 
everlasting  Jehovah,  to  assert  the  truth,  and  stand  as  a  w^itness  for 
it.  Let  my  accuser  be  brought  forth,  and  I  am  ready  to  answer  any 
Court  of  justice. 

Judge. —  Sirrah,  you  are  to  take  the  oath,  and  here  we  tender  it 
to  you  ;  bidding  the  Clerk  read  it. 

J.  C. —  Let  me  see  mine  accuser,  that  I  may  know  for  what  cause 
I  have  been  six  weeks  imprisoned,  and  do  not  put  me  to  accuse 
myself  by  asking  me  questions ;  but  either  let  my  accuser  come 
forth,  or  otherwise  let  me  be  discharged  by  proclamation,  as  you 
ought  to  do. 

Judge  Twisden. —  We  take  no  notice  of  your  being  here  otherw^ise 
than  of  a  straggler,  or  as  any  other  person,  or  of  the  people  that  are 
here  this  day ;  for  we  may  tender  the  oath  to  any  man.  And  another 
judge  spake  to  the  like  purpose. 

J.  C. —  I  am  here  at  your  bar  as  a  prisoner  restrained  of  my 
liberty,  and  do  question  whether  you  ought  in  justice  to  tender  me 


272  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

tlie  oatli  on  the  account  T  am  now  brought  before  you,  because  I 
am  suppo.^ed  to  be  an  offender ;  or  else  wliy  have  I  been  fiix  weeks 
in  prison  already?  Let  me  be  (cleared  of  my  imj)risonment,  and 
then  I  shall  answer  to  what  is  charged  against  me,  and  to  the  ques- 
tion now  propounded  ;  for  I  am  a  lover  of  justice  with  all  my  soul, 
and  am  wvU  known  by  my  neighbors,  where  I  have  lived,  to  keep 
a  conscience  void  of  offence,  both  towards  God  and  towards  man. 

Judge. —  Sirrah,  leave  your  canting. 

J.  C. —  Is  this  canting,  to  speak  the  words  of  Scripture  ? 

Judge. —  It  is  canting  in  your  mouth,  though  they  are  Paul's 
words. 

J.  C. —  By  what  law  have  you  power  to  tender  it  [the  oath]  ? 

Judge. —  By  the  third  of  King  James. 

The  prisoner  desired  the  statute  to  be  read,  which  the  Court  re- 
fused. 

Judge. —  Hear  me. 

J.  C. —  I  am  as  willing  to  hear  as  to  speak. 

Judge. —  Then  hear  me :  you  are  here  required  to  take  the  oath 
by  the  Court,  and  I  will  inform  you  what  the  penalty  will  be,  in 
case  you  refuse;  for  your  first  denial  shall  be  recorded,  and  then  it 
shall  be  tendered  to  you  again  at  the  end  of  the  sessions;  and  upon 
the  second  refusal  you  run  into  a  premunire,  which  is  the  forfeiture 
of  all  your  estate,  (if  you  have  any,)  and  imprisonment. 

J.  C. —  It  is  justice  I  stand  for  ;  let  me  have  justice,  in  bringing  my 
accuser  face  to  face,  as  by  law  you  ought  to  do,  I  standing  at  your 
bar  as  a  delinquent ;  and  when  that  is  done,  I  will  answer  to  what  can 
be  charged  against  me,  as  also  to  the  question  ;  until  then,  I  shall 
give  no  other  answer  than  I  have  already  done — at  least  at  present." 

He  was  then  ordered  to  be  taken  out  of  the  Court. 

"On  the  Sixth-day  of  the  week,  in  the  forenoon  following,  the 
Court  being  seated,  John  Crook  was  called  to  the  bar. 

C.  Judge. —  Friend  Crook  we  have  given  you  time  to  consider  of 
what  was  said  yesterday  to  you  by  the  Court,  hoping  you  may  have 
better  considered  of  it  by  this  time ;  therefore,  without  any  more 
words,  will  you  taike  the  oath  ?  And  called  to  the  Clerk,  and  bid 
him  read  it." 

Very  much  the  same  grouud  was  again  gone  over  as  had  been 
traversed  when  J.  C.  was  previously  before  the  Court;  the  Judges 
striving  to  induce  him  to  plead  to  the  indictment  of  not  being  will- 
ing to  take  the  oath,  and  he  refusing  to  plead  until  he  knew  his 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  273 

accusers,  and  for  what  he  had  been  a  prisoner  for  more  than  six 
weeks.  J.  C.  had  occupied  the  position  of  a  Magistrate,  was  some- 
what acquainted  with  the  law,  and  saw  the  object  the  Judges  had  in 
view,  who,  knowing  that  he  could  not  take  an  oath,  were  so  strenu- 
ously urging  him  to  plead  guilty  or  not  guilty. 

Judge.  —  Mr.  Crook,  hear  me :  you  must  say,  guilty,  or  not  guilty ; 
if  you  plead  not  guilty,  you  shall  be  heard,  and  know  how  far  the 
law  favors  you.  And  the  next  thing  is,  there  is  no  circumstance 
whatsoever  that  is  the  cause  of  your  imprisonment,  that  you  ques- 
tion, but  you  have  as  a  sulyect,  your  remedies,  if  you  will  go  this  way, 
and  waive  other  things,  and  answer  guilty,  or  not  guilty;  and  what 
the  law  affords  you,  you  shall  have,  if  you  do  what  the  law  requires 
you  ;  or  else  you  will  lose  the  benefit  of  the  law,  and  be  out  of  the 
King's  protection. 

J.  C.  —  Observe  how  the  Judge  would  draw  me  into  a  snare,  viz. : 
By  first  pleading  (guilty,  or  not  guilty,)  and  when  I  have  done  so, 
he  and  his  brethren  intend  suddenly  to  put  me,  (as  an  outlawed 
person,)  out  of  the  King's  protection  ;  and  how  then  can  I  have 
remedy  for  my  false  imprisonment?  &c. 

Judge.  —  You  must  plead  guilty,  or  not  guilty. 

J.  C.  —  I  do  desire  in  humility  and  meekness  to  say,  I  shall  not; 
I  dare  not  betray  the  honesty  of  my  cause,  and  the  honest  ones  of 
this  nation,  whose  liberty  I  stand  for,  as  well  as  my  own  ;  as  I  have 
cause  to  think  I  shall,  if  I  plead  to  the  present  indictment,  before  I 
see  the  faces  of  my  accusers. 

Judge.  —  The  most  arrant  thief  may  say  he  is  not  satisfied  in  his 
conscience. 

J.  C.  —  My  case  is  not  theirs,  yet  they  have  their  accusers  :  and 
may  not  I  call  for  mine?  And  therefore  call  for  them,  for  you 
ought  to  do  so :  as  Christ  said  to  the  woman,  AVoman,  where  are 
thine  accusers?  So  you  ought  to  say  to  me,  Man,  where  are  thine 
accusers  ?  ^  (Interruption.) 

The  Judges  still  insisted  it  was  no  matter  how  it  happened  that 
he  was  before  them,  they  found  him  there,  and  had  the  power  to 
tender  him  the  oath,  and  to  punish  him  if  he  refused  to  answer  to 
the  indictment  tlrawn  against  him;  and  J.  Crook,  with  equal  inflex- 
ibility claiming,  that  as  the  law  declared  "  No  man  is  to  be  taken 
or  imprisoned,  or  be  put  to  answer,  without  presentment  before  jus- 
tices, or  matter  of  J'ecord,  or  by  due  process,  or  writ  original,  accord- 
ing to  the  old  law  of  the  land  ;  and  if  anything  from  henceforth, 
be  done  to  the  contrary,  it  shall  be  void  in  law,  and  holden  for 
18 


274  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

error,"  he  therefore  had  a  right  to  know,  how  and  why  it  was  that 
he  had  been  first  put  in  prison,  and  then  brought  there,  without 
knowing  wlio  was  his  accuser,  without  presentment,  or  due  jjrocess ; 
and  that  until  he  was  righted  of  these  illegalities,  or  proclaimed  by 
the  Court  not  to  have  been  found  guilty  of  any  act  that  made  him 
a  prisoner,  it  had  no  right  by  law  to  consider  him  in  a  situation  to 
have  the  oath  of  allegiance  administered. 

"  Ch.  Judge. —  When  you  have  (once)  sworn,  you  may  not  be  put 
upon  it  again,  except  you  minister  occasion  on  your  part. 

J.  C. —  Is  this  the  judgment  of  the  Court,  that  the  oath  (once) 
taken  by  me  is  sufficient,  and  ought  not  to  be  tendered  a  second 
time,  without  new  matter  ministered  on  my  part  ? 

Judge. —  Yes;  you  making  it  appear  you  have  (once)  taken  it. 

J.  C. —  Is  this  the  judgment  of  the  whole  Court?  For  I  would 
not  do  anything  rashly. 

Judges. — ^Yes,  it  is  the  judgment  of  the  Court.  (To  which  they 
all  standing  up,  said,  Yes.) 

J.  C. —  Then  it  seems  there  must  be  some  new  occasion  ministered 
by  me  after  I  have  (once)  taken  it,  or  it  ought  not  to  be  tendered 
to  me  the  second  time. 

Judges. —  Yes. 

J.  C. —  Then  by  the  judgment  of  this  Court,  if  I  may  make  it  ap- 
pear that  I  have  taken  the  oath  (once)  and  I  have  ministered  no 
new  matter  on  my  part,  whereby  I  can  be  justly  charged  with  the 
breach  of  it,  then  it  ought  not  to  be  tendered  to  me  the  second  time  : 
but  I  am  the  man  that  have  taken  it  (once),  being  a  freeman  of  the 
city  of  London,  when  I  was  made  free ;  witness  the  records  in 
Guildhall,  which  I  may  produce,  and  no  new  matter  appearing  to 
you  on  my  part ;  if  there  do,  let  me  know  it ;  if  not,  you  ought  not, 
by  your  own  judgment,  to  tender  me  it  the  second  time  ;  for  de  non 
Oipparentihus  et  non  existentihus  eadem  ratio  est* 

Judge. —  Mr.  Crook,  you  are  mistaken,  you  must  not  think  to 
surprise  the  Court  with  criticisms,  nor  draw  false  conclusions  from 
our  judgments. 

J.  C. —  If  this  be  not  a  natural  conclusion  from  the  judgment  of 
the  Court,  let  right  reason  judge ;  and  if  you  recede  from  your  own 
judgments  in  the  same  breath,  (as  it  were,)  given  even  now,  what 
justice  can  I  expect  from  you  ?  For,  if  you  will  not  be  just  to  your- 
selves, and  your  own  judgments,  how  can  I  exi)ect  you  should  be 
just  to  me? 

*  That  which  doth  not  appear,  is  to  be  judged  of  as  that  which  doth  uot  exist. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  275 

Judge. —  Mr.  Crook,  if  you  have  taken  it,  if  there  be  a  new  emer- 
gency, you  are  to  take  it  again  ;  as  for  instance,  the  King  hath  been 
out  of  England,  and  now  is  come  in  again.  .  .  ,  We  have  no 
more  to  do,  but  to  know  of  you,  whether  you  will  answer  (guilty, 
or  not  guilty,)  or  take  the  oath,  and  then  you  shall  be  freed  from 
the  indictment :  if  you  will  not  plead,  clerk,  record  it :  What  say 
you  ?     Are  you  guilty,  or  not  guilty  ? 

J.  C. —  Will  you  not  stand  to  your  own  judgments  ?  Did  you  not 
say,  even  now,  that  if  I  had  (once)  taken  the  oath,  it  ought  not  to 
be  tendered  to  me  the  second  time,  except  I  administered  new  mat- 
ter on  my  part  that  I  have  not  kept  it,  &c.  But  no  such  matter 
appearing,  you  ought  not  to  tender  it  to  me  the  second  time,  by 
your  own  confession,  much  less  to  indict  me  for  refusal. 

Judge. —  If  you  will  not  plead,  we  will  record  it,  and  judgment 
shall  be  given  against  you  :  therefore  say,  guilty,  or  not  guilty,  or 
else  we  will  record  it.     (The  clerk  beginning  to  record  it.) 

J.  C. —  Before  I  answer,  I  demand  a  copy  of  my  indictment;  for 
I  have  heard  it  affirmed  by  counsel  learned  in  the  law,  that  if  I 
plead  before  I  have  a  copy,  or  have  made  my  exceptions,  my  excep- 
tions afterwards  against  the  indictment  will  be  made  void :  there- 
fore I  desire  a  copy  of  the  indictment. 

Judge. —  He  that  said  so,  deserves  not  the  name  of  a  counsel ;  for 
the  law  is,  you  must  first  answer,  and  then  you  shall  have  a  copy. 
Will  you  plead  guilty  or  not  guilty  ? 

J.  C. —  If  my  pleading  guilty  or  not  guilty,  will  not  deprive  me 
of  the  benefit  of  quashing  the  indictment,  for  insufficiency,  or  other 
exceptions  that  I  may  make  against  it,  I  shall  speak  to  it. 

Judge. —  No,  it  will  not.  Will  you  answer,  guilty  or  not  guilty. 
If  you  plead  not,  the  indictment  will  be  found  against  you:  will 
you  answer?     We  will  stay  no  longer. 

J.  C. —  As  to  the  indictment  it  is  very  large,  and  seems  to  be  con- 
fused, and  made  up  of  some  things  true,  and  some  things  false ;  my 
answer  therefore  is,  what  is  true  in  the  indictment  I  will  not  deny, 
because  I  make  conscience  of  what  I  say,  and  therefore,  of  what  is 
true,  I  confess  myself  guilty,  but  what  is  false,  I  am  not  guilty  of. 

Judge. —  That  is  not  sufficient,  either  answer  guilty,  or  not  guilty, 
or  judgment  will  be  given  against  you. 

J.  C. —  I  will  speak  the  truth,  as  before  the  Lord,  as  all  along  I 
have  endeavored  to  do ;  I  am  not  guilty  of  that  which  is  false,  con- 
tained in  the  indictment,  which  is  the  substance  thereof 

Judge. —  No  more  ado  ;  the  form  is  nothing,  guilty  or  not? 


276  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

J.  C —  I  must  not  wrong  my  conscience.  I  am  not  guilty  of  what 
is  false,  as  I  said  hefove. 

Rec(M'(ler. —  It  is  cMioiigli,  and  shall  serve  turn.    Enter  that,  clerk." 

"  The  seventh  day  of  the  week,  called  Saturday. 

Silence  being  made,  John  Crook  was  called  to  the  bar.  The 
clerk  of  the  sessions  read  something  concerning  the  jury,  which  was 
impanelled  ou  purpose,  (as  we  said^)  the  jury  being  discharged  who 
were  eye-witnesses  of  what  passed  between  us  and  the  Court :  and 
this  jury,  were  divers  of  them  soldiers,  some  of  whom  did  by  vio- 
lence and  force  pull  and  haul  Friends  out  of  their  meetings,  and 
some  of  us  out  of  our  houses ;  and  these  were  of  the  jury  by  whom 
we  were  to  be  tried.  The  clerk  reading  the  indictment,  (as  I  re- 
member.) 

J.  C. —  I  desire  to  be  heard  a  few  words,  which  are  these,  that  we 
may  have  liberty  till*  the  next  quarter  sessions  to  traverse  the  in- 
dictment, it  being  long  and  in  Latin,  and  like  to  be  a  precedent ;  and 
I  hope  I  need  not  press  it ;  because  I  understood  that  you  promised, 
and  (especially  the  Recorder,  who  answered,  when  it  was  desired, 
you  shall,)  that  we  should  have  counsel  also,  the  wdiich  we  cannot 
be  expected  to  have  had  the  benefit  of  as  yet,  the  time  being  so 
short,  and  we  kept  prisoners. 

Judge. —  We  have  given  you  time  enough,  and  you  shall  have  no 
more  ;  for  we  will  try  you  at  this  time,  therefore  swear  the  jury." 

As  the  indictment,  which  was  long  and  in  Latin,  including  many 
technicalities  in  reference  to  their  refusing  to  take  the  oath,  J.  Crook 
and  his  fellow-prisoners,  claimed  that  by  law  they  were  entitled  to 
traverse  it  and  take  legal  counsel  respecting  their  cause.  This, 
however,  was  denied  them. 

There  was  much  noise  and  confusion  in  the  Court,  and  one  of  the 
Friends  addressing  the  Court: 

"Judge. —  Stop  his  mouth,  executioner.  (Which  was  accord- 
ingly done.) 

Prisoners. —  Then  we  cried  out,  will  you  not  give  us  leave  to  speak 
for  ourselves?  We  except  against  some  of  the  jury,  as  being  our 
enemies,  and  some  of  tliem  who  by  force  commanded  us  to  be  pulled 
out  of  our  meetings,  contrary  to  law,  and  carried  us  to  prison  with- 
out warrant,  or  other  due  process  of  law ;  and  shall  these  be  -our 
judges!     We  except  against  them. 

Judge. —  It  is  too  late  now,  you  should  have  done  it  before  they 
had  been  sworn  jurymen.  Jury,  go  together  ;  that  which  you  have 
to  find,  is  whether  they  have  refused  to  take  the  oath,  or  not,  which 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  277 

hath  beeu  sworn  before  you  that  they  did  refuse ;  you  need  not  go 
from  the  bar." 

"  Then  we  ci'ied  for  justice,  and  that  we  might  be  heard  to  make  our 
defence,  before  the  jury  gave  their  verdict ;  but  the  Judge  and  Re- 
corder said,  we  should  not  be  heard,  crying  again,  stop  their  mouths, 
executioner ;  wdiich  was  done  accordingly  with  a  dirty  cloth,  and 
also  endeavored  to  have  gagged  me,  striving  to  get  hold  of  my 
tongue,  having  a  gag  ready  in  his  hand  for  that  purpose:  and  so  we 
■were  served  several  times.  Then  I  called  out  with  a  loud  voice, 
Will  you  condemn  us  mthout  hearing?  This  is  to  deal  worse  with 
us  than  Pilate  did  wdth  Christ,  who,  though  he  condemned  him 
without  a  cause,  yet  not  without  hearing  him  speak  for  himself; 
but  you  deny  us  both." 

The  question  being  put  by  Isaac  Gray,  whether,  as  in  criminal 
cases,  if  bail  was  given  the  case  could  not  be  tried  at  the  next 
Court,  the  Chief  Justice  replied  that,  though  they  had  the  power  to 
postpone,  they  would  not  do  so.  Whenever  any  of  the  prisoners 
attempted  to  speak,  the  Court  ordered  the  executioner  to  stop  their 
mouths  ;  which  he  did. 

"  J.  C. — You  might  as  well  have  caused  us  to  be  murdered  before 
we  came  hither,  as  to  bring  us  here  under  pretence  of  trial,  and  not 
give  us  leave  to  make  our  defence ;  you  had  as  good  take  away 
our  lives  at  the  bar,  as  to  command  us  thus  to  be  abused,  and  to 
have  our  mouths  stopped :  was  ever  the  like  known.  Let  the 
righteous  God  judge  between  us.  Will  you  hear  me?  You  have 
often  promised  that  you  would." 

The  confusion  in  the  Court  continued  :  some  saying  one  thing  and 
some  another. 

"  Judge. —  Jury,  give  in  your  verdict. 

J.  C. — Let  me  have  liberty  first  to  speak,  it  is  but  a  few  woi'ds, 
and  I  hope  I  shall  do  it  with  what  brevity  and  pertinency  my  under- 
standing will  give  me  leave,  and  the  occasion  rec[uires  ;  .  .  .  . 
(Literrupted.  The  Court  calling  again  to  the  executioner  to  stop 
ray  mouth  ;  which  he  did  accordingly  with  his  dirty  cloth,  as  afore- 
said, and  his  gag  in  his  hand.) 
«Judge. —  Hear  the  jury  : 

Who  said  something  to  him,  which  was  supposed  to  give  in  the 
verdict,  according  to  his  order ;  for  they  were  fit  for  his  purpose,  as 
it  seems,  they  beginning  to  lay  their  heads  together,  before  we  had 
spoken  anything  to  them,  only  upon  his  words. 

Judge. —  Crier,  make  silence  in  the  Court. 


278  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

Then  the  Recorder,  taking  a  paper  into  his  hand,  read  to  this  pur- 
port, viz. :  The  jury  for  tlie  King  (h)  find  that  John  Crook,  John 
Bohon,  and  Isaac  Gray,  are  guilty  of  refusing  to  take  the  oath  of 
allegiance*  for  which  you  do  incur  a  j)remunire,  which  is  the  for- 
feiture of  all  your  real  estates  during  life,  and  your  personal  estates 
forever  ;  and  you  to  be  out  of  the  King's  protection,  and  to  be 
imprisoned  during  his  pleasure:  and  this  is  your  sentence. 

J.  C. —  But  we  are  still  under  God's  protection." 

Then  the  prisoners  were  remanded  to  Newgate,  where  J.  Crook 
found  opportunity  to  make  a  narrative  of  the  whole  trial,  which 
was  printed  as  aforesaid,  together  with  the  Latin  indictment,  in 
which  he  sliowed  several  errors,  either  by  wrong  expressions  or  by 
omissions. 

To  oblige  Friends  to  incur  the  penalty  of  premunire,  by  wliich 
they  lost  all  their  personal  estate,  and  forfeited  their  real  estate 
during  life,  while  they  were  placed  without  the  protection  of  the 
law,  became  the  primary  object  of  the  Judges  and  Magistrates 
before  whom  they  were  brought  for  trial.  It  was  confidently  be- 
lieved they  could  not  long  stand  against  this  despoiling  law,  as  it 
would  strip  them  of  everything,  and  place  them  in  a  condition 
wherein  any  and  every  one  might  abuse  them  at  their  will,  and  the 
law^  could  give  them  neither  protection  nor  redress.  But  it  was  for- 
gotten there  was  a  power  above  that  of  man,  and  that  "  He  that 
dwelleth  in  the  secret  place  of  the  Most  High,  shall  abide  under 
the  shadow  of  the  Almighty."  Thus  it  proved  with  those  valiant 
but  patient  sufferers  for  the  testimony  of  Jesus,  whom  the  wrath  of 
nuin  had  devoted  to  destruction,  but  whom  the  Lord  upheld  ;  frus- 
trating the  design  of  their  enemies,  and  often  shielding  and  support- 
ing them  in  a  remarkable  manner. 

The  hesitancy  of  Friends,  when  on  trial  before  a  Court  or  a  Magis- 
trate, to  give  a  direct  answer  to  the  charge  preferred  against  them, 
arose  from  no  unwillingness  to  confess  having  acted  in  accordance 
with  their  religious  principles,  nor  from  a  desire  to  shrink  from  an 
open  avowal  of  the  testimonies  of  the  gospel,  which  they  believed 
themselves  acquired  to  maintain.  But  such  were  the  wording  of 
some  of  the  laws  they  might  be  charged  with  violating,  and  the 
construction  given  to  them  by  the  Judges,  and  such  the  manifest 
desire  of  most  of  those  before  whom  they  were  arraigned,  to  extort 
from  them  some  admission  that  might  be  taken  advantage  of  by 
the  Court  or  Magistrate,  to  declare  them  guilty  by  confession,  and 
so  pronounce  sentence  on  them  at  once,  without  allowing  the  case 


SEVENTEENTH     CENTURY.  279 

to  go  before  a  jury,  that  they  were  at  all  times  in  danger  of  being 
ensnared,  and  deprived  of  any  hope  of  the  justice  that  might  pos- 
sibly he  obtained  if  a  trial  was  allowed  ;  and  hence  their  frequent 
refusal  to  plead  at  once  to  the  charge,  or  the  indictment,  if  one 
was  prepared. 

They  had  no  wish  to  be  made  martyrs,  and  objects  as  they  were 
of  the  implacable  enmity  of  the  "Church"  and  State,  they  knew 
that  several  of  the  laws  put  in  force  against  them,  had  been  made, 
long  before,  under  special  circumstances,  and  to  repress  people  alto- 
gether different  from  themselves,  and  had  become  almost  obsolete. 
They  were,  therefore,  desirous  to  avail  themselves  of  the  few  rights 
yet  left  them  as  Englislimen,  and  to  trust  that  among  a  jury  of 
twelve  men,  some  one  might  be  found  that  would  be  willing  to 
stand  up  against  the  extortion  and  cruelty  he  saw  practised  on  his 
fellow  countrymen. 

Space  cannot  be  allowed,  to  enter  into  many  details  of  the  griev- 
ous sufferings  Friends  were  now  enduring,  because  they  could  not 
conscientiously  either  abstain  from  meeting  for  the  public  worship  of 
Almighty  God,  or,  in  obedience  to  the  command  of  Christ  and  his 
apostle,  they  dare  not  swear ;  or,  believing  that  the  ministry  of  the 
gospel  must  be  freely  exercised,  by  those  who  are  gifted  by  Christ 
for  the  service,  they  could  not  pay  tithes.  The  jails  throughout 
England  were  almost  filled  with  them,  both  men  and  women  ;  and 
such  was  the  noisomeness  of  the  holes  and  dungeons  into  which 
multitudes  of  them  were  crowded,  that  many  laid  down  their  lives 
therein,  or  contracted  disease,  from  the  .painful  or  enfeebling  effects 
of  which  they  never  recovered.  The  following  will  illustrate  how 
those  taken  at  the  meetings  were  treated,  after  they  got  out  of  the 
hands  of  such  men  as  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  and  others  em- 
ployed in  consigning  them  to  these  dismal  abodes.  Also  the  deep 
feeling  of  brotherly  love  and  Christian  sympathy  that  prevailed 
among  this  despised  and  persecuted  flock,  who  counted  not  their 
lives  dear  unto  themselves,  so  that  they  might  finish  their  course 
with  joy,  and  the  ministry  which  they  had  received  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  to  testify  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God. 

The  first  was  written  by  one  of  the  prisoners  in  Newgate,  London, 
and  published  at  the  time  that  most  of  the  prisons  in  that  city  and 
its  suburbs  were  similarly  ci-ammed  with  Friends  [16G2]  : 

"  We  are  now,  al)out  seven  scores  of  us,  prisoners  in  this  place, 
remaining  upon  the  acujounts  before  mentioned  ;  and  divers  of  our 
Friends,  when  first  brought  into  Newgate,  were  put  into  a  very  nasty, 


280  FRIEXDH    IX    THE 

stinking  place,  called  the  Hole,  wliere  they  always  put  condemnod 
])ersons  between  their  sentence  and  execution  ;  and  sonie  Friends 
have  been  kei)t  there  for  twenty-four  hour.'^,  and  then  })ut  into  the 
Chapel,  so  many  together,  that  they  could  not  all  lie  upon  the  floor, 
but  were  crowded  and  thronged  in  a  pitiable  manner;  some  lying 
in  hainiiioeks,  and  some  having  no  lodging  at  all  ;  l)Ut  divers  have 
been  necessitated  to  lie  upon  the  leads  all  night,  out  of  doors  ;  and 
so  thronged  have  we  been  within,  that  we  were  near  stifled  with  the 
extraordinary  heat ;  insomuch  that  it  hath  been  dangerous  in  caus- 
ing sickness  and  diseases.  But  the  mercy  of  the  Lord  hath  pre- 
served us  generally  in  liealth,  except  some  few,  who  had  been  visited 
with  sickness  for  a  time,  and  only  two  have  departed  this  life ;  one 
of  which  was  a  fresh  lively  young  man,  who  being  put  in  the  dark, 
noisome  Hole  before  mentioned,  where  [condemned]  prisoners  are 
put,  took  his  sickness  there,  and  on  his  death-bed,  he  would  often  cry 
out  of  the  noisome,  stinking  prison,  as  the  cause  of  his  distemper. 
And  also  it  was  the  judgment  of  both  the  juries  that  passed  on  each 
of  the  dead  bodies  —  for  any  of  the  prisoners  dying,  a  jury  must  pass 
on  them,  to  And  out  the  cause  of  their  death  —  that  though  they  died 
of  a  natural  sickness,  yet  the  occasion  of  their  sickness  might  possi- 
bly be  iheir  strait  imprisonment  in  such  noisome  prisons,  and  so 
many  put  together.  Yet  are  not  all  these  things  regarded,  but  we 
are  still  thronged  up  and  detained  in  cruel  bonds;  there  being  a 
great  many  poor  men  among  us,  whose  poor  families  are  exposed 
to  ruin  thereby ;  their  poor  wives  and  children  crying  out  daily  for 
want  of  husbands  and  fathers ;  their  trades  ruined,  and  their  cus- 
tomers complaining;  and  thus  the  ruin  of  many  is  threatened,  by  rea- 
son of  this  hard  imprisonment.  Yet,  little  notice  at  all  can  be  taken 
of  this  by  any  in  authority,  but  all  hearts  are  shut  up,  and  compas- 
sion fled  away,  and  the  innocent  suffer  under  the  oppression  of  men, 
and  no  man  regards  it." 

The  next,  which  was  presented  to  the  Mayor  and  Sherifl^s  of  London, 
referring  to  the  above  account,  after  reciting  the  sufl'ering  inflicted 
on  these  poor  prisoners,  "  some  of  them  being  poor  housekeepers 
and  others  among  them  poor  servants,"  whose  families  "  are  exposed 
to  utter  ruin  by  reason  of  their  imprisonment,"  continues,  "There- 
fore we,  their  friends  and  brethren,  who  are  one  with  them  in  their 
sufferings,  and  afflicted  with  them,  and  do  own  the  cause  for  which 
they  suffer,  do  desire  that  you  would  take  into  consideration  their 
sad  estate,  and  find  some  way  how  they  may  be  relieved,  that  so 
their  families  may  not  be  utterly  ruined,  nor  their  persons  exposed 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CENTURY.  2S1 

to  death.  If  no  other  way  can  be  found  for  their  relief,  if  they  may 
not  have  the  liberty  to  follow  their  occasions  [occupations]  for  some 
weeks,  or  until  such  time  as  you  shall  call  for  them  — which  we  de- 
sire on  their  behalf—  we  are  ready  to  give  our  words  that  they 
shall  again  become  prisoners,  as  you  shall  appoint  them.  And  if 
no  other  way  can  be  found,  ther  we,  a  certain  number  of  us,  do  pre- 
sent our  bodies  to  you,  offering  them  freely  to  relieve  our  affiided  and 
oppressed  brethren,  and  are  ready  to  go  into  their  jilaces,  and  to  suffer 
as  prisoners  in  their  room  for  your  security,  that  so  many  of  the 
poorest  of  them,  as  we  are  here,  may  have  their  liberty  to  go  about 
their  needful  occasions,  whether  it  be  for  some  weeks,  or  until  you 
shall  call  for  them,  as  you  see  meet  in  your  wisdom.  All  which  we 
do  in  humility  of  heart  and  sincerity  of  our  minds,  and  in  the  fear 
of  God  and  love  to  our  brethren,  that  they  may  not  perish  in  prison, 
and  in  love  to  you,  that  innocent  blood  and  oppression  may  not  come 
upon  you,  but  be  prevented  from  ever  being  charged  against  you." 
This  moving  appeal  was  signed  by  about  thirty  Friends ;  but 
though  showing  the  fervent  love  existing  among  the  members,  so 
that  they  were  willing  to  hazard  their  lives  for  each  other,  it  fell 
upon  ears  closed  to  every  cry  for  mercy  or  justice,  from  those  who 
were  not  willing  to  sacrifice  their  sense  of  religious  duty,  and  conform 
to  the  form  of  worship  marked  out  by  the  hierarchy  of  the  "estab- 
lished church,"  and  the  dictates  of  the  demoralized  Parliament. 


CHAPTER  XVL 


Account  of  T.  Ell  wood  — Prison  Lite  —  Deaths  in  Prison  —  Death  of  K.  Hub- 
bertliorn  and  E.  Bwrrough — Wm.  Ames — Persecution  at  Colchester— Meet- 
ings kept  up  — Divine  Support  —  Testimonies  to  Friends' steadfastness  — 
Account  of  Stepiien  Crisp. 

'^PHOMAS  ELL  WOOD  gives  in  his  Journal  a  graphic  descrip- 
-L  tion  of  life  in  prison  as  Friends  had  to  endure  it,  parts  of  which 
will  be  introduced,;  first,  however,  giving  some  notice  of  the  writer. 
He  was  the  son  of  Walter  Eilwood,  a  member  of  a  highly  respect- 
able family,  and  was  born  in  Crowell,  Oxfjrdshire,  in  16o9.  The 
family,  while  residing  in  London,  were  on  intinuite  terms  with  Lady 
Springett,  who  afterwards  became  the  wife  of  Isaac  Penington.  T. 
EUwood's  early  education  was  good,  but  his  father  removing  to  his 


282  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

estate  at  Crowell,  near  the  close  of  the  revolutionary  war,  he  was 
not  sent  to  college,  and  being  greatly  addicted  to  field  sports,  his 
further  literary  improvement  was  neglected.  From  the  account  he 
gives  of  himself,  it  appears  that  though  he  took  delight  in  fashion- 
able dress,  manners  and  associations,  he  was  preserved  from  running 
into  gross  evils. 

In  1659,  when  Thomas  Ellwood  was  about  twenty  years  of  age, 
he  accompanied  his  father  on  a  visit  to  Isaac  Penington,  who  having, 
as  already  related,  married  the  widow  Springett,  and  with  his  wife 
joined  themselves  to  Friends,  was  living  at  Chalfont,  about  fifteen 
miles  from  Crowell.  Being  invited  to  attend  a  meeting  of  Friends 
near  by,  where  were  both  Edward  Burrough  and  James  Naylor, 
they  went.  The  former  preached,  and  his  words  went  home  to  the 
heart  of  T.  Ellwood,  and  affected  liim  in  a  mjinner  as  "he  had  not 
till  then  felt  froin  the  ministry  of  any  man."  On  coming  back  to 
the  house  of  I.  Penington,  in  the  evening,  the  servants  were  called 
in,  and  a  religious  opportunity  had  in  the  fiimily.  E.  Burrough 
having  spoken  on  "  The  universal  free  grace  of  God  to  all  man- 
kind," the  elder  Ellwood  undertook  to  argue  against  the  doctrine, 
but  the  son  soon  saw  that  his  father  could  not  maintain  his  ground. 
The  impression  made  at  the  meeting  on  T.  Ellwood's  mind  continu- 
ing, he  went  to  another  meeting  of  Friends  which  he  heard  was  to 
be  held  at  High  Wycomb.  In  this  meeting  he  was  thoroughly 
convinced  of  the  truth  as  held  by  Friends,  and  there  is  much  in- 
struction to  be  gained  from  the  narrative  he  gives  of  the  work  of 
regeneration  as  experienced  by  him.  Although  it  was  to  be  ex- 
pected, that  as  they  minded  the  manifestation  of  the  same  Divine 
Grace,  it  would  bring  them  under  similar  baptisms,  and  lead  them 
into  the  adoption  of  the  same  testimonies  as  witnesses  for  the  truth, 
yet  it  is  striking,  confirming  and  encouraging,  to  mark  how  simi- 
larly the  work  of  sanctification,  justification  and  perfect  redemption 
was  carried  on  in  those  devoted  and  eminent  Christians,  who  were 
early  brought  into  communion  with  Friends  by  convincement. 

The  experience  of  those  of  them  who  have  left  records  of  their 
religious  birth,  growth  and  establishment  in  the  Truth,  though  dif- 
fering widely  as  regards  the  circumstances  under  which  they  were 
placed,  yet  in  relation  to  the  necessity  of  taking  up  the  daily  cross, 
and  witnessing  to  the  world  the  requirements  of  the  spiritual  reli- 
gion of  Jesus,  by  supporting  all  those  testimonies  which  have  made 
Friends  a  peculiar  people  from  their  rise  to  the  present  time,  an- 
swered to  each  other  as  face  to  face  in  a  glass. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  2S3 

"  Now  was  all  my  former  life  ripped  up,  and  my  sins  by  degrees 
were  set  iu  order  before  me.  And  though  they  looked  not  with  so 
black  a  hue  and  so  deep  a  dye  as  those  of  the  lewdest  sort  of  people 
did,  yet  I  found  tliat  all  sin,  even  that  which  had  the  fairest  or 
finest  show,  as  well  as  that  which  was  more  coarse  and  foul,  brought 
guilt,  and  with  and  for  guilt,  condemnation  on  the  soul  that  sinned. 
This  I  felt,  and  was  greatly  bowed  down  under  the  sense  thereof 
Now  also  did  I  receive  a  new  law,  (an  inward  law  superadded  to 
the  outward,)  tlie  law  of  the  Spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus,  which 
wrought  in  me  against  all  evil,  not  only  in  deed  and  in  word,  but 
even  iu  thought  also;  so  that  everything  was  brought  to  judgment, 
and  judgment  passed  upon  all.  So  that  I  could  not  any  longer  go 
on  in  my  former  ways,  and  course  of  life,  for  when  I  did,  judgment 
took  hold  upon  me  for  it.  Thus  the  Lord  was  graciously  pleased 
to  deal  with  me  in  somewhat  like  manner  as  He  had  dealt  with  his 
people  Israel  of  old,  when  they  had  transgressed  his  righteous  law ; 
whom  by  his  prophet  He  called  back,  and  required  to  put  away  the 
evil  of  their  doings,  bidding  them  first  cease  to  do  evil,  then  learn 
to  do  well,  before  he  would  admit  them  to  reason  with  him,  and 
before  He  would  impart  to  them  the  effects  of  his  free  mercy. 
Isaiah  i.  16,  17. 

"  I  was  now  required  by  this  inward  and  spiritual  law  (the  law  of 
the  Spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus),  to  put  away  the  evil  of  my  doings, 
and  to  cease  to  do  evil.  And  what  in  particular  was  the  evil  which 
I  was  required  to  put  away  and  cease  from,  that  measure  of  the 
divine  Light,  which  was  now  manifested  in  me,  discovered  to  me ; 
and  what  the  light  made  manifest  to  be  evil,  judgment  passed 
upon. 

"  So  that  here  began  to  be  a  way  cast  up  before  me  for  me  to  walk 
in ;  a  direct  and  plain  way,  so  plain  that  a  wayfaring  man,  how  weak 
and  simple  soever,  though  a  fool  to  the  wisdom  and  in  the  judgment 
of  the  world,  could  not  err  while  he  continued  to  walk  in  it;  the 
error  coming  in  by  his  going  out  of  it.  And  this  way  with  respect 
to  me  I  saw  was  that  measure  of  divine  Light  which  was  manifested 
in  me,  by  which  the  evil  of  my  doings,  which  I  was  to  put  away 
and  to  cease  from,  was  discovered  to  me.  By  this  divine  Light 
then  I  saw,  that  tliough  I  had  not  the  evil  of  the  common  unclean- 
ness,  debauchery,  profaneness,  and  pollutions  of  the  world  to  put 
away,  because  I  had,  through  the  goodness  of  God,  and  a  civil  etlu- 
catiou,  been  preserved  out  of  those  grosser  evils,  yet  I  had  many 
other  evils  to  put  away  and  to  cease  from  ;  some  of  which  were  not 


4 

284  FRIEXDS     IN    THE 

by  the  world,  wliicli  lies  in  wickedness,  accounted  evils;  but  by  the 
Light  of  Christ  were  made  manifest  to  me  to  be  evils,  and  as  such 
condemned  in  me.  As  particularly,  those  fruits  and  effects  of  pride, 
that  discover  themselves  in  the  vanity  and  superfluity  of  a])parel, 
which  I,  as  far  as  my  ability  would  extend  to,  took,  alas!  too  much 
delight  in.  This  evil  of  my  doings  I  was  required  to  put  away  and 
cease  from,  and  judgment  lay  upon  me  till  I  did  so.  Wherefore,  in 
obedience  to  the  inward  law,  which  agreed  with  the  outward,  I 
took  off  from  my  api)arel  those  unnecessary  trimmings  of  lace, 
ribands,  and  useless  buttons,  which  had  no  real  service,  but  were 
set  ou  only  for  that  which  was  by  mistake  called  ornament ;  and  I 
ceased  to  wear  rings. 

"  Again  :  the  giving  of  flattering  titles  to  men,  between  whom 
and  me  there  was  not  any  relation  to  which  such  titles  could  be 
pretended  to  belong.  This  was  an  evil  I  had  been  much  addicted 
to,  and  was  accounted  a  ready  artist  in  :  therefore  this  evil  also  was 
I  required  to  put  away  and  cease  from.  So  that  thenceforward  I 
durst  not  say,  Sir,  Master,  My  Lord,  Madam,  (or  My  Dame,)  or  say 
Your  Servant,  to  any  one  to  whom  I  did  not  stand  in  the  real  re- 
lation of  a  servant,  which  I  have  never  done  to  any. 

"Again:  respect  of  persons,  in  uncovering  the  head,  and  bowing 
the  knee  or  body  in  salutations,  Avas  a  practice  I  had  been  much  in 
the  use  of.  And  this  being  one  of  the  vain  customs  of  the  world, 
introduced  by  the  spirit  of  the  world  instead  of  the  true  honor, 
Avhich  this  is  a  false  representation  of,  and  used  in  deceit,  as  a  token 
of  resjiect,  by  persons  one  to  another,  who  bear  no  real  respect  one 
to  another  ;  and  besides,  this  being  a  type  and  proper  eml)lem  of 
that  divine  honor  which  all  ought  to  pay  to  Almighty  God,  and 
which  all,  of  all  sorts,  who  take  upon  them  the  Christian  name, 
appear  in  when  they  offer  their  prayers  to  Him,  and  therefore  should 
not  be  given  to  men.  I  found  this  to  be  one  of  those  evils,  which  I 
had  been  too  long  doing ;  therefore  I  was  now  required  to  put  it 
away,  and  cease  from  it. 

"Again:  the  corrupt  and  unsound  form  of  speaking  in  the  plural 
number  to  a  single  person,  You  to  one,  instead  of  Thou,  contrary  to 
tlie  pure,  jilaiu,  and  single  language  of  truth.  Thou  to  one  and  You 
to  more  than  one,  which  had  always  been  used  by  God  to  men,  and 
men  to  God,  as  well  as  one  to  another,  from  the  oldest  record  of 
time,  till  corrupt  meu,  for  corrupt  ends,  in  later  and  corrupt  times, 
to  flatter,  fawn,  and  work  upon  the  corrupt  nature  in  men,  brought 
in  that  fiJse  and  senseless  way  of  speaking,  You  to  one  ;  which  hath 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  285 

since  corrupted  the  modern  languages,  and  hath  greatly  dJiased  the 
spirits  and  depraved  the  manners  of  men.  Tliis  evil  custom  I  had 
been  as  forward  in  as  others,  and  this  I  was  now  called  out  of,  and 
required  to  cease  from. 

"  These,  and  many  more  evil  customs,  Avhich  had  sprung  up  in 
the  night  of  darkness  and  general  apostasy  from  the  truth  and  true 
religion,  were  now  by  the  inshining  of  this  pure  ray  of  divine  Light 
in  my  conscience,  gradually  discovered  to  me  to  be  what  I  ought  to 
cease  from,  shun,  and  stand  a  witness  against. 

"  But  so  subtilly,  and  withal  so  powerfully  did  tlie  Enemy  work 
upon  the  weak  part  in  me,  as  to  persuade  me  that  in  these  things  I 
ought  to  make  a  difference  between  my  father  and  all  other  men  ; 
and  that  therefore,  though  I  did  disuse  these  tokens  of  respect  to 
others,  yet  T  ought  still  to  use  them  towards  him,  as  he  was  my 
father.  And  so  far  did  this  wile  of  his  prevail  upon  me,  througli  a 
fear  lest  I  should  do  amiss,  in  withdrawing  any  sort  of  respect  or 
honor  from  my  father,  which  was  due  unto  him,  that  being  thereby 
beguiled,  I  continued  for  a  while  to  demean  myself  in  the  same 
manner  towards  him,  with  respect  both  to  language  and  gesture,  as 
I  had  always  done  before.  And  so  long  as  I  did  so,  standing  bare 
before  him,  and  giving  him  the  accustomed  language,  he  did  not 
express,  whatever  he  thought,  any  dislike  of  me. 

"  But  as  to  myself,  and  the  work  begun  in  me,  I  found  it  was  not 
enough  for  me  to  cease  to  do  evil,  though  that  was  a  good  and  great 
step.  I  had  another  lesson  before  me,  which  was  to  learn  to  do 
well ;  which  I  could  by  no  means  do,  till  I  had  given  up,  with  full 
purpose  of  mind,  to  cease  from  doing  evil.  And  when  I  had  done 
that,  the  Enemy  took  advantage  of  my  weakness  to  mislead  me 
again.  For  whereas  I  ought  to  have  waited  in  the  Light,  for  direc- 
tion and  guidance  into  and  in  the  way  of  well  doing,  and  not  to 
have  moved  till  the  divine  Spirit,  (a  manifestation  of  wliich  the 
Lord  had  been  pleased  to  give  unto  me,  for  me  to  profit  with  or  by) 
the  Enemy,  transforming  himself  into  the  appearance  of  an  angel 
of  light,  ottered  himself  in  that  appearance  to  be  my  guide  and 
leader  into  the  performance  of  I'eligious  exercises.  And  I,  not  tlien 
knowing  the  wiles  of  Satan,  and  being  eager  to  be  doing  some 
acceptable  service  to  God,  too  readily  yielded  myself  to  the  conduct 
of  my  enemy,  instead  of  my  friend. 

''  He  thereupon,  humoring  the  warmth  and  zeal  of  my  spirit,  put 
me  upc^n  religious  performances  in  my  own  will,  in  my  own  time, 
and  in  my  own  strength  ;  which  in  themselves  were  gootl,  and  would 


286  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

have  beeii  profitable  unto  me,  and  acceptable  unto  the  Lord,  if  they 
had  been  performed  In  his  will,  in  his  time,  and  in  the  ability  which 
He  gives.  But  being  wrought  in  the  will  of  man,  and  at  the  i)rompt- 
ing  of  the  Evil  One,  no  wonder  that  it  did  me  hurt  instead  of  good. 

"  I  read  abundantly  in  the  Bible,  and  would  set  myself  tasks  in 
reading;  enjoining  myself  to  read  so  many  chapters,  sometimes  a 
whole  book,  or  long  epistle,  at  a  time.  And  I  thought  that  time 
well  spent,  though  I  was  not  much  wiser  for  what  I  had  read,  read- 
ing it  too  cursorily,  and  without  the  true  guide,  the  Holy  Spirit, 
which  alone  could  open  the  understanding,  and  give  the  true  sense 
of  what  was  read.  I  prayed  often  and  drew  out  my  prayers  to  a 
great  length  ;  and  appointed  unto  myself  certain  set  times  to  pray 
at,  and  a  certain  number  of  prayers  to  say  in  a  day ;  knowing  not, 
meanwhile,  what  true  prayer  was.  This  stands  not  in  words,  though 
the  words  which  are  uttered  in  the  movings  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  are 
very  available ;  but  in  the  breathing  of  the  soul  to  the  Heavenly 
Father,  through  the  operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  maketh  in- 
tercession sometimes  in  words,  and  sometimes  with  sighs  and  groans 
only,  which  the  Lord  vouchsafes  to  hear  and  answer. 

"  This  will-worship,  which  all  is  that  is  performed  in  the  will  of 
man,  and  not  in  the  movings  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  was  a  great 
hurt  to  me,  and  hindrance  of  my  spiritual  growth  in  the  way  of 
truth.  But  my  Heavenly  Father  who  knew  the  sincerity  of  my 
soul  to  Him,  and  the  hearty  desire  I  had  to  serve  Him,  had  com- 
passion on  me  ;  and  in  due  time  was  graciously  pleased  to  illuminate 
my  understanding  further,  and  to  open  in  me  an  eye  to  discern  the 
false  spirit,  and  its  way  of  working,  from  the  true ;  and  to  reject 
the  former,  and  cleave  to  the  latter. 

"  But  though  the  Enemy  h.ad  by  his  subtlety  gained  such  advan- 
tages over  me,  yet  I  went  on  notwithstanding,  and  firmly  persisted 
in  mv  godly  resolution  of  ceasing  from  and  denying  those  things 
which  I  was  now  convinced  in  my  conscience  were  evil." 

As  the  Light  of  Christ  shone  more  clearly  on  his  soul,  T.  Ell- 
wood  came  to  see  that  he  had  been  deceived,  in  supposing  he  might 
omit  witnessing  to  all  its  requirements  when  before  his  father,  and 
he  felt  that  he  must  be  willing  to  use  the  plain  language  of  thou  and 
thee  to  him,  and  decline  uncovering  his  head  when  with  him,  as  a 
mark  of  respect.*  By  faithrully  acting  in  accordance  with  what  he 
saw  to  be  his  religious  duty  in  this  respect,  he  soon  incurred  his 

*  It  was  then  the  custom  to  wear  the  hat  in  tlie  house,  and  fur  cliiklren  to 
uncover  the  he.id  in  token  of  respect. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  287 

father's  displeasure,  who  repeats  lly  heat  liim  with  hoth  fists  and 
cane,  took  away  all  his  hats,  and  thus  confined  him  to  the  house, 
and  most  of  the  time  to  his  room,  for  several  months.  At  length 
I.  Penington  and  his  wife  coming  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  family,  per- 
suaded the  father,  when  they  were  leaving,  to  allow  his  son  to  ac- 
company them  home  ;  where  he  resided  for  many  weeks,  and  on  his 
return  to  his  father's  house,  finding  him  still  offended  with  his  hat 
and  language,  he  was  content  to  eat  with  the  servants,  so  long  as  he 
and  his  father  lived  together.  He  became  firmly  established  in  the 
Truth,  and  after  his  death,  the  Friends  of  the  meeting  to  which  he 
belonged,  bore  testimony  that  he  was  "  A  man  to  whom  the  Lord 
had  given  a  large  capacity  beyond  many,  and  furnished  with  an 
excellent  gift,  whereby  he  was  qualified  for  those  services  in  the 
church,  in  performance  of  which  he  did  shine  as  a  star,  which  re- 
ceived its  lustre  and  brightness  from  the  glorious  Sun  of  righteous- 
ness."    He  was  not  a  minister. 

He  narrates,  that  being  in  London  not  very  long  after  his  con- 
vincement  [1662],  he  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  held  in  the 
house  of  Humphrey  Bache;  around  which  a  crowd  collected  "ready 
to  receive  the  Friends  as  they  came  forth,  not  only  with  evil  words, 
but  with  blows ;  which  I  saw  they  bestowed  freely  on  some  of  them 
that  were  gone  out  before  me,  and  expected  I  should  have  my  share 
of  when  I  came  amongst  them.  But  quite  contrary  to  my  expecta- 
tion, when  I  came  out,  they  said  one  to  another,  *  Let  him  alone ;  don't 
meddle  with  him  ;  he  is  no  Quaker,  I  '11  warrant  you.'  This  struck 
me,  and  was  worse  to  me  than  if  they  had  laid  their  fists  on  me,  as 
they  did  c^n  others.  I  was  troubled  to  think  what  the  matter  was 
or  what  these  rude  people  saw  in  me,  that  made  them  not  take  me 
for  a  Quaker.  And  upon  a  close  examination  of  myself  with  respect 
to  my  habit  and  deportment,  I  could  not  find  anything  to  place  it 
on,  but  that  I  had  then  on  my  head  a  large  mountiercap  of  black 
velvet,  the  skirt  of  which  being  turned  up  in  folds  looked,  it  seems, 
somewhat  above  the  then  common  garb  of  a  Quaker ;  and  this  put 
nie  out  of  conceit  with  my  cap." 

But  in  1662,  he  was  taken  from  the  Bull-and-Mouth  meeting, 
and,  with  many  others,  committed  to  Old  Bridew'ell.  He  thus  de- 
scribes the  accommodations  there,  and  the  manner  in  which  the 
prisoners  passed  their  time. 

"  This  room  in  length,  for  I  lived  long  enough  in  it  to  have  time 
to  measure  it,  was  three-score  feet,  and  had  breadth  proportionable 
to  it.     In  it,  on  the  front  side,  were  very  large  bay-windows,  in 


288  FRIEXDS    IN    THE 

wliicli  stood  a  large  table.  It  had  other  very  large  tables  in  it,  with 
benches  round  ;  and  at  that  time  the  floor  was  covered  with  rushes, 
against  some  solemn  festival,  which  I  heard  it  was  bespoken  for. 
Here  was  my  nil  ultra,  and  here  I  found  I  might  set  up  my  pillar. 

"  But  I  was  quickly  put  out  of  these  thoughts  by  the  flocking  in 
of  the  other  Friends,  my  fellow-prisoners;  amongst  whom  yet,  when 
all  were  come  together,  there  was  but  one  whom  I  knew  so  much  as 
by  face;  and  with  him  T  had  no  ac(|uaiiitance.  For  I  having  been 
but  a  little  while  in  the  city,  and  in  that  time  kept  close  to  my 
studies,  I  was  by  that  means  known  to  very  few. 

"  Soon  after  we  were  all  gotten  together,  came  up  the  master  of 
the  house  after  us,  and  demanded  our  names;  which  we  might 
reasonably  have  refused  to  give,  till  we  had  been  legally  convened 
before  some  civil  Magistrate,  who  had  power  to  examine  us,  and  de- 
mand our  names;  but  we,  who  were  neither  guileful  nor  wilful,  sim- 
ply gave  him  our  names,  which  he  took  down  in  writing. 

"  It  was,  as  I  hinted  before,  a  general  storm  which  fell  that  day, 
but  it  lighted  most,  and  most  heavy  upon  our  meetings ;  so  that 
most  of  our  men  Friends  were  made  prisoners,  and  the  prisons  gen- 
erally filled.  And  great  work  had  the  women,  to  run  a!)out  from 
prison  to  prison,  to  find  their  husbands,  their  fathers,  their  brothers, 
or  their  servants-;  for  accordingly  as  they  had  disposed  themselves 
to  several  meetings,  so  were  they  dispersed  to  several  prisons.  And 
110  less  care  and  pains  had  they,  when  they  had  found  them,  to  fur- 
nish them  with  provisions,  and  other  necessary  accommodations. 
But  aJi  excellent  order,  even  in  those  early  days,  was  practised 
among  the  Friends  of  that  city,  by  which  there  were  certain  Friends 
of  either  sex  appointed  to  liave  the  oversight  of  the  prisons  in  every 
quarter;  and  to  take  care  of  all  Friends,  the  poor  tspecially,  that 
should  be  committed  there. 

"  This  prison  of  Bridewell,  was  under  the  care  of  two  honest,  grave, 
discreet,  and  motherly  women,  wdiose  names  wei-e  Anna  Merricdc, 
(afterwards  Vivers,)  and  Anne  Travels,  both  widows.  They,  so  soon 
as  they  understood  that  there  were  Friends  brought  into  that  prison, 
jirovided  some  hot  victuals,  meat  and  broth,  for  the  weatiier  was 
cold  ;  and  ordering  their  servants  to  bring  it,  with  bread,  cheese, 
and  beer,  came  themselves  also  with  it,  and  having  placed  it  on  a 
table,  gave  notice  to  us,  that  it  was  ])rovided  for  all  those  that  had 
not  others  to  provide  for  them,  or  were  not  able  to  provide  for  them- 
selves. And  there  wanted  not  among  us  a  competent  number  of 
such  guests. 


SEVENTEEXTH    CENTURY.  289 

"  As  for  my  part,  though  I  had  lived  as  frugally  as  I  possibly 
could,  that  I  might  draw  out  the  thread  of  ray  little  stock  to  the  ut- 
most length,  yet  had  I  by  this  time  reduced  it  to  tenpence,  which 
was  all  the  money  I  had  about  me,  or  any  where  else  at  ray  com- 
mand. This  was  but  a  small  estate  to  enter  upon  an  imprisonment 
with,  yet  was  I  not  at  all  discouraged  at  it,  nor  had  I  a  murmuring 
thought.  I  had  known  what  it  was  moderately  to  abound,  and  if  I 
should  now  come  to  suffer  want,  I  knew  I  ought  to  be  content;  and 
through  the  grace  of  God  I  was  so.  I  had  lived  by  Providence 
before,  when  for  a  long  time  I  had  no  money  at  all,  and  I  had 
always  found  the  Lord  a  good  provider.  I  made  no  doubt,  there- 
fore, that  he  who  sent  the  ravens  to  feed  Elijah,  and  who  clothes 
the  lilies,  would  find  some  means  to  sustain  me  with  needful  food 
and  raiment ;  and  I  had  learned  by  experience  the  truth  of  that 
saying,  '  Nature  is  content  with  few  things.' 

"  Although  the  sight  and  smell  of  hot  food  was  sufficiently  entic- 
ing to  ray  empty  stomach,  for  I  had  eaten  little  that  morning,  and 
was  hungry,  yet  considering  the  terms  of  the  invitation,  I  questioned 
whether  I  was  included  in  it;  and  after  some  reasonings,  at  length 
concluded,  that  while  I  had  tenpence  in  my  pocket,  I  should  be 
an  injurious  intruder  to  that  mess,  which  was  provided  for  such 
as  perhaps  had  not  twopence  in  theirs.  Being  come  to  this  resolu- 
tion, I  withdrew  as  far  from  the  table  as  I  could,  and  sat  down  in  a 
quiet  retirement  of  mind,  till  the  repast  was  over ;  which  was  not 
long,  for  there  were  hands  enough  at  it  to  make  light  work  of  it. 

"  When  evening  came,  the  porter  came  up  the  back  stairs,  and 
opening  the  door,  told  us,  if  we  desired  to  have  anything  that  was 
to  be  had  in  the  house,  he  would  bring  it  us ;  for  there  was  in  the 
house  a  chandler's  shop,  at  which  beer,  bread,  butter,  cheese,  eggs, 
and  bacon,  might  be  had  for  nioney.  Upon  which  many  went  to 
him,  and  spake  for  what  of  these  things  they  had  a  mind  to,  giving 
hira  raoney  to  pay  for  them.  Among  the  rest  went  I,  and  intend- 
ing to  spin  out  my  tenpence  as  far  as  I  could,  desired  him  to  bring 
me  a  penny  loaf  only.  When  he  returned,  we  all  resorted  to  him 
to  receive  our  several  provisions,  which  he  delivered  ;  and  when  he 
came  to  me  he  told  me  he  could  not  get  a  penny  loaf,  but  he  had 
brought  rae  two  halfpenny  loaves.  This  suited  me  better ;  where- 
fore returning  to  my  place  again,  I  sat  down  and  eat  up  one  of  my 
loaves,  reserving  the  other  for  the  next  day.  This  was  to  me  both 
dinner  and  sui)per ;  and  so  well  satisfied  I  was  with  it,  that  I  could 
willingly  then  liave  gone  to  bed,  if  I  had  had  one  to  go  to  ;  but  that 
19 


290  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

■was  not  to  bo  expected  there,  nor  liail  any  one  any  Ixnlding  brought, 
in  that  night. 

"  Some  of  the  company  had  been  so  considerate  as  to  send  for  a 
pound  of  candles,  that  we  might  not  sit  all  night  in  the  dark  ;  and 
having  lighted  divers  of  them,  and  placed  them  in  several  parts  of 
that  large  room,  we  kept  walking  to  keep  us  warm. 

"After  I  had  warmed  myself  pretty  thoroughly,  and  the  evening 
was  pretty  far  spent,  I  bethought  myself  of  a  lodging,  and  cast  mine 
eye  on  the  table  which  stood  in  the  bay  Avindow,  the  frame  whereof 
looked  I  thought  somewhat  like  a  bedstead.  Wherefore,  willing  to 
make  sure  of  that,  I  gathered  up  a  good  armful  of  the  rushes  where- 
with the  floor  was  covered,  and  spreading  them  under  that  table, 
crept  in  upon  them  in  my  clothes,  and  keeping  on  my  hat,  laid  my 
head  upon  one  end  of  the  table's  frame  instead  of  a  bolster.  Uy 
example  was  followed  by  the  rest,  who  gathering  up  rushes  as  I  had 
done,  made  themselves  beds  in  other  parts  of  the  room  ;  and  so  to 
rest  we  went. 

"  I  having  a  quiet,  easy  mind  was  soon  asleep,  and  slept  till 
about  the  middle  of  the  night ;  and  then  waking,  finding  my  feet 
and  legs  very  cold,  I  crept  out  of  my  cabin,  and  began  to  walk 
about  apace.  This  waked  and  raised  all  the  rest,  who  finding  them- 
selves cold  as  well  as  I,  got  up  and  walked  about  with  me,  till  we 
had  pretty  well  warmed  ourselves  ;  and  then  Ave  all  lay  down  again, 
and  rested  till  morning. 

"Next  day,  all  they  who  had  families,  or  belonged  to  fomilies, 
had  bedding  brought  in,  of  one  sort  or  other,  Avhich  they  disposed 
at  the  ends  and  sides  of  the  room,  leaving  the  middle  void  to  walk  in. 
But  I,  who  had  nobody  to  look  after  me,  kept  to  my  rushy  pallet 
under  the  table  for  four  nights  together,  in  which  time  I  did  not  put 
off  my  clothes  ;  yet,  through  the  merciful  goodness  of  God  unto  me, 
I  rested  and  slept  well,  and  enjoyed  health,  without  taking  cold. 

"  In  this  time  divers  of  our  company,  through  the  solicitations  of 
Bome  of  their  relations  or  acquaintance  to  Sir  Richard  Brown,  (who 
was  at  that  time  a  great  master  of  misrule  in  the  city,  and  over 
Bridewell  more  especially,)  were  released  ;  and  among  these  one 
William  Mucklow,  who  lay  in  a  hammock.  He,  having  observed 
that  I  only  Avas  unprovided  with  lodging,  came  very  courteously  to 
me,  and  kindly  offered  me  the  use  of  his  hammock  while  I  should 
continue  a  prisoner.  This  Avas  a  providential  accommodation  to  me, 
which  I  received  thankfully,  both  from  the  Lord  and  from  him  ;  and 
from  henceforth  I  thought  1  lay  as  well  as  ever  I  had  done  in  my  life. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  291 

"Amongst  those  thai  remained,  there  were  several  young  men 
who  cast  themselves  into  a  club,  and  laying  down  every  one  an 
equal  proportion  of  money,  put  it  into  the  hand  of  our  friend  Anne 
Travers,  desiring  her  to  lay  it  out  for  them  in  provisions,  and  send 
them  in  every  day  a  mess  of  hot  meat ;  and  they  kindly  invited  me 
to  come  into  their  club  with  them.  These  saw  my  person,  and 
judged  of  me  by  that,  but  they  saw  not  my  purse,  nor  understood 
the  lightness  of  my  pocket.  But  I,  who  alone  understood  my  own 
condition,  knew  I  must  sit  down  with  lower  commons.  Wherefore, 
not  giving  them  the  true  reason,  I,  as  fairly  as  I  could,  excused  my- 
self from  entering  at  present  into  their  mess,  and  went  on  as  before 
to  eat  by  myself,  and  that  very  sparingly,  as  my  stock  would  bear. 
And  before  my  tenpence  was  quite  spent.  Providence,  on  whom  I 
relied,  sent  me  in  a  fresh  supply." 

Having  received  money  from  William  and  Isaac  Penington,  and 
from  his  father,  he  says  :  — "  Now  was  my  pocket  from  the  lowest  ebb 
risen  to  a  full  tide.  I  was  at  the  brink  of  want,  next  door  to  noth- 
ing, yet  my  confidence  did  not  fail,  nor  my  faith  stagger ;  and  now 
on  a  sudden  I  had  plentiful  supplies,  shower  upon  shower,  so  that  I 
abounded,  yet  was  not  lifted  up  ;  but  in  humility  could  say,  'This 
is  the  Lord's  doing.'  And,  without  defrauding  any  of  the  instru- 
ments of  the  acknowledgments  due  unto  them,  mine  eye  looked  over 
and  beyond  them  to  the  Lord,  who  I  saw  was  the  author  thereof, 
and  prime  agent  therein  ;  and  with  a  thankful  heart  I  returned 
thanksgivings  and  praises  to  Him.  And  this  great  goodness  of  the 
Lord  to  me  I  thus  record,  to  the  end,  that  all  into  whose  hands  this 
may  come  may  be  encouraged  to  trust  in  the  Lord,  whose  mercy  is 
over  all  his  works,  and  who  is  indeed  a  God  near  at  hand,  to  help  in 
the  needful  time.  Now  I  durst  venture  into  the  club,  to  which  I 
had  been  invited ;  and  accordingly,  having  by  this  time  gained  an 
acquaintance  with  them,  I  took  an  opportunity  to  cast  myself  among 
them  :  and  thenceforward,  so  long  as  we  continued  prisoners  there 
together,  I  was  one  of  their  mess. 

"  And  now  the  chief  thing  I  wanted  was  employment,  which  scarce 
any  wanted  but  myself;  for  the  rest  of  my  company  were  generally 
tradesmen,  of  such  trades  as  could  set  themselves  on  work.  Of  these 
divers  were  tailors,  some  masters,  some  journeymen,  and  with  these 
1  mostly  inclined  to  settle.  But  because  I  was  too  much  a  novice 
in  their  art  to  be  trusted  with  their  work,  lest  I  should  spoil  the 
garment,  I  got  work  from  an  hosier  in  Cheapside,  which  was  to 
make  night-waistcoats,  of  red  and  yellow  flannel,  for  women  and 


292  FRIENDS     IX    THE 

children.  And  with  this  I  cntercMl  myself  umoiig  the  tailors,  sit- 
ting cross-legged  as  they  did,  and  so  spent  those  leisure  hours  with 
innocency  and  pleasure,  which  want  of  business  would  have  made 
tedious.  And  indeed  that  was  in  a  manner  the  only  advantage  I 
had  by  it ;  for  my  master,  though  a  very  wealthy  man,  and  one  who 
professed  not  only  friendship  but  particular  kindness  to  me,  dealt  I 
thought  but  hardly  with  me.  For,  though  he  knew  not  what  I  had 
to  subsist  by,  he  never  offered  me  a  penny  for  my  work  till  I  had 
done  working  for  him,  and  went  after  I  was  released,  to  give  him  a 
visit ;  and  then  he  would  not  reckon  with  me  neither,  because,  as  he 
smilingly  said,  he  would  not  let  me  so  far  into  his  trade,  as  to  ac- 
quaint me  with  the  prices  of  the  work,  but  would  be  sure  to  give  me 
enough.  And  thereupon  he  gave  me  one  crown  piece,  and  no  more  ; 
though  I  had  wrought  long  for  him,  and  made  him  many  dozens  of 
waistcoats,  and  bought  the  thread  myself;  which  I  thought  was  very 
poor  pay.  But,  as  Providence  had  ordered  it,  I  wanted  the  work 
more  than  the  wages,  and  therefore  took  what  he  gave  me,  without 
complaining." 

Having  been  taken  before  the  Court,  which  refused  to  hear  their 
plea  of  false  imprisonment,  without  trial  or  sentence;  but  tendered 
the  oath  of  allegiance  and  sent  them  to  Newgate,  he  thus  speaks  of 
their  further  imprisonment; 

"  And  as  soon  as  the  rest  of  our  company  were  called,  and  had 
refused  to  swear,  we  were  all  committed  to  Newgate,  and  thrust  into 
the  common  side. 

"  When  we  came  there,  we  found  that  side  of  the  prison  very  full 
of  Friends,  who  were  prisoners  there  before,  as  indeed  were,  at  that 
time,  all  the  other  parts  of  that  prison,  and  most  of  the  other  prisons 
about  the  town  ;  and  our  addition  caused  a  great  throng  on  that 
side.  Notwithstanding  which,  we  were  kindly  welcomed  by  our 
friends  whom  we  found  there,  and  entertained  by  them,  as  well  as 
their  condition  would  admit,  until  we  could  get  in  our  own  accom- 
modations and  provide  for  ourselves. 

"  We  had  the  liberty  of  the  hall,  which  is  on  the  first  story  over 
the  gate,  and  which,  in  the  day-time,  is  common  to  all  the  prisoners 
on  that  side,  felons  as  well  as  others,  to  walk  in,  and  to  beg  out  of; 
we  had  also  the  liberty  of  some  other  rooms  over  that  hall,  to  walk 
or  work  in  during  the  day.  But  at  night  we  all  lodged  in  one 
room,  which  was  large  and  round,  having  in  the  middle  of  it  a 
great  pillar  of  oaken  timber,  which  bore  up  the  chapel  that  is  over 
it.  To  this  pillar  we  fastened  our  hammocks  at  the  one  end,  and  to  the 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  293 

opposite  wall  oli  the  other  end,  quite  round  the  room,  and  in  three 
degrees,  or  three  stories  high,  one  over  the  other;  so  that  they  who 
lay  iu  the  upper  and  middle  row  of  hammocks,  were  obliged  to  go 
to  bed  first,  because  they  were  to  climb  up  to  the  higher  by  getting 
into  the  lower.  And  under  the  lower  rank  of  hammocks,  by  the 
wall  sides,  were  laid  beds  upon  the  floor,  in  which  the  sick,  and  such 
weak  persons  as  could  not  get  into  the  hammocks,  lay.  And,  in- 
deed, though  ti\e  room  was  large  and  pretty  airy,  yet  the  breath 
and  steam  that  came  from  so  many  bodies,  of  different  ages,  condi- 
tions, and  constitutions,  packed  up  so  close  togetUer,  was  enough  to 
cause  sickness  amongst  us,  and  I  believe  did  so;  for  some  were  not 
long  there,  yet  iu  that  time  one  of  our  fellow  prisoners,  who  lay  on 
one  of  those  pallet  beds,  died." 

During  the  year  1662,  there  died  iu  the  prisons  of  Loudon, 
twenty  Friends ;  and  seven  contracted  diseases  therein,  which 
proved  fatal  not  long  after  their  discharge.  Among  those  who  thus 
became  martyrs  for  the  religion  they  professed,  were  two,  Richard 
Hubbertliorn  and  Edward  Burrough,  who  were  eminent  as  ministers 
of  the  gospel,  and  for  the  boldness  with  which  they  faced  opposition, 
and  the  meekness  but  firmness  they  manifested  under  insult  and  cruel 
abuse.  A  conversation  between  the  former  and  King  Charles,  iu 
wiiich  Richard  explained  many  of  the  principles  held  by  Friends, 
and  the  King  gave  him  the  assurauce  "  upon  the  word  of  a  king,"  that 
Friends  should  not  suffer  for  their  opinions  on  religion,  so  long  as  they 
lived  peaceably,  has  already  been  narrated.  Nevertheless,  under  the 
authority  of  an  Act  specially  designed  to  root  Friends  out,  to  which 
the  King  had  given  his  sanction  and  signature,  this  servant  of  Christ, 
R.  Hubbertliorn,  was  forcibly  haled  out  of  a  meeting  for  divine  wor- 
shi()  held  at  the  Bull  and-Mouth  meeting-house,  brought  before  R. 
Brown,  who  seizing  the  brim  of  his  hat,  dragged  his  head  down  nearly 
to  the  ground,  and  after  otherwise  abusing  him,  committed  him  to 
Newgate,  then  closely  packed  with  Friends.  Being  of  but  feeble 
constitution,  he  soou  sickened,  and  iu  about  two  months  laid  down 
his  life.  A  day  or  two  before  his  death  he  said  to  some  who  were 
trying  to  raini.ster,  the  best  they  could,  to  his  wants,  that  "He  knew 
the  ground  of  his  salvation  and  was  satisfied  forever  in  his  peace  with 
the  Lord : "  and  a  few  hours  before  his  release,  to  a  woman  Friend, 
"  Do  not  seek  to  hold  me,  for  it  is  too  strait  for  me,  and  otit  of  this 
straitJiess  I  must  go  ;  for  I  am  to  be  lifted  u])  on  high,  far  above  all." 

E.  ]iurrough,  while  preaching  at  the  JiuU-and-Mouth  nu>eting- 
liouse  had  been  pulled  down,  and  curried   before  Brown,  who  com- 


294  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

mitted  him  to  Newgate,  -where  lie  hiid  several  weeks  before  he  was 
brouyht  to  trial.  The  Court,  under  what  law  was  not  known,  sen- 
tenced him  to  pay  a  fine  of  twenty  marks,  and  to  be  kept  in  jail 
until  that  sum  was  paid,  whieh  under  the  eireumstances  was  equiv- 
alent to  imprisonment  for  life.  He  was  then  in  the  twenty-eigh.th 
year  of  his  aii'e,  and  during  the  ten  years  since  he  had  received  a 
gift  in  tlu'  ministry,  his  gosjiel  labors  had  been  incessant  with  his 
pen,  as  well  as  by  word  of  mouth  ;  he  was  indi'fatigable,  as  Ik;  was 
anointed  for  the  service,  to  promote  the  cause  of  truth  and  righteous- 
ness in  the  earth,  to  build  up  the  church  of  which  he  was  so  honored 
a  member,  and  to  encourage  and  strengthen  his  brethren  and  sisters 
to  bear  with  fortitude  and  patience  the  close  trials  permitted,  in 
divine  wisdom,  to  come  upon  them.  In  his  interviews  with  those 
in  authority,  which  were  many,  both  in  the  time  of  Cromwell  and 
after  the  restoration,  this  undaunted  soldier  of  the  cross  never 
shrank  from  declaring  to  them  the  truth,  when  called  to  testify 
against  the  iniquity  of  their  proceedings,  or  to  warn  them  of  the 
judgments  that  would  be  visited  upon  them  if  they  persisted  in 
wrong  doing. 

Ever  since  his  first  coming  to  London,  in  1654,  E.  Burrough  ap- 
pears to  have  been  deeply  interested  in  the  planting,  watering  and 
growth  of  the  church  there ;  and  though  often  called  away  by  a 
sense  of  duty  to  labor  in  other  fields,  he  generally  hastened  back 
to  that  city,  to  engage  in  the  arduous  service  of  promulgating  the 
gospel  among  its  mixed  multitudes ;  who  often  listened  to  his  well- 
known  voice,  dividing  the  word  aright  to  professor  and  profane, 
and  })roving  that  the  weapons  of  his  warfare  were  not  carnal,  but 
mighty  through  God  to  the  pulling  down  of  strongholds,  casting 
down  imaginations,  and  every  high  thing  that  exalted  itself  against 
the  knowledge  of  God.  Previous  to  his  coming  to  London  the  last 
time,  he  appears  to  have  had  a  sense,  that  though  young  in  years, 
his  day's  work  was  nearly  accomplished  ;  having  at  several  meetings 
Avhich  he  attended  when  on  his  way  there,  taken  an  affectionate 
farewell  of  Friends,  as  not  expecting  to  see  them  again  :  and  as  has 
been  mentioned  already,  at  Bristol  he  spoke  of  going  up  to  London 
to  lay  down  his  life  for  the  gospel. 

After  he  was  taken  sick  from  the  infected  atmosphere  the  .pris- 
oners were  obliged  constantly  to  breathe,  by  some  means  the  King 
was  informed  of  it,  and  of  the  manner  iu  which  the  prisoners  were 
crowded  into  small  apartments,  and  he  sent  a  special  order  to  the 
SheriflTs  to  release  him  and  a  few  others  named.     It  shows  how  well 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  295 

the  Sheriff's  understood  the  King's  character,  that,  at  the  instigation 
of  Brown  the  Lord  Mayor  and  some  other  Magistrates,  equally  in- 
imical to  Friends,  this  order  was  never  executed,  and  there  appears 
to  have  been  no  further  notice  taken  of  the  matter  at  Court. 

During  the  time  of  his  sickness,  his  fervent  concern  for  the  pres- 
ervation and  prosperity  of  Friends  was  unabated.  He  was  often 
engaged  iu  supplication  for  them,  and  sometimes  for  their  perse- 
cutors. In  reference  to  his  own  state,  he  said,  "  I  have  had  the 
testimony  of  the  Lord's  love  unto  me  from  my  youth  ;  and  my  heart, 
O  Lord!  has  been  given  up  to  do  thy  will."  "  There  is  no  iniquity 
lies  at  my  door,  but  the  presence  of  the  Lord  is  with  me,  and  his 
life,  I  feel,  justifies  me."  Being  sensible  that  his  end  was  fast 
approaching,  he  observed,  "  Though  this  body  of  clay  must  turn  to 
dust,  yet  I  have  a  testimony  that  I  have  served  God  in  my  genera- 
tion ;  and  that  Spirit,  which  hath  lived  and  acted  and  ruled  in  me, 
shall  yet  break  forth  in  thousands."  The  morning  of  the  day  on 
which  he  died,  he  said,  "  Now  my  soul  and  spirit  is  centred  in  its 
own  being  with  God,  and  this  form  of  person  must  return  whence  it 
was  taken."  Soon  after  he  quietly  departed  this  life  ;  having  been 
in  the  prison  about  eight  months.  He  died  on  the  14th  of  the 
Second  month,  1662,  in  the  twenty-eighth  year  of  his  age. 

William  Ames,  who  had  been  arrested,  without  warrant,  with  S. 
Fisher.and  three  other  Friends  at  a  private  house.was  also  imprisoned 
in  Bridewell,  where  he  was  soon  taken  sick.  As  he  had  been  for  some 
years  residing  in  Holland,  had  come  over  to  England  on  a  visit,  and 
was  well  known  at  his  adopted  home,  it  was  fliought  this  influenced 
the  Magistrates  to  discharge  him  ;  fearing  lest  he  would  die  on  their 
hands.     He  returned  to  Amsterdam,  but  soon  after  died  there. 

The  notice  of  the  cruelty  practised  upon,  and  the  suffering  en- 
dured by,  Friends  in  London  and  its  environs,  is  a  fair  representa- 
tion of  the  kind  of  treatment  they  received  throughout  tlie  different 
counties  of  England,  wherever  and  whenever  the  priests  and  the 
Magistrates  were  prepared  to  gratify  their  new-born  and  fanatical 
zeal  for  the  "  Episcopal  Church,"  or  to  indulge  their  bigoted  hatred 
of  dissenters,  especially  of  the  unresisting  Quakers.  In  -iome  places 
where  those  arrested  could  have  their  cause  brought  before  juries 
not  packed  by  the  Court,  they  were  declared  not  guilty  as  in  form 
indicted  ;  but  in  such  cases,  the  Court  almost  universally  tendered 
them  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  comiyitted  them  to  prison. 

At  Colchester,  in  Essex,  the  person  who  was  Mayor  of  the  city, 
in  that  year,  1662,  appeared  willing  to  resort  to  any  barbarity  in 


296  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

order  to  prevent  the  Friends  there  holdhig  tlieir  meetings  for  divine 
worship.  Having  arrested  and  eoniinitted  to  the  dismal  jail  of  the 
place,  a  number  of  those  who  met,  among  whom  was  Stephen  Crisp, 
—  and  findinti;  that  course  did  not  deter  others  from  assembling; 
as  usual,  he  employed  a  portion  of  the  county  soldiers,  who  went 
to  the  meeting-house,  first  beat  a  number  of  those  assembled,  then 
broke  out  the  windows,  destroyed  the  forms  and  benches,  and 
carried  several  Friends  to  prison.  The  house  was  then  fastened  up 
so  that  Friends  were  obliged  to  meet  in  the  street.  Tliis  they  con- 
tinued to  'do  twice  in  the  week,  however  wet  and  cold  the  weather 
might  be,  feeling  it  to  be  their  duty,  whatever  suffering  it  might 
cost  them.  This  had  continued  not  many  weeks,  wheu  a  troop  of 
horse,  armed  with  swords  and  carbines,  rode  furiously  among  them, 
and  began  at  once  to  beat  whoever  came  in  their  way,  with  their 
sabres  and  guns,  bruising  and  maiming  men  and  women,  young  and. 
old,  and  breaking  iuto  the  houses  wherever  they  might  take  shelter. 
Nearly  a  dozen  were  dragged  or  driven  to  the  prison,  where  they 
were  shut  up.  The  next  First-day,  the  troopers  having  supplied 
themselves  with  large  clubs,  in  addition  to  their  other  weapons, 
again  rushed  in  among  those  who  were  holding  their  meeting  in  the 
street,  knocked  down  several,  who  lay  insensible  on  the  stones,  and 
bruised  and  beat  others  in  so  dreadful  a  manner  that  it  was  days 
before  they  could  take  oft'  their  clothing,  or  feed  themselves.  One 
of  the  unresisting  suftcrers,  on  the  blade  of  the  sword  ftyiug  out  of 
the  hilt  from  the  violence  with  which  the  soldier  laid  on  his  blows, 
picked  it  up  and  returned  it  to  him,  saying,  "I  will  give  it  thee 
again.  I  desire  the  Lord  may  not  lay  tliis  day's  work  to  thy  charge." 
After  having  thus  broken  up  the  meeting,  four  of  the  soldiers  met 
a  poor  invalid  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  place  of  meeting, 
and  riding  up  to  him,  asked  whether  he  was  a  Quaker?  He  not 
denying  it,  they  began  to  beat  him,  and  continued  it  until  some  who 
witnessed  their  brutality,  believing  they  would  kill  him,  rescued 
him  out  of  their  hands,  and  took  him  into  a  neighboring  house  :  he 
was  long  entirely  disabled,  and  rendered  incapable  to  do  anything 
towards  providing  for  his  family. 

The  constant  imprisonment  of  some,  and  maiming  of  others,  les- 
sened the  number  of  these  faithful  testimony-bearers  to  the  obliga- 
tion to  meet  for  the  public  worship  of  God,  but  those  who  were  left, 
relaxed  not  in  going  twice  ^,  week  to  the  place  of  meeting,  in  the 
street.  The  same  merciless  persecution  was  continued,  and  the 
soldiers  had  iron  barbs  driven  into  their  clubs,  which  being  sharp- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  297 

eiied,  penetrated  the  flesh  when  a  blow  was  given.  One  man  about 
seventy  years  of*  age  being  struck  with  a  lieavy  club,  survived  the 
blow  but  a  few  days.  A  merchant  of  repute  in  the  town,  was  being 
beaten  so  fearfully,  after  having  been  knocked  down,  that  his  wife, 
fearing  he  would  be  killed,  threw  herself  on  his  body,  and  received 
on  her  own  person  the  blows  still  laid  on.  Giles  Barnardiston,  who 
had  been  educated  at  the  University,  and  had  been  a  Colonel  in  the 
army,  and  a  man  of  note  in  every  respect,  now  an  humble  self-deny- 
ing Quaker,  was  indefatigable  in  his  labors  and  exhortations  for 
the  encouragement  of  his  persecuted  fellow-members,  and  willingly 
took  his  part  in  the  sufl^ering,  constantly  attending  the  meetings, 
and  freely  hazarding  his  life  in  support  of  his  religious  testimony. 

But  here,  as  in  other  places,  the  patience,  Christian  fortitude  and 
endurance,  of  those  who  acted  from  a  sense  of  religious  duty,  and  of 
the  reverent  worship  they  owed  to  their  Father  in  heaven,  finally 
wearied  out  the  malice  and  intolerant  cruelty  of  their  persecu- 
tors ;  and  though  this  fearful  storm,  with  an  occasional  lull,  was 
kept  up  for  years,  it  never  succeeded  in  forcing  Friends  to  give  up 
their  meetings,  or  inducing  them  to  relax  in  the  testimony  they  had 
borne  from  the  beginning,  against  priestcraft  and  its  works  of  dark- 
ness, and  to  the  inalienable  right  to  enjoy  liberty  of  conscience. 
The  fiercer  the  storm  raged  the  deeper  the  roots  of  the  Society  struck 
into  the  hearts  of  those  who  loved  its  principles,  and  the  more  firmly 
were  its  faithful  members  established  on  that  foundation,  against 
which  the  gates  of  hell  cannot  prevail.  It  was  the  testimony  of  not 
a  few  of  those  who  assembled  for  divine  worship,  in  different  places, 
where  they  were  constantly  expecting  to  be  attacked  and  their  lives 
put  in  jeopardy,  that  such  was  the  sense  given  them  of  the  imme- 
diate presence  of  Him  who  had  promised  to  be  in  the  midst  of  the  two 
or  the  three  gathered  in  His  name,  and  so  sweetly  were  their  hearts 
filled  with  his  peace  and  love,  that  no  thought  of  danger  or  sutter- 
ing  pressed  upon  them  ;  and  in  the  midst  of  clamor  and  blows,  their 
souls  overflowed  with  gratitude  and  praise  to  his  eternally  worthy 
Name:  tluis  confirming  what  was  written  by  William  Leddra,  the 
day  before  his  martyrdom,  "  Alas !  alas!  what  can  the  wrath  and 
spirit  of  man,  that  lusteth  to  envy,  aggravated  by  the  heat  and 
strength  of  the  King  of  the  locusts,  which  came  out  of  the  i)it,  do 
unto  one  that  is  hid  in  the  secret  places  of  the  Almighty,  or  unto 
them  that  ai-e  gathered  under  tlu^  healing  wings  of  the  Prince  of 
Peace?  under  whose  armor  of  light  they  shall  be  able  to  stand  in 
the  day  of  trial,  having  on  the;  breast-i)hite  of  righteousness,  and  the 


298  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

sword  of  the  Spirit,  which  is  their  woiipon  of  warfare  against  spiritual 
wickedness,  princi})alities,  and  powers,  and  the  rulers  of  the  dark- 
ness of  this  world,  both  within  and  without." 

The  open,  undisguised  manner,  and  unflinching  constancy,  with 
which  Friends  kept  up  their  religious  meetings,  so  fixed  the  atten- 
tion of  the  party  in  power  on  them,  that  other  dissenters,  wlio,  with 
some  exception  of  the  Baptists,  generally  shrunk  from  publicly 
assembling  for  worship,  escaped  with  but  little  suffering.  Neal's 
observation  respecting  the  course  of  the  Presbyterians,  has  aln'ady 
been  given,  and  though  he  never  manifests  much  esteem  for  Friends, 
he  bears  this  testimony  to  tiieir  firmness  under  this  trial.  "  Indeed 
the  Quakers  gloried  in  their  sufferings,  and  were  so  resolute  as 
to  assemble  openly  at  the  Bull-and-Mouth,  near  Aldergate ;  from 
whence  the  soldiers  and  other  officers  dragged  them  to  prison,  till 
Newgate  was  filled,  and  multitudes  died  by  close  confinement  in  the 
several  jails.  The  account  published  about  this  time  says,  there 
wei'e  six  hundred  of  them  in  prison,  merely  for  religion's  sake,  of 
whom  several  were  banished  to  the  })lantations.  Sometimes  the 
Quakers  met  and  continued  silent,  upon  which  it  was  questioned 
whether  such  an  assenddy  was  a  conventicle  for  religious  exercise; 
and  when  they  were  tried  for  it  in  order  for  banishment,  they  were 
acquitted  of  the  banishment,  and  came  oft' with  a  fine,  which  they 
seldom  paid,  and  therefore  continued  in  prison." 

Baxter  is  another  witness,  who  cannot  be  accused  of  any  undue 
partiality  for  Friends :  he  says,  "  Here  the  Quakers  did  greatly  re- 
lieve the  sober  people  for  a  time,  for  they  were  so  I'esolute,  and  so 
gloried  in  their  constancy  and  sufferings,  that  they  assembled  openly 
at  the  Bull-and-Mouth,  near  Aldergate,  and  were  dragged  away 
daily  to  the  common  jail,  and  yet  desisted  not,  but  the  rest  came  the 
next  day.  Abundance  of  them  died  in  prison,  and  yet  they  con- 
tinued their  assemblies  still." 

Orme,  who  wrote  the  life  of  Baxter,  remarks  on  this  passage, 
"Had  there  been  more  of  the  same  determined  spirit  among  others, 
which  the  Friends  displayed,  the  sufferings  of  all  parties  would 
sooner  have  come  to  an  end.  The  Government  uiu^t  have  given 
way,  as  the  spirit  of  the  country  would  have  been  eftectually  roused. 
The  conduct  of  the  Quakers  was  infinitely  to  their  honor."  In 
another  place  the  same  author  observes,  "The  heroic  and  persever- 
ing conduct  of  the  Quakers,  in  withstanding  the  interference  of 
Government  with  the  rights  of  conscience,  by  which  they  finally 
secured  those  privileges  they  so  richly  deserve  to  enjoy,  entitles 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  299 

them  to  the  veneration  of  all  the  friends  of  civil  and  religious 
freedom." 

Stephen  Crisp,  of  whom  mention  has  been  made,  as  having  been 
made  a  prisoner  at  Colchester,  was  a  native  of  that  town,  having 
been  born  there  about  the  year  1628.  In  his  journal  he  says,  "So 
soon  as  I  can  remember,  and  so  soon  as  I  was  capable  of  under- 
standing, He  [the  Lord]  made  me  to  understand  that  which  con- 
sented not  to  evil,  but  stood  in  my  soul  as  a  witness  against  all  evil ; 
and  manifested  that  I  should  not  lie,  nor  steal,  nor  be  stubborn,  nor 
be  disobedient ;  but  should  behave  myself  in  meekness  and  quietness, 
and  set  truth  before  me  as  that  which  was  better  than  falsehood. 
This  same  witness,  even  in  the  days  of  my  childhood,  ministered 
peace  and  boldness  to  me,  when  I  hearkened  to  the  counsel  of  it. 
But  there  was  a  contrary  nature  and  seed  in  me,  that  was  of  this 
Avorld,  and  not  of  God;  which  inclined  unto  evil,  and  unto  the  way 
and  manner  of  this  evil  world,  as  most  suiting  the  carnal  mind,  and 
an  eye  began  to  open  in  me  that  saw  rather  what  was  acceptable 
with  man,  than  what  was  well  pleasing  to  God."  As  he  grew 
to  manhood,  though  he  ran  into  many  of  the  vanities  pleasing  to 
the  young,  yet  his  religious  thoughtfulness,  and  sensitiveness  to 
the  monitions  of  the  internal  Monitor,  did  not  forsake  him,  and 
having  heard  much  about  election  and  reprobation,  he  tried  to  per- 
suade himself  that  he  was  one  of  the  elect,  by  comparing  his  spirit- 
ual condition  with  what  he  was  told  were  the  "  signs  of  a  true  be- 
liever." But  alas  !  he  says,  "here  was  yet  but  the  blind  leading  my 
poor  blind  soul.  This  was  not  the  balance  of  the  Sanctuary,  and 
when  I  had  got  a  little  peace  and  quietness,  and  thought  to  hold  it, 
alas  !  it  would  soon  be  shattered  and  broken.  When  God's  pure 
witness  arose  in  me,  that  I  might  be  weighed  in  the  true  balance, 
oh !  then  I  found  I  was  much  too  light."  Like  very  many  others 
who  were  concerned  about  their  soul's  salvation,  in  that  day  he 
went  from  one  set  of  religious  professors  to  another,  seeking  certainty 
and  rest,  but  finding  neither.  He  joined  in  membership  with  the 
Baptists,  and  was  strict  in  the  performance  of  outward  ordinances, 
but  still  found  he  did  not  obtain  dominion  over  his  evil  ])ropensities, 
nor  enter  into  that  peace  which  he  supposed  the  Lord's  children 
should  enjoy. 

Speaking  of  having  opened  his  condition  to  some  whom  he  thought 
might  help  him,  he  remarks,  "But  well  might  I  say,  miserable 
comforters  I  found  them  all  to  be  ;  for  they  would  bid  me  apply  the 
promises  })y  faith,  and  suck  comfort  out  of  the  Scriptures  ;  and  tell 


300  FRTEXDS     IN    THE 

of  the  Apostle's  state,  niemioned  in  Romans  vii.,  and  assure  nic  it 
was  so  with  him,  yet  he  was  a  servant  of  Jesus  Christ ;  and  sueli 
like  deceitful  dauhintic.-!,  as  they  had  daubed  themselves  with,  in  like 
manner  dealt  thcv  witli  me,  not  considering  the  Apostle  called  that 
a  wretched  and  undelivered  state,  as  I  might  well  do  mine."  "  As 
for  the  priests  and  professors  of  those  times,  most  of  them  would 
boast  of  experiences  and  of  zeal,  and  of  assurances  of  the  love  of  (iod, 
and  what  comfort  they  enjoyed  by  thinking  or  meditating  on  the 
sufferings  of  Christ  for  their  sins,  &c.  But  alas!  thought  I,  I  can 
think  of  these  things  as  well  as  you,  but  my  wound  still  remains 
fresh,  and  I  see  that  I  am  as  one  of  the  crucifiers,  while  I  live  in 
sin,  for  which  He  died." 

His  first  information  respecting  Friends,  came  through  the  many 
reports  disparaging  and  misrepresenting  them  ;  and  yet  he  took 
notice  they  were  always  said  to  be  undergoing  "  cruel  mockings  and 
grievous  sufferings  patiently."  In  1655,  James  Parnel  came  to 
Colchester.  Stephen  Crisp  says,  that  when  he  first  saw  him,  think- 
ing he  was  but  a  youth,  and  not  knowing  the  Spirit  and  power  that 
were  in  him,  he  thought  to  withstand  him,  and  so  began  to  question 
him.  But,  he  continues,  "I  quickly  came  to  feel  that  the  Spirit  of 
sound  judgment  was  in  him,  and  the  witness  of  God  arose  in  me, 
and  testified  to  his  judgment,  and  signified  I  must  own  it ;  it  being 
just  and  true."  He  attended  a  meeting  appointed  by  James,  where 
he  "  Heard  him  declare  the  everlasting  gospel  in  the  name  and 
authority  of  the  Lord,  which  1  could  not,  with  all  my  wisdom  and 
knowledge,  withstand,  but  was  constrained  to  own  and  confess  to 
the  truth."  Although  he  owned  the  truth  of  the  doctrine  preached, 
yet  he  confessed  to  it  only  in  his  understanding,  his  spirit  not  being 
willing  to  bow  to  the  cross  inseparable  from  its  practical  applica- 
tion ;  and  so,  he  says,  "I  held  it  in  the  same  part  w^ith  which  I 
[had]  withstood  it,  and  defended  it  with  the  same  wisdom  by  which 
I  [had]  resisted  it ;  and  so  was  yet  a  stranger  to  the  cross  that  was  to 
crucify  me,  and  was  at  liberty,  in  the  discoursative  spirit,  to  lay  out 
my  wits  and  parts  for  the  truth." 

This  state  of  things  continued  for  a  few  weeks  ;  but  knowing  now 
that  that  within  him,  which  was  reproving  him  for  evil,  and  making 
known  the  way  he  was  called  to  walk  in,  was  no  other  than  the 
Grace  of  God,  which  alone  could  bring  him  salvation,  he  yielded  to 
its  discoveries,  and  permitted  it  to  make  manifest  his  true  condition. 
"O!  then,  I  cried  out,  in  the  bitterness  of  my  soul,  what  hath  all 
my  profession  profited  me  ?     I  am  poor  and  blind  and  naked,  who 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  301 

thought  I  had  been  rich  and  Avell  adorned."  After  describing 
the  many  fears  and  sore  conflicts  through  wliich  he  passed  when  his 
sins  were  being  called  to  judgment  beforehand,  and  while  that  AVord 
which  is  sharper  than  a  two-edged  sword  was  dividing,  as  between 
the  joints  and  the  marrow,  and  showing  unto  him  the  thoughts  and 
intents  of  his  heart,  he  observes,  "  After  long  travail,  strong  cries, 
and  many  bitter  tears  and  gx-oans,-  I  found  a  little  hope  springing 
in  me,  that  the  Lord  in  his  own  time  would  bring  forth  his  seed, 
even  his  elect  seed,  the  seed  of  his  covenant,  to  rule  in  me.  This 
was  given  me  at  a  time  when  the  sense  of  my  own  unworthiuess  had 
so  overwhelmed  me  in  sorrow  and  anguish,  that  I  thought  myself 
unworthy  of  any  of  the  creatures.  Then  did  the  hope  of  the  resui'- 
rectiou  of  the  just  spring  in  me,  and  I  was  taught  to  wait  on  God, 
and  to  eat  and  drink  in  fear  and  watchfulness,  showing  forth  the 
Lord's  death  till  He  should  come  to  be  raised  to  live  and  reign  in 
me." 

He  appears  to  have  been  attending  the  meetings  of  Friends 
during  this  time,  for  he  narrates,  "Upon  a  time,  being  weary  of  my 
thoughts  in  the  meeting  of  God's  people,  I  thought  none  was  like 
me,  and  it  was  but  in  vain  to  sit  thei-e  with  such  a  wandering  mind  as 
mine,  which  though  I  labored  to  stay  it,  yet  could  not  as  I  would. 
At  length  I  thought  to  go  forth,  and  as  I  was  going,  the  Lord 
thundered  through  me,  saying,  That  which  is  weary  must  die.  So 
I  turned  to  my  seat  and  waited,  in  the  belief  of  God,  for  the  death 
of  that  part  which  was  weary  of  the  work  of  God,  and  grew  more 
diligent  in  seeking  death,  that  I  might  be  baptized  for  the  dead; 
and  that  I  might  know  how  to  put  ofi'  the  old  man  with  his  deeds, 
and  words  and  imaginations,  his  fashions  and  customs,  his  friend- 
ship and  wisdom,  and  all  that  appertained  to  him ;  and  the  cross  of 
Christ  was  laid  upon  me  and  I  bore  it."  Though  he  had  so  much 
to  suffer,  yet  he  says,  "  Oh  !  the  secret  joy  that  Avas  in  me  in  the  midst 
of  all  my  conflicts  and  combats,  [for]  I  had  this  confidence,  that  if 
I  did  but  take  up  the  cross,  I  shall  obtain  victory,  for  that  is  the 
power  of  God  through  faith  to  salvation,  and  as  I  have  found  it  so  in 
some  things,  so  I  shall  do  in  all,  in  due  time." 

Referring  to  the  effect  produced  by  this  transforming  power  of 
Divine  Grace,  operating  in  the  secret  of  the  heart,  he  remarks, 
"The  more  1  came  to  feel  and  perceive  the  love  of  God,  and  his 
goodness  to  flow  forth  upon  me,  the  more  was  I  humbled  and  l)ovvcd 
in  my  mind  to  serve  flim,  and  to  serve  the  least  of  his  people  among 
whom  I  walked.     As  the  word  of  wisdom  began  to  spring  in  me,  and 


302  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

the  knowledge  of  God  grew,  so  I  became  as  a  counsellor  to  them 
tliat  were  tempted  in  like  manner  as  I  had  been  ;  yet  was  I  kept  so 
low,  that  I  waited  to  receive  counsel  daily  from  God,  and  fx-om  those 
that  were  over  me  in  the  Lord,  and  were  in  Christ  before  me ;  against 
wliom  I  never  rebelled  nor  wa.<  ^^tubborn." 

In  1659,  S.  Crisp,  a  gift  in  the  ministry  of  the  gospel  having  been 
conferred  upon  him  by  the  Head  of  the  Church,  gave  up  to  travel  into 
Scotland,  where  he  labored  to  turn  the  people  from  darkness  to 
light,  and  from  the  j)ower  of  Satan  unto  God.  Returning,  he  con- 
tinued his  gospel  labors  in  various  parts  of  England,  sharing  with 
his  brethren  and  sisters  in  the  Truth,  in  the  many  afflictions  meted 
out  to  them,  being  repeatedly  imprisoned,  and  suffering  much  abuse 
in  the  faithful  performance  of  religious  duties.  He  went  on  reli- 
gious visits  into  Holland,  Friesland,  and  other  parts  of  Europe, 
thirteen  times  ;  being  earnestly  engaged  to  strengthen  the  hands  of 
those  who  were  convinced  of  the  principles  of  the  gospel,  as  held  by 
Friends,  and  concerned  to  live  in  accordance  with  them.  He  was 
also  often  instrumental  in  mitigating  or  removing  the  persecution 
to  which  they  were,  in  many  places,  subjected.  His  various  epistles 
and  other  writings  show  him  to  have  been  a  mau  of  good  understand- 
ing and  considerable  literary  culture,  but  above  all,  of  large  religious 
experience,  and  deeply  instructed  in  the  mystery  of  divine  things. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Account  of  I.  Penington  and  Wife  —  Epistles  to  Friends  — Parliament  restrains 
tlie  King  from  relieving  Non-Conformists  —  George  Fox  escapes  being  im- 
prisoned at  Kristol  —  Rumors  of  a  Plot  —  G.  Fox  denies  Friends  having  any- 
thing to  do  with  Plots  —  Persecntion  by  Col.  Kirby  —  G.  Fox  irai)risoned 
for  not  Swearing — Repeatedly  brought  before  Court  —  Margaret  Fell  im- 
prisoned—  Flaws  in  G.  F.'s  Indictment — Sentence  of  Premunire  passed 
without  G.  Fox  being  present  in  Court  —  Close  Imprisonment  in  a  wretched 
room  —  Removed  to  Scarborough  Castle  —  Cruel  Treatment  while  there  — 
Overcomes  by  Christian  meekness  and  patience  —  Released  by  the  King  — 
Sentence  passed  on  Margaret  Fell. 

ANOTHER  Friend  who  became  an  eminent  minister,  and  was 
indefatigable,  both  by  preaching  and  by  his  writings,  in  en- 
deavoring to  promote  the  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  in  the 
earth,  was  Isaac  Penington,  who  was  also  undergoing  imprisonment 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  303 

at  that  time  in  Aylesbury  jail.  [1661.]  He  was  the  son  of  Isaac 
Penington,  of  London,  one  of  the  Magistrates  of  that  city,  who  at 
one  time  during  the  Commonwealth,  had  been  made  its  Lord  Mayor. 
The  son  appears  to  have  been  from  his  youth  unusually  serious  and 
thoughtful  about  religion,  earnest  in  seeking  for  the  pearl  of  great 
price,  and  deeply  sorrowing  that  with  all  the  efforts  he  made  he  did 
not  find  it.  He  says,  "My  heart  from  my  childhood  was  pointed 
towards  the  Lord,  whom  I  feared  and  longed  after  from  my  tender 
years.  I  felt  that  I  could  not  be  satisfied  with,  nor  indeed  seek  after 
the  things  of  this  perishing  world  ;  but  I  desired  a  true  sense  of  and 
unity  with  that  which  abideth  forever.  There  was  something  still 
within  me  which  leavened  and  balanced  my  spirit  almost  continu- 
ally ;  but  I  knew  it  not  so  distinctly  as  to  turn  to  it,  and  give  up  to 
it  eutii'ely  and  understandingly.  In  this  temper  of  mind  I  earnestly 
sought  after  the  Lord,  applying  myself  to  hear  sermons,  and  read 
the  best  books  I  could  meet  with,  but  especially  the  Scriptures, 
which  were  very  sweet  and  savory  to  rae.  Yea,  I  very  earnestly 
desired  and  pressed  after  the  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  but  was 
much  afraid  of  receiving  men's  interpretations  of  them,  or  of  fasten- 
ing any  interpretation  upon  them  myself;  but  waited  much  and 
prayed  much,  that  from  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  I  might  receive  the 
true  understanding  of  them,  and  that  He  would  endue  me  with  that 
knowledge  which  I  might  feel  to  be  sanctifying  and  saving." 

Isaac  Penington's  father  was  a  rigid  Presbyterian,  and  it  is  prob- 
able that  from  his  instructions  and  the  religious  associations  into 
which  he  was  thrown,  the  son  imbibed  the  notion  of  unconditional 
election  and  reprobation.  Be  that  as  it  may,  this  perversion  of 
gospel  truth,  acted  upon  his  sensitive  nature,  so  as  to  jDroduce  deep 
depression,  not  only  because  of  feeling  there  was  no  certainty  of  his 
being  among  the  elect,  but  also,  if  true,  on  account  of  the  dark 
shadow  it  cast  on  the  justice  and  mercy  of  the  Creator,  and  the 
hopeless  condemnation  of  myriads  of  his  fellow  creatures,  created 
for  everlasting  destruction.  In  after-life  he  came  to  see  that  he  had 
been  betrayed  into  this  grievous  error,  by  undertaking  to  interpret 
the  Scriptures  by  his  own  intellectual  powers.  In  reference  to  this 
he  says,  "  I  have  known  it  indeed  to  be  a  bitter  thing  to  follow  this 
wisdom,  as  that  which  couhl  make  me  truly  understand  the  Scrip- 
tures." From  tlie  position  occupied  by  his  family,  and  having  re- 
ceived a  university  education,  the  way  was  open  for  him  to  aspire 
to  a  conspicuous  standing  in  the  society  of  the  gay  and  courtly,  and 
to  reap  largely  of  the  wealth  and  lionors  of  this  world  ;  but  from 


304  F  R  I  E  X  D  S    IX    THE 

tlie  tenor  of  some  of  the  works  he  wrote  some  time  before  he  joined 
with  Friends,  it  would  seem  he  had  a  true  sense  of  the  vanity  of 
earthly  pleasures  and  possessions,  and  preferred  the  reproaches  of 
Christ,  to  enjoying  the  pleasui'es  of  sin  for  a  season. 

He  was  married  to  Mary  Springett,  widow  of  Sir  AVilliain  Sprin- 
gett,  wlio  (lied  in  1643,  aged  twenty-three  years.  She  was  one  who, 
like  others  in  that  day  of  religious  unsettlenieiit  and  in(juiry,  had 
gone  the  round  of  professing  religionists,  seeking  the  living  among 
the  dead,  and,  when  wearied  with  the  unsatisfying  search,  liad 
turned  to  the  world,  and  striven  to  draw  from  its  gayeties  and 
pleasures,  at  least  forgetfulness  of  tlie  longing  after  good  and  its 
reward,  that  had  once  filled  her  heart.  Disgusted  and  sick  at  heart, 
at  the  hollowness  and  insincerity  she  witnessed  in  those  with  whom 
she  associated,  she  again  and  again  reverted  to  the  religious  convic- 
tions and  aspirations  of  former  days,  and  in  anguish  of  spirit,  after 
some  years,  she  resolved  once  more  to  seek  for  help  from  on  high, 
to  find  out  the  way  of  peace  and  salvation.  She  again  set  herself 
earnestly  to  work  to  obtain  that  without  which  could  be  found  only 
within  her,  and  to  give  herself  to  circuln.-pect  walking  and  serious 
meditation.  "  Sometimes,"  she  says,  "  I  would  be  melted  into  tears, 
and  feel  an  inexpressible  tenderness ;  but  not  knowing  what  it  was 
from,  and  being  ready  to  misjudge  all  religiou,  I  thouglit  it  was  some 
influence  from  the  planets  which  governed  my  body.  But  I  durst 
not  regard  any  thing  in  me  being  of,  or  from  God,  or  that  I  felt  any 
influence  of  his  spirit  on  my  heart.  ...  In  the  condition  I 
have  mentioned  of  weary  seeking  and  not  finding,  I  married  my 
dear  husband,  Isaac  Penington.  My  love  was  drawn  to  him  be- 
cause I  fouud  he  saw  the  deceit  of  all  mere  notions  about  religion  : 
he  lay  as  one  that  i-efused  to  be  comforted,  until  He  came  to  his 
temple  '  who  is  truth  and  no  lie.'  All  things  that  had  only  the  ap- 
j)earance  of  I'eligion  were  very  manifest  to  him,  so  that  he  was  sick 
and  weary  of  show,  and  in  this  my  heart  united  with  him,  and 
a  desire  was  in  me  to  be  serviceable  to  him,  in  this  his  desolate  con- 
dition, for  he  was  as  one  alone,  and  felt  miserable  in  tlie  world." 

Of  their  first  intercourse  with  Friends  she  gives  the  following 
account:  "  One  day  as  my  husband  and  I  \vere  walking  in  a  park,  a 
man  that  tor  a  little  time  had  fre(piented  the  Quakers'  meetings,  saw 
us  as  he  rode  by,  in  our  gay  and  vain  apparel.  He  spoke  to  us  about 
our  pride,  at  which  I  scoffed,  saying,  '  He  a  public  preacher,  in- 
deed! preaching  on  the  highway.'  He  turned  back  again,  sayiug, 
he  had  a  love  for  my  husband,  seeing  grace  in  his  looks.     He  drew 


SEVEN  TEE  XTH  CENTURY.  305 

nigh  to  the  pales,  and  spoke  of  the  Light  and  Grace  of  God  that 
had  appeared  to  all  men.  My  husband  and  he  liaving  engaged  in 
discourse,  the  man  of  the  house  coming  up  invited  the  stranger  in. 
He  was  but  young,  and  perceiving  my  husband  was  too  able  for 
him  in  the  fleshly  wisdom,  said  he  would  bring  a  man  next  day, 
who  would  better  answer  all  his  questions  and  objections,  who,  as  I 
afterwards  understood,  was  George  Fox.  He  came  again  the  next 
day,  and  left  word  that  the  Friend  he  intended  to  bring  could  not  well 
come ;  but  some  others,  he  believed,  would  be  with  us  about  the 
second  hour  ;  at  which  time  came  Thomas  Curtis  and  William  Simp- 
son. My  mind  had  been  somewhat  atfected  by  the  discourse  of  the 
night  before ;  and  though  I  thought  the  man  weak  in  the  manage 
ment  of  the  arguments  he  brought  forward  to  support  his  principles, 
yet  many  Scriptures  which  he  mentioned  stuck  with  me,  and  felt 
very  weighty.  They  were  such  as  showed  me  the  vanity  of  many 
of  my  practices;  which  made  me  very  serious,  and  soberly  inclined 
to  hear  and  consider  what  tliese  other  men  had  to  say.  Their  solid  and 
weighty  carriage  struck  a  dread  over  me,  for  they  came  in  the  au- 
thority and  power  of  the  Lord  to  visit  us.  The  Lord  was  with  them, 
and  all  we  who  were  in  the  room,  were  made  sensible  at  that  time  of 
the  Divine  power  manifestly  accompanying  what  they  said.  Thomas 
Curtis  repeated  a  Scripture  that  struck  out  all  my  inquiries  and  objec- 
tions, '  The  doctrine  is  not  mine,  but  His  who  sent  me.  If  any  man 
will  do  Im  will,  he  shall  know  of  the  doctrine,  whether  it  be  of  God, 
or  whether  I  speak  of  myself  " 

But  though  the  truths  declared  had  reached  the  witness  for  God 
in  the  secret  of  their  souls,  neither  Isaac  Penington  nor  his  wife 
were  disposed  to  look  favorably  on  the  despised  Quakers,  and  the 
religion  they  inculcated.  The  gate  was  too  strait  and  the  way  too 
narrow  for  them  to  enter  and  walk  in,  while  the  strong  man  armed 
was  keeping  the  spiritual  house.  They  had  long  been  seeking  to 
enter,  but  not  knowing  the  Stronger  than  he  to  bind  the  strong 
man,  they  had  not  been  able.  She  observes,  "  I  never  had  peace  or 
quiet  from  sore  exercise  of  mind  for  months,  till  I  was,  by  the 
Lord's  judgment,  brought  off  from  all  those  things  which  I  found 
his  Light  made  manifest  to  be  deceit,  bondage,  vanity  and  the  spirit 
of  the  world.  Tiie  giving  up  these  things  cost  me  many  teai's.  I 
felt  that  by  tlie  world  I  would  be  regarded  as  a  fool,  and  that  my 
honorable  position  must  be  sacrificed  if  I  took  up  the  cross,  and 
acted  contrary  to  the  fashions  and  customs  that  prevailed  in  the 
world  and  among  my  acquaintances.  My  relations  made  this  cross 
20 


306  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

a  very  heavy  one;  but  at  length  I  gave  up  all."  After  thus  pass- 
ing through  many  sore  baptisms  and  "giving  up  all,"  she  adds,  "  I 
then  received  strength  to  attend  the  meetings  of  this  despised  peo- 
ple, which  I  had  intended  never  to  meddle  witli.  I  found  they 
were  truly  of  the  Lord,  and  ray  heart  owned  them  and  honored 
them."  [1656.] 

Isaac  Peningtou  Avrites  as  follows,  "  At  first  acquaintance  with 
this  people,  that  which  was  of  God  in  me  opened,  and  I  did  im- 
mediati'ly  in  my  spirit  own  them  as  children  of  my  Father,  truly 
begotten  of  his  Light  by  his  own  Spirit.  But  the  wise,  reasoning 
])art  presently  rose  up,  contending  against  their  uncouth  way  ;  for 
which  I  did  disown  them,  and  continued  a  stranger  to  them,  and  a 
reasoner  against  them  for  about  twelve  months.  By  weighing  and 
considering  things  in  that  way,  I  was  still  further  and  further  off 
from  discerning  their  leadings  by  the  Spirit  of  God  into  those 
things.  But  at  length  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  draw  out  his  sword 
against  that  part  in  me,  turning  the  wisdom  and  strength  thereof 
backward ;  and  again  to  open  that  eye  in  me  wherewith  He  had 
given  me  to  see  the  things  of  his  kingdom,  in  some  measure,  from  a 
child.  And  then  I  saw  and  felt  them  grown  in  that  life  and  spirit, 
which  I,  through  the  treachery  of  the  fleshly-wise  part,  had  been 
estranged  from.  And  now,  what  bitter  days  of  mourning  I  luul  over 
this,  the  Lord  alone  fully  knows.  Oh  !  I  have  known  it  indeed  to 
be  a  bitter  thing,  to  follow  this  wisdom  as  that  which  could  make 
me  truly  to  understand  the  Scriptures.  The  Lord  hath  judged  me 
for  it,  and  I  have  borne  a  burden  and  condemnation  for  that  which 
many  at  this  day  wear  as  a  crown."  Speaking  of  the  peace  and 
certainty  to  which  he  had  attained,  after  that  he  had  fully  given 
up  to  believe  in  and  act  in  accordance  with  the  principles  of  the 
gospel  as  held  by  Friends,  he  says,  "  Blessed  be  the  Lord !  there 
are  many  at  this  day  who  can  truly  and  &ithfully  witness,  that 
they  have  been  brought  by  the  Lord  to  this  state.  We  have  thus 
learned  of  Him,  not  by  the  high,  striving,  aspiring  mind,  but  by 
lying  low  and  being  contented  with  a  little  ;  if  but  a  crumb  of  bread, 
yet  bread  ;  if  but  a  drop  of  water,  yet  water.  And  we  have  been 
contented  with  it,  and  thankful  to  the  Lord  for  it.  Nor  was  it  by 
though tfulness  and  wise  searching,  or  deep  considering  with  our 
own  wisdom  and  reason  that  we  obtained  this,  but  in  the  still,  meek 
and  humble  waiting  have  we  found  it." 

It  appears  from  letters  addressed  by  I.  Penington  to  his  fother, 
that  the  latter  was  much  incensed  at  his  son  joining  with  Friends ; 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  307 

ix  people  whom  he  coiiteniiied  and  despised.  In  these  letters  the 
son  refutes  the  charges  brought  by  his  father  against  Friends  and 
their  principles,  and  in  the  fervor  of  honest  conviction,  and  the 
solicitude  of  filial  love,  labors  not  only  to  justify  his  own  course, 
but  to  convince  his  parent  of  the  errors  in  his  belief,  and  the  indis- 
pensable necessity  of  knowing  the  work  of  regeneration  to  be  carried 
on  and  perfected  under  the  transforming  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
which  leads  to  taking  up  the  cross.  How  for  this  difference  in  re- 
ligious views  may  have  produced  estrangement  between  the  families 
does  not  appear.  The  last  letter  from  Isaac  to  his  father  which  has 
been  published,  is  dated  near  the  close  of  1658,  and  the  events  that 
followed,  soon  after  the  restoration  of  King  Charles,  in  the  early 
part  of  1660,  closed  all  intercourse  between  them.  The  Alderman, 
as  has  been  already  stated,  had  been  a  member  of  the  Commission 
appointed  by  Parliament  to  try  Charles  I.,  and  which  had  con- 
demned him  to  death.  Of  that  Commission,  or  Court,  uearly  fifty 
were  still  living,  when  it  was  resolved  to  restore  the  banished  King, 
Charles  II.,  to  the  throne.  Alderman  Penington,  with  several  others 
of  those  judges,  relying  on  the  declaration  made  from  Breda  by  the 
returning  King,  "That  no  crime  whatsoever  committed  against  us 
or  our  royal  father,  before  the  publication  of  this,  shall  ever  rise  in 
judgment,  or  be  brought  in  question  against  any  of  them,"&c.,  came 
forward,  accepted  the  pardon,  and  took  the  oath  of  allegiance. 

But  in  about  three  months  after  Charles  was  seated  on  the  throne, 
all  of  those  who  had  sat  in  judgment  on  his  fiither,  who  could  be 
found  and  secured,  were  brought  to  a  trial  and  condemned  to  death 
as  regicides.  Among  these  —  twenty-nine  in  number  —  were  eigh- 
teen, who,  with  Alderman  Penington,  had  given  themselves  up, 
relying  on  "  the  word  of  a  king  "  they  should  not  be  held  responsible 
for  their  former  acts.  Of  these  eighteen,  the  punishment  of  four- 
teen was  changed  from  death,  to  imprisonment  for  life,  and  confisca- 
tion of  all  their  personal  and  real  estates.  Under  this  sentence. 
Alderman  Penington  was  committed  to  the  Tower  under  the  cus- 
tody of  Sir  John  Robinson,  the  Lieutenant.  Whether  he  was 
promjjted  to  it  by  others,  or  it  was  the  legitimate  fruit  of  his  own 
innately  cruel  disposition,  certain  it  is  these  prisoners  were  subjected 
to  inhuman  treatment,  and  in  a  little  while  Isaac  Penington's  father 
sunk  under  it  and  died.  His  estate  was  bestowed  by  the  King  on 
the  Bishop  of  Worcester  and  the  Duke  of  Grafton,  leaving  Isaac 
and  his  family  dependent  on  the  estate  of  his  wife. 

During  this  time  of  sore  persecution  and  trial,  when  it  seemed  as 


308  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

tlionuh  tlie  oneinios  of  Friends  would  be  permitted,  by  filling  the 
jaih,  wherein  many  died,  and  constantly  breaking  np  their  meetings 
for  divine  worship,  to  keep  them  from  spreading  a  knowledge  of 
their  religion  among  the  people,  many  of  those  who  by  the  extraor- 
dinary gifts  conferred  upon  them  and  their  faithful  labors  in  the 
service  of  the  Lord,  were  looked  up  to  as  judges  and  counsellors  in 
the  church,  sent  forth  epistles  to  their  fellow-pro fcssoi's  ;  exhorting 
them  to  patience  and  faithfulness  under  suffering,  and  encouraging 
them  to  look  beyond  present  afflictions,  to  the  blessed  recompense  of 
reward ;  under  the  assurance  that  the  omnipotent  and  omniscient 
One,  who  was  cognizant  of  all  their  sorrows  and  evil  treatment, 
would  recompense  them  by  the  abounding  of  his  love,  and  in  his 
own  time,  open  a  way  for  their  escape  from  the  wrath  of  man. 

George  Fox,  knowing  the  grief  that  had  spread  among  Friends 
on  account  of  the  death  of  Edward  Bur  rough,  sent  forth  a  few  lines 
as  follows  :  "  Friends,  Be  still  and  quiet  in  your  own  conditions,  and 
settle  in  the  Seed  of  God,  that  doth  not  change  ;  that  in  that  ye  may 
feel  dear  Edward  Burrough  among  you  in  the  Seed,  in  which  and 
by  which  he  begat  you  to  God,  with  whom  he  is ;  and  that  in  the 
Seed  ye  may  all  see  and  feel  him,  in  which  is  the  unity  with  him  in 
the  life;  and  so  enjoy  him  in  the  life  that  doth  not  change,  which  is 
invisible.  G.  F." 

He  also  wrote  and  published  the  following,  as  showing  the  rise 
and  ground  of  persecution. 

1662.  "All  the  sufferings  of  the  people  of  God  in  all  ages,  were 
because  they  could  not  join  in  the  national  religions  and  worships 
which  men  have  made  and  set  up,  and  because  they  would  not  for- 
sake God's  religion  and  his  worship  which  He  had  set  up.  You 
may  see  through  all  chronicles  and  histories,  that  the  priests  joined 
with  the  powers  of  the  nations ;  the  magistrates,  soothsayers,  and 
fortune-tellers,  all  joined  against  the  people  of  God,  and  did  imagine 
vain  things  against  them  in  their  councils.  When  the  Jews  did 
wickedly,  they  turned  against  Moses  ;  when  the  Jewish  kings  trans- 
gressed the  law  of  God,  they  persecuted  the  prophets;  as  may  be 
seen  in  the  prophets'  writings.  When  Chi'ist,  the  substance  came, 
the  Jews  persecuted  Christ,  his  apostles,  and  disciples.  And  when 
the  Jews  had  not  power  enough  of  themselves  to  persecute  answera- 
ble to  their  wills,  then  they  got  the  heathen  Gentiles  to  help  them 
against  Christ,  and  against  his  apostles  and  disciples,  who  were  in 
the  Spirit  and  power  of  Christ.  G.  F." 

Francis  Howgil  likewise  addressed  his  suffering  friends,  inform- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  309 

ing  them  what  he  had  seen  in  the  vision  of  Light,  respecting  the 
Lord's  will,  concerning  the  people  He  had  raised  up,  and  who  were 
now  suffering  so  nuich  from  those  who  hated  or  despised  them. 
That  they  were  dear  in  his  sight,  and  He  would  take  care  of  and 
deliver  them.  One  passage  of  this  extraordinary  address  may  he 
<|uoted,  to  give  an  idea  of  its  character,  "1  have  brought  them  to 
the  hirth,  yea,  I  have  brought  them  forth ;  I  have  swaddled  them 
and  they  are  mine.  I  will  nourish  them  and  carry  them  as  on 
eagles'  wings ;  and  though  clouds  gather  against  them,  I  will  make 
my  way  through  them ;  though  darkness  gather  together  on  a  heap 
and  tempests  gender,  I  will  scatter  them  as  with  an  east  wind,  and 
nations  shall  know  they  are  my  inheritance,  and  they  shall  know  I 
am  the  living  God,  who  will  plead  their  cause  with  all  that  rise  up 
in  opposition  against  them."     » 

Very  many  were  the  exhortations  and  letters  of  encouragement 
sent  forth,  often  from  those  who  were  themselves  in  dismal  jails  or 
dungeons,  but  whose  righteous  zeal  for  the  good  cause,  and  love  for 
their  brethren  could  not  be  bound,  nor  quenched  by  the  malice  or 
cruelty  of  their  persecutors. 

It  has  been  mentioned  that  King  Charles,  on  hearing  of  the  sick- 
ness of  E.  Burrough,  for  whom,  though  he  had  dealt  so  plainly 
with  him,  he  evidently  had  an  esteem,  had  ordered  his  release ; 
which,  however,  was  not  obeyed.  It  is  probable  the  information 
communicated  to  him  of  the  dreadful  condition  of  the  Friends  con- 
fined in  the  jailo  of  London  and  its  environs,  reminded  him  of  his 
repeated  promises  to  some  of  them,  that  they  should  not  suffer  for 
their  principles,  and  touched  whatever  feeling  he  may  have  had  for 
their  sufferings,  and  his  own  honor.  For  near  the  close  of  the  year 
1662,  with  the  consent  of  his  privy  council,  he  issued  a  proclama- 
tion, in  which,  after  alluding  to  his  declaration  from  Breda,  that 
liberty  of  conscience  should  be  enjoyed  by  all  his  peaceable  subjects, 
he  says,  he  is  glad  to  renew  that  assurance,  and  also  that  he  would 
bring  the  subject  before  Parliament,  in  order  to  induce  that  body 
to  concur,  by  an  act  for  the  purpose,  with  his  exercise  of  the  power  of 
dispensing  with  enforcing  the  penalties  provided  for  non-conformity 
in  worship.  Accordingly  at  theopening  of  the  next  session  of  Parlia- 
nicnt,  in  his  speech,  he  brought  the  subject  before  it,  and  proposed  the 
enactment  of  a  law  recognizing  what  he  believed  to  be  a  right  within 
his  prerogative,  to  grant  indulgence  U)  peaceable  dissenters,  under 
such  circumstances  as  he  thought  (tailed  for  it;  so  that  they  might 
not  be  forced  to  leave  the  country,  or  to  conspire  against  its  peace. 


310  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

Parliament,  however,  was  not  disposed  to  relax  in  any  manner 
the  severity  of  the  laws  it  had  enacted  against  those  who  did  not 
comply  with  the  form  of  religion  it  had  estahlished.  It  declared 
the  King's  proclamation  from  Breda  contained  no  promise,  but  a 
mere  expression  of  what  was  then  his  intentions,  upon  the  terms  of 
the  Parliament  agreeing  to  it;  and  that  they,  as  the  representatives 
of  the  nation,  were  unwilling  that  he  should  carry  those  intentions 
into  ettect. 

The  King's  pecuniary  embarrassments,  to  relieve  which  he  was 
dependent  on  Parliament,  were  quite  sufficient  to  paralyze  his  feeble 
effort  to  moderate  tlie  bigoted  zeal  of  that  intolerant  body,  and  to 
induce  him  to  withhold  any  further  interference  on  behalf  of  his 
suffering  subjects,  and  nothing  more  was  done.  But  the  public 
expressions  of  the  King's  views,  h*d  the  effect  of  restraining,  in 
some  measure,  the  violence  of  the  Magistrates  and  others,  in  and 
about  London ;  so  that  there  was  less  cruelty  practised  by  them  on 
Friends  during  1663,  than  before  and  after. 

It  appeared  evident,  that  it  was  the  design  of  the  party  in  power 
and  their  subalterns,  to  shut  up  as  many  of  the  ministers  among 
Friends  as  they  could  lay  their  hands  on,  with  the  hope  that  by  thus 
arrestino;  their  gospel  labors,  the  other  members  of  the  Society  would 
be  brought  more  easily  to  succumb  to  the  power,  kept  actively  em- 
ployed against  them.  But  m  this  they  were  disappointed.  Espe- 
cially were  they  desirous  to  get  hold  of  George  Fox  ;  who  never- 
theless, was  moving  about  from  place  to  place  attending  the  regular 
meetings  of  Friends,  and  often  addressing  large  concourses  of  people 
in  places  where  Friends  had  no  regularly  established  meeting-houses. 
He  went  down  from  London  to  Bristol,  accompanied  by  Alexander 
Parker  and  John  Stubbs  ;  and  though  persecution  of  Friends  was 
rife  there,  and  some  Friends,  fearing  lest  lie  would  be  arrested,  tried 
to  dissuade  hirn  from  going  to  their  usual  place  of  worship,  yet  he 
was  at  their  meeting  two  First-days  in  succession,  and  preached  to 
large  congregations,  and  escaped  being  taken  by  the  soldiers  who 
came  to  break  up  the  assembly,  by  their  coming  either  too  early  or 
too  late.  As  the  Mayor  of  Bristol  was  exceedingly  desirous  to  arrest 
him,  and  the  soldiers  were  on  the  alert  to  find  where  he  was  and 
take  him,  it  was  remarkable  they  should  have  failed  as  they  did  ; 
and  George  says, "  It  was  indeed  the  immediate  power  of  the  Lord, 
that  preserved  me  out  of  their  hands  at  Bristol,  and  over  the  heads 
of  all  our  persecutors;  and  the  Lord  alone  is  worthy  of  all  the 
glory,  who  did  uphold  and  preserve  for  his  name  and  truth's  sake." 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  311 

Being  at  a  place  called  the  Bariiet-hill.<,  where  lived  a  Captain 
Brown,  a  Baptist,  whose  wife  was  a  Friend,  he  says,  "  This  Captain 
Brown,  after  the  Act  for  '  Breaking  u[)  Meetings '  came  forth,  being 
afraid  his  wife  should  go  to  meetings,  and  be  cast  into  prison,  left 
his  house  at  Barrow,  and  took  a  place  on  these  hills,  saying,  *  His 
wife  should  not  go  to  prison.'  And  this  being  a  free  place,  many 
priests  and  others  fled  thither  as  well  as  he.  But  he,  who  would 
neither  stand  to  truth  himself  nor  suffer  his  wife,  was  in  this  place, 
where  he  thought  himself  safe,  found  out  by  the  Lord,  whose  hand 
fell  heavily  upon  him  for  his  unfaithfulness ;  so  that  he  was  sorely 
plagued,  and  grievously  judged  in  himself  for  flying  and  drawing 
his  wife  into  that  private  place.  We  went  to  see  his  wife,  and  being 
in  the  house,  I  asked  him,  how  he  did  ?  '  How  do  I ! '  said  he, '  The 
plagues  and  vengeance  of  God  are  upon  me,  a  runagate,  a  Cain  as 
I  am.  God  may  look  for  a  witness  for  me,  and  such  as  me ;  for  if 
all  were  not  faithfuUer  than  I,  God  would  have  no  witness  left  in 
the  earth.'  In  this  condition  he  lived  on  bread  and  water,  and 
thought  it  was  too  good  for  him.  At  length  he  got  home  again 
with  his  wife  to  his  own  house  at  Barrow,  where  afterwards  he  was 
convinced  of  God's  eternal  truth,  and  died  in  it.  A  little  before 
his  death  he  said,  '  Though  he  had  not  borne  a  testimony  for  truth 
in  his  life,  he  would  bear  a  testimony  in  his  death,  and  would  be 
buried  in  his  orchard  ; '  and  was  so." 

At  Swanington,  in  Leicestershire,  George  Fox  was  arrested  while 
sitting  in  a  private  house,  by  a  Lord  Beaumont,  who  came  with  a  com- 
pany of  soldiers.  Having  also  arrested  the  other  Friends  who  were 
in  the  house,  Beaumont  had  them  guarded  through  the  night,  and 
the  next  morning  brought  before  him,  when  he  committed  them  to 
Leicester  jail ;  the  mittimus  stating  they  were  "  to  have  had  a  meet- 
ing." When  the  assize  came  on,  the  usual  course  of  tendering  the 
oath  of  allegiance  was  pursued  by  the'  Court,  inasmuch  as  their 
commitment  by  Lord  Beaumont  had  been  illegal.  They  were  sent 
back  to  the  prison,  and  as  the  streets  were  filled  with  people  gazing 
at  them,  George  "  declared  the  truth  to  them  "  as  he  walked  along; 
and  for  some  cause,  which  was  supposed  to  have  been  a  letter  writ- 
ten by  Lord  Hastings,  from  London,  and  which  George  Fox  had  in 
his  possession,  but  had  not  shown  —  in  a  little  while  they  were  all 
set  at  liberty.     This  was  in  1662. 

The  old  device  of  getting  up  reports  of  an  iuteuded  insurrection  of 
the  republicans,  and  the  separatists  or  dissenters,  was  again  resorted 
to,  and  it  was  said  this  was  to  take  place  somewhere  in  the  north  of 


312  FRII^NDS    IN    THE 

England.  Contrary  a.s  it  was  to  their  known  peaceable  priiKM])li'S 
and  conduct,  it  was  nevertheless  pretended  tliat  Friends  were  impli- 
cated in  tiiis  attempt  at  uprising,  and  it  thus  atl'orded  a  plea  for  })er- 
sisting  in  outrages  inflicted  on  them  because  of  their  refusing  to 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  assembling  for  the  purpose  of  Divine 
worship.  George  Fox  had  gone  north,  and  was  at  York  when  he 
heard  this  re])ort  of  a  plot.  Knowing  that  if  not  devised  for  the 
purpose,  it  would  be  made  use  of  to  strengthen  the  hands  of  the 
persecutors  of  Friends,  he  wrote,  and  had  printed,  an  address  to 
Friends;  in  which,  after  declaring  that  Friends  had  nothing  to  do 
with  plots,  he  advised  then)  to  be  very  circumspect  in  their  conduct, 
so  as  to  give  no  ground  for  their  enemies  to  take  advantage  of  them. 
Having  sent  copies  of  this  to  the  King  and  several  officers  in  the 
government,  he  continued  his  gospel  labors;  going  tlirough  West- 
moreland, and  continuing  on  southward  into  Wales  ;  thence  return- 
ing nortli,  went  as  far  as  Carlisle,  and  turning  back,  came  again 
into  Westmoreland.  Wherever  he  went  he  heard  of  the  excite- 
ment stirred  up  by  the  rumored  plot,  and  the  eflbrts  made  to  arrest 
Friends.  Yet  he  had  large  meeting.s,  and  many  continued  to  be  con- 
vinced by  his  ministry;  and  though  one  Justice  Fleming  liad  in  open 
session,  at  Kendal,  offered  five  pounds  to  any  one  who  would  take 
him,  and  a  man  who  had  just  left  the  ('ourt,  saw  him,  and  said  to  his 
companion,  "  There  is  George  Fox,"  he  arrived  at  Swartlimoor  un- 
touched. Speaking  of  his  labors  and  his  preservations  while  in  Cum- 
berland, he  says,  "So  eager  were  the  Magistrates  about  this  time  to 
stir  up  persecution  in  those  parts,  that  some  oft'ered  five  shillings, 
some  a  noble  a  day,  to  any  that  could  apprehend  the  speakers  among 
the  Quakers ;  but  it  being  now  the  time  of  the  Quarter  Sessions  in 
that  county,  the  men  who  were  so  hired  were  gone  to  the  Sessions 
to  get  their  wages,  so  all  our  meetings  were  at  that  time  quiet." 

1663.  At  Swarthmoor  lie  learned  that  Colonel  Kirby  had  sent 
his  Lieutenant  there  for  him  ;  who  had  not  been  satisfied  until  he 
had  searched  chests  and  trunks,  to  see  if  he  was  concealed  therein. 
That  night  George  felt  that  it  would  be  right  for  him  to  go  to 
Colonel  Kirby,  and  inquire  what  he  wanted  with  him.  The  next 
morning  he  rode  over  to  Kirby-hall,  whei-e  he  found  not  only  the 
Colonel,  but  several  of  the  gentry,  and  the  two  justices.  Fleming, 
one  of  whom,  had  offered  five  pounds  for  his  apprehension.  On 
George  Fox  telling  the  Colonel  why  he  came,  and  asking  him  if 
he  had  anything  against  him  ?  the  Colonel  assured  him,  "  as  he  wap 
a  gentleman,"  that  he  had  nothing  again.st  him  ;  but  that  Mrs.  Fell 


SEVENTEENTH    C  E  N  T  U  11 Y  .  313 

must  not  keep  great  meetings  at  her  bouse,  for  it  was  against  the 
law.  When  taking  leave,  the  Colonel  shook  him  by  the  liand,  and 
repeated  that  be  bad  nothing  against  him,  and  others  present  said 
"  he  was  a  deserving  man." 

This  seemed  very  fair,  but  it  was  all  outside  show.  In  a  few  days 
there  was  a  meeting  of  justices  and  deputy  lieutenants,  and  a  war- 
rant was  issued  for  the  apprehension  of  George  Fox.  He  heard  of 
it  the  day  it  was  done,  and  he  could  readily  have  gone  out  of  the 
neighborhood  ;  but  he  says,  "  I  considered  there  being  a  noise  of  a 
plot  in  the  north,  if  I  should  go  away,  they  might  fall  upon  Friends, 
but  if  I  gave  myself  up  to  be  taken,  it  might  prevent  them,  and 
Friends  would  escape  the  better  ;  so  I  gave  myself  up  to  be  taken, 
and  prepared  against  they  came."  The  officer  who  came  to  Swarth- 
moor  for  him  would  not  show  any  order  or  warrant,  but  laid  his 
hand  on  his  sword,  and  said  that  was  order  enough. 

Margaret  Fell  accompanied  her  guest  to  Houlker  Hall,  where  they 
found  a  considerable  company  of  Magistrates  and  officers  assembled. 
These  at  once  entered  on  an  examination  of  George  Fox.  There  were 
many  frivolous  questions  asked  him,  and  then  they  examined  him 
in  relation  to  his  knowledge  of  the  plot.  But  his  answers  were  so  clear 
and  explicit,  and  several  of  the  Magistrates  having  to  own  they 
had  received  George's  paper  against  the  plot,  that  they  found  there 
was  no  ground  for  accusation  against  him,  on  that  account.  He 
told  them  that  not  very  long  before,  he  had  been  sent  up  from  the 
north  by  Col.  Hacker  to  O.  Cromwell,  charged  with  being  engaged 
in  a  i)lot  to  bring  in  King  Charles,  and  asked  where  were  they,  or 
what  were .  they  doing  in  those  days  ?  Finding  they  had  no  suffi- 
cient plea  for  holding  him,  George  Middleton,  who  was  known  to 
be  a  Papist,  ordered  a  Bible  to  be  brought  and  the  oath  of  allegiance 
tendered  him.  Some  who  were  ashamed  of  taking  advantage  of 
him  in  that  way,  objected,  and  desired  he  might  be  discharged  ;  but 
the  voice  of  the  majority  prevailed,  and  he  was  asked  to  take  the 
oath,  which  he  refused.  When  about  to  make  out  the  mittimus  to 
send  him  to  Lancaster  jail,  some  of  them  relented,  and  said  they 
would  be  content  to  take  his  word  to  appear  at  the  next  session, 
which  receiving,  he  was  dismissed  and  returned  to  Swarthmoor. 

At  the  sessions,  George  Fox  appt-ared  according  to  his  promise, 
and  after  undergoing  .<ome  cpiestioning  in  regard  to  wearing  his  hat 
before  tlie  Judge  —  it  being  taken  oti"  by  an  officer  —  and  what  he 
knew  of  the  plot,  llif  oath  was  tendered  him,  to  wliich  he  replied  he 
could   not  take  any  oatli,  because  Christ  and  his  ajjostle  James  had 


314  FRIEXDS    IN    THE 

fofbiddeii  it.  Justice  Rawlinsou  tried  to  entfap  him,  by  asking  him, 
if  he  thought  it  «/(/(«(/({/  to  swear?  but  lie  was  aware  of  the  hiw 
wliich  imposed  banishment  or  a  heavy  fine  on  those  who  inculcated 
the  oi)iiii()n  that  it  was  anlcmful  to  swear,  and  he  therefore  kept  to 
the  simple  ground  that  swearing  was  forbidden  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment. Finding  they  could  not  obtain  any  advantage  over  him, 
they  committed  him  to  prison  in  Lancaster  castle,  for  refusing  to 
swear.  Several  other  Friends  were  sent  to  the  prison  at  the  same 
time ;  some  for  not  swearing  and  some  for  meeting  to  worship  ;  so  that 
the  prison  was  crowded.  As  many  of  these  prisoners  were  in  low 
circumstances,  the  wives  and  children  of  such  suffered  great  priva- 
tion ;  and  Friends  who  had  the  opportunity,  were  so  urgent  and  in- 
cessant in  their  ap[)lication  to  the  Magistrates  for  relief,  that  at  last 
an  order  was  issued  for  the  release  of  some  of  the  Friends  from 
prison." 

George  Fox  mentions  there  were  four  Friends  iu  the  prison 
[1663],  sent  there  by  the  Countess  of  Derby,  for  tithes;  who  had 
been  lying  there  for  two  years  and  a  half.  One  of  them,  Oliver  Ath- 
erton,  being  of  feeble  constitution,  the  long  confinement  in  the  damp, 
un ventilated  apartment  had  entirely  prostrated  him,  and  it  became 
apparent,  that  unless  removed,  death  would  soon  close  his  suffering. 
The  four  Friends  drew  up  a  statement  of  his  condition,  also  giving 
the  reasons  why  they  could  not  conscientiously  pay  tithes,  and  sent 
it,  by  the  hands  of  the  sick  man's  son,  to  the  Countess  ;  also  praying 
her  to  have  compassion  on  the  dying  man,  and  not  bring  the  guilt 
of  his  death  upon  her.  One  of  her  servants  greatly  abused  the  son 
when  he  took  the  statement,  and  drove  him  from  the  house ;  never- 
theless the  letter  addressed  to  the  Countess  was  put  iu  her  hands. 
But  slie  heeded  it  not,  and  continued  the  imprisonment.  When  the 
son  informed  his  father  there  was  no  mercy  for  him,  he  remarked, 
"She  has  been  the  cause  of  shedding  much  blood,  but  this  will  be 
the  heaviest  blood  that  ever  she  spilt,"  and  soon  after  died.  When 
Friends  were  taking  the  remains  to  the  parish  where  he  had  lived, 
they  had  notices  stuck  up  in  divers  places,  "  This  is  Oliver  Athertou 
of  Ormskirk  parish,  persecuted  to  death  by  the  Countess  of  Derby, 
for  good  conscience-sake  towards  God  and  Clirist,  because  he  could 
not  give  her  tithes:"  and  setting  forth  why  he  could  not  pay  tithes, 
his  long  imprisonment,  her  hard-heartedness  towards  him,  and  the 
nuinner  of  his  death,  &c.  The  rage  of  the  Couutess  at  this  exposure 
was  great,  but  her  efforts  to  punish  those  in  the  places  where  the 
notices  hail  been  allowed  to  be  put  up,  only  served  to  draw  more 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  315 

general  attention  to  the  case  ;  and  in  three  weeks  from  the  death  of 
her  victim  she  also  died. 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  the  year  1663,  George  Fox,  who  had 
been  kept  in  prison  for  many  weeks,  was  brought  before  the  Court 
held  by  Judge  Twisden.  The  proceedings  in  his  case  are  thus  nar- 
rated by  him :  "  When  I  was  set  to  the  bar,  I  said,  '  Peace  be 
amongst  you  all.'  The  Judge  looked  upon  me  and  said,  '  What ! 
do  you  come  into  the  Court  with  your  hat  on  ?  '  Upon  which  words, 
the  gaoler  taking  it  off,  I  said,  '  The  hat  is  not  the  honor  that  comes 
from  God.'  Then  said  the  Judge  to  me,  '  Will  you  take  the  oath 
of  allegiance,  George  Fox?  '  I  said,  '  I  never  took  any  oath  in  my 
life,  nor  any  covenant  or  engagement.'  '  Well,'  said  he,  '  will  you 
swear  or  not?'  1  answered,  'I  am  a  Christian,  and  Christ  com- 
mands me  "  not  to  swear  ;"  so  does  the  apostle  James  ;  and  whether  I 
should  obey  God  or  man,  do  thou  judge  ?  '  'I  ask  you  again,'  said  he, 
'  Whether  you  will  swear  or  no  ?  '  I  answered  again,  '  I  am  neither 
Turk,  Jew,  nor  Heathen,  but  a  Cliristian,  and  should  show  forth 
Christianity.'  I  asked  him,  If  he  did  not  know  that  Christians  in 
the  primitive  times,  under  the  ten  persecutions,  and  some  also  of  the 
martyrs  in  Queen  Mary's  days,  refused  swearing,  because  Christ 
and  the  apostle  had  forbidden  it  ?  I  told  him  also,  they  had  experi- 
ence enough,  how  many  had  first  sworn  for  the  King  and  then  against 
him.  But  as  for  me  I  had  never  taken  an  oath  in  my  life.  My 
allegiance  did  not  lie  in  swearing,  but  in  truth  and  faithfulness  ;  for 
I  honor  all  men,  much  more  the  King.  But  Christ,  who  is  the 
Great  Prophet,  the  King  of  kings,  the  Saviour  and  Judge  of  the 
whole  world,  saith,  I  must  '  not  swear.'  Now,  whether  must  I  obey, 
Christ  or  thee?  For  it  is  tenderness  of  conscience,  and  in  obedience 
to  the  command  of  Christ,  that  I  do  not  swear ;  and  we  have  the 
word  of  a  king  for  tender  consciences.  Then  I  asked  the  Judge, 
If  he  did  own  the  King  ?  '  Yes,'  said  he,  '  I  do  own  the  King.' 
Why  then,  said  I,  dost  thou  not  observe  his  declaration  from  Breda, 
and  his  promises  made  since  he  came  into  England,  '  That  no  man 
should  be  called  in  question  for  matters  of  religion,  so  long  as  they 
live  peaceably?'  If  thou  ownest  the  King,  said  I,  why  dust  thou 
call  me  in  question,  and  put  me  upon  taking  an  oath,  which  is  a 
matter  of  religion  ;  seeing  thou  nor  none  else  can  charge  me  with 
unpeaceable  living  ?  '  Upon  this  he  was  moved,  and  looking  angrily 
at  me,  said,  '  Sirrah,  will  you  swear  ?'  I  told  him  '  I  was  none  of 
his  Sirrahs,  I  was  a  Christian  ;  and  for  him,  an  old  man  and  a  Judge, 
to  sit  there  and  give  nick-names  to  prisoners,  it  did  not  become  e'.ther 


316  FRIEXDS    IX    THE 

his  gray  hairs  ov  his  office.'  '  Well,'  said  he,  '  I  am  a  Christian  too.' 
'  Then  do  Christian  works,'  said  I.  '  Sirrah  ! '  said  he, '  Thou  thinkest 
to  frighten  me  with  thy  words.'  Then  catching  himself,  and  look- 
ing aside,  he  said,  '  Hark  !  I  am  using  the  word  (Sirrah)  again  ;'  so 
checked  himself.  I  said, '  I  spoke  to  thee  in  love  ;  for  that  language 
did  not  become  thee,  a  judge.  Thou  oughtest  to  instruct  a  prisoner 
in  tliehiw,  if  he  were  ignorant  and  out  of  the  way.'  '  And  I  speak 
in  love  to  thee  too,'  said  he.  '  But,'  said  I,  '  Love  gives  no  nick- 
names.' Then  he  roused  himself  up,  and  said,'  I  will  notbeaiVaid 
of  thee,  George  Fox.  Thou  speakest  so  loud,  thy  voice  drowns  mine 
and  the  Court's  ;  I  must  call  for  three  or  four  criers  to  drown  thy 
voice :  thou  hast  good  lungs.'  '  I  am  a  prisoner  here,'  said  I,  '  for 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ's  sake;  for  his  sake  do  I  suffer,  for  Him  do  I 
stand  this  day,  and  if  my  voice  were  five  times  louder  I  should  lift 
it  up,  and  sound  it  out  for  Christ's  sake,  for  whose  cause  I  stand 
this  day  before  your  judgment-seat,  in  obedience  to  Him  who  com- 
mands 'not  to  swear  ;'  before  whose  judgment-seat  you  must  all  be 
brought,  and  must  give  an  account.'  '  Well,'  said  the  Judge, 
'  George  Fox,  say,  Whether  thou  wilt  take  the  oath,  Yea  or  Nay  ?' 
I  replied,  '  I  say  as  I  said  before.  Whether  ought  I  to  obey  Gad  or 
man,  judge  thou  !  If  I  could  take  any  oath  at  all,  I  should  take  this  ; 
for  I  do  not  deny  some  oaths  only  or  on  some  occasions,  but  all 
oaths,  according  to  Christ's  doctrine,  who  hath  commanded  his 
'Not  to  swear  at  all.'  Now  if  thou  or  any  of  you,  or  any  of  your 
ministers  or  priests  here,  will  prove  that  ever  Christ  or  his  apostle, 
after  they  had  forbid  all  swearing,  commanded  Cliristians  to  swear, 
then  I  will  swear.'  I  saw  several  priests  there  ;  but  not  one  of  them 
offered  to  speak.  Then  said  the  Judge,  '  I  am  a  servant  to  the  King, 
and  the  King  sent  me  not  to  dispute  with  you,  but  to  put  the  laws 
iu  execution  ;  therefore  tender  him  the  oath  of  allegiance.'  '  If  thou 
love  the  King,'  said  I,  '  why  dost  thou  break  his  word,  and  not  keep 
his  declarations  and  speeches,  wherein  he  promised  liberty  to  tender 
consciences?  I  am  a  man  of  a  tender  conscience,  and  in  obedi- 
ence to  Christ's  command  I  cannot  swear.'  'Then  you  will  not 
swear,'  said  the  Judge  ;  '  Take  him  away,  gaoler.'  I  said,  '  It  is  for 
Christ's  sake  that  I  cannot  swear,  and  for  obedience  to  his  command 
I  suffer  ;  and  so  the  Lord  forgive  you  all.'  So  the  gaoler  took  me 
away;  but  I  felt  the  mighty  power  of  the  Lord  was  over  them  all. 
"  The  sixteenth  of  the  same  month  I  w^as  brought  before  Judge 
Twisden  again,  who  was  somewhat  offended  at  my  hat;  l)ut  it  being 
the  last  morning  of  the  assize,  before  he  was  to  go  out  of  town,  and 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  317 

not  many  people  there,  he  made  tlie  less  of  it.  He  asked  me, 
'  Whether  I  would  traverse,  stand  mute,  or  submit.'  But  he  spoke  so 
fast,  it  was  hard  to  know  what  he  said.  However  I  told  him,  'I  desired 
I  might  have  liberty  to  traverse  the  indictment,  and  try  it.'  Then 
Baid  he,  '  Take  him  away,  I  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  him,  take 
him  away.'  I  said,  '  Well,  live  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  do  justice.' 
'Why,'  said  he,  'have  not  I  done  you  justice?'  I  replied,  '  That 
which  thou  hast  done  hath  been  against  the  command  of  Christ.'  So 
I  was  taken  to  the  jail  again,  and  kept  prisoner  till  the  next  assizes. 

"  Some  time  before  this  assize,  Margaret  Fell  was  sent  prisoner  to 
Lancaster  jail  by  Fleming,  Kirby,  and  Preston,  Justices;  aud  at 
the  assize  the  oath  was  tendered  to  her  also,  and  she  was  again  com- 
mitted to  prison  to  lie  till  the  next  assize." 

1C64.  Three  months  after,  George  Fox  was  again  brought  before 
the  Court,  now  presided  over  by  Judge  Turner.  "The  jury  being 
impanelled,  the  Judge  asked  the  justices, '  Whether  they  had  tendered 
me  the  oath  at  the  sessions?'  They  said,  '  They  had.'  Then  he 
bid,  'Give  them  the  book,  that  they  might  swear  they  had  tendered 
me  the  oath  at  the  sessions.'  They  said 'They  had.'  Then  he  bid, 
'  Give  them  the  book,  that  they  might  swear  they  had  tendered  me 
the  oath  according,  to  the  indictment.'  Some  of  the  justices  refused 
to  be  sworn  ;  but  the  judge  said,  he  would  have  it  done,  to  take  away 
all  occasion  of  exception.  When  the  jury  were  sworn,  and  the  jus- 
tices had  sworn  'they  had  tendered  the  oath  according  to  the  indict- 
ment,' the  Judge  asked  me,  '  Whether  I  had  not  refused  the  oath  at 
the  last  assizes  ? '  I  said,  '  I  never  took  an  oath  iii  my  life,  and 
Christ,  the  Saviour  and  Judge  of  the  world,  said,  "  Swear  not  at 
all."  '  The  Judge  seemed  not  to  take  notice  of  my  answer ;  but 
asked  me,  '  Whether  or  no  I  had  not  refused  to  take  the  oath  at  the 
last  a.ssize?'  I  said,  'The  words  that  I  then  spoke  to  them  were,  that 
if  they  could  prove,  either  judge,  justices,  priest,  or  teacher,  that 
after  Christ  and  the  apostle  had  forbidden  swearing,  they  com- 
manded that  Christians  should  swear,  I  would  swear.' " 

The  jury  being  sworn  and  the  indictment  read,  G.  Fox  said  to  the 
jury  they  could  not  find  him  guilty  on  that  indictment,  for  it  had 
many  gross  errors  in  it.  The  Judge  forbid  him  to  speak  to  the  jury, 
but  he  would  do  that ;  and  he  then  told  them  he  had  the  authority 
to  tender  the  oatli  to  any  man,  and  prcmunire  him  if  he  would  not 
take  it;  and  therefore  they  must  bring  in  the  prisoner  guilty,  seeing 
he  had  refused  to  take  the  oath.  George  asked  him  what  was  the 
use  then  of  having  the  form  of  a  trial,  and  he  denumded  of  the  jury 


318  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

to  do  liiiu  justice  ;  but  tliey  obeying  the  Judge,  found  him  guilty. 
Then  George  told  them  and  the  Court  they  had  forsworn  themselves, 
for  the  indictment  was  untrue. 

In  the  aftei'noou,  both  George  Fox  and  Margaret  Fell  were  brought 
before  the  Court  to  receive  sentence,  and  the  latter,  who  had  also 
plead  her  own  cause  in  the  morning,  desired  that  sentence  should  be 
deferred  in  her  case,  until  next  day,  as  she  had  employed  counsel  to 
examine  the  charge  for  her.  G.  Fox  told  the  Court  he  asked  for 
justice  and  not  for  mercy,  as  that  was  for  those  who  had  committed 
evil ;  but  he  desired  them  to  send  some  suitable  person  to  see  the 
prison,  or  room,  in  which  he  was  kept;  for  it  was  so  bad,  no  one  of 
them  would  put  their  creatures  into  it ;  and  that  Colonel  Kirby  — 
who  was  then  on  the  bench — had  said,  "I  should  be  locked  up  and 
no  flesh  alive  should  come  to  me."  The  Judge  replied,  that  "when 
sentence  was  passed,  he  would  leave  me  to  the  favor  of  the  jailer." 
The  Court  concluded  to  defer  passing  sentence  until  the  next  day, 
and  some  of  the  justices,  accompanied  by  Colonel  Kirby — who,  not- 
withstanding he  had  told  George  Fox  "  he  had  nothing  against 
him,''  had  urged  on  this  prosecution  —  went  to  look  at  his  prison. 
When  they  got  to  the  room,  they  feared  to  go  into  it,  the  floor  was 
so  bad  and  dangerous,  and  the  whole  so  open  to  .tlie  wind  and  rain. 
Kirby  then  said,  the  prisoner  should  be  removed  to  a  more  con- 
venient place  befoi-e  long. 

Tlie  next  morning,  being  again  brought  before  Court,  the  Judge 
asked  George  Fox  what  he  had  to  say  why  sentence  should  not  be 
passed  upon  him.  George  then  took  up  the  indictment,  clause  by 
clause,  and  by  questioning  the  Judge  as  to  what  the  law  required, 
he  showed  him  that  according  to  his  answers,  it  was  full  of  serious 
errors,  and  that  even  the  Magistrates  on  the  bench,  who  had  sworn 
they  had  tendered  him  the  oath  in  Court  on  the  day  mentioned  in 
the  indictment,  had  perjured  themselves;  for  there  was  no  Court 
held  on  that  day.  Tlie  Judge  could  not  deny  the  fatal  errors  pointed 
out,  but  acknowledged  them,  and  as  George  was  going  on  to  point 
out  others,  he  said,  "  Nay,  1  have  enough,  you  need  say  no  more." 
George  then  asked  "Am  I  at  liberty,  and  free  from  all  that  has 
been  done  against  me  in  this  matter  ?  "  "  Yes,  said  the  Judge,  you 
are  free  from  all  that  has  been  done  against  you  ;  "  and  then  starting 
up  in  a  rage,  he  said,  "  I  can  put  the  oath  to  any  man  here,  and  I 
will  tender  it  to  you  again."  George  demanded  his  liberty.  "You 
are  at  liberty,  said  the  Judge,  but  I  will  put  the  oath  to  you  again. 
Give  him  the  book." 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  319 

After  George  liad  called  on  the  people  assembled,  to  observe  bow 
he  was  treated,  and  that  the  Judge  was  trying  to  ensnare  him,  the 
jury  was  called  and  the  oath  read  ;  whereupon  he  took  the  Bible  in 
his  hand,  and  opening  it,  after  he  was  asked  whether  he  would  swear, 
said,  "  Ye  have  given  me  a  book  to  kiss,  and  to  swear  on,  and  this 
book  which  ye  have  given  me  to  kiss,  says,  '  Kiss  the  Son,'  and  the 
Son  says  in  this  book  '  Swear  not  at  all,'  and  so  says  also  the  apostle 
James.  I  say  as  the  book  says,  yet  ye  imprison  me.  How  chance 
ye  do  not  imprison  the  book  for  saying  so  ?  How  comes  it  that  the 
book  is  at  liberty  among  you,  which  bids  me  not  to  swear,  and  yet 
ye  imprison  me  for  doing  as  the  book  bids  me?  "  While  saying  this 
he  held  up  the  Bible,  open  to  where  Christ  forbids  to  swear.  The 
book  was  then  jerked  out  of  his  hand,  and  the  Judge  again  asked 
him  if  he  would  swear?  He  then  addressed  the  Court,  gave  the 
reasons  why  he  did  not  swear,  and  declaring  that  throughout  his 
life  his  yea  had  ahvays  been  yea,  and  his  nay,  nay,  more  reliable 
than  many  men's  oaths,  as  they  had  seen  in  yesterday's  proceedings  ; 
but  that  if  the  Court,  or  any  of  their  priests,  would  show  him,  where 
or  how  the  command  of  Christ  had  been  repealed,  he  would  then 
take  the  oath. 

Being  again  brought  before  the  Court  in  the  afternoon,  the  new 
indictment  against  him  was  read ;  the  Judge  charging  the  officers 
to  see  there  w'as  no  error  in  it  this  time.  Being  asked  what  he  had 
to  say  to  it,  he  replied  that  as  it  wu,s  long,  and  he  had  heai'd  it  im- 
perfectly, he  was  not  prepared  to  traverse  it,  and  he  asked  until  the 
next  session  to  examine  it.  He  then  told  the  Judge  that  he  (G.  F.) 
and  all  his  friends  were  against  all  plots  or  disturbances  of  the  gov- 
ernment, and  they  were  quite  willing  that  any  violation  of  their  yea 
or  nay  should  be  punished  the  same  as  perjury.  The  Judge  re- 
plied, he  wished  the  laws  were  otherwise  than  they  were.  They, 
however,  recommitted  him  to  the  same  wretched  prison,  there  to  lie 
until  the  next  session  ;  Colonel  Kirby  again  ordering  the  jailer  "  to 
keep  him  close,  and  suffer  no  flesh  alive  to  come  to  him  ;  for  he  was 
not  fit  to  be  discoursed  with  by  men." 

George  Fox  says  in  his  journal,  "I  was  put  into  a  tower,  where 
the  sn)oke  of  the  other  prisoners  came  up  so  thick,  it  stood  as  dew 
upon  the  walls,  and  sometimes  it  was  so  thick  that  I  could  hardly 
see  the  caudle  when  it  burned ;  and  I  being  locked  under  three 
locks,  the  under-jailer,  when  the  smoke  was  great,  would  hardly  be 
persuaded  to  come  up  to  unlock  one  of  the  uppermost  doors,  for  fear 
of  the  smoke,  so  that  I  was  almost  smothered.     Besides,  it  rained  in 


320  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

upon  my  bed,  and  many  times,  when  I  went  to  stop  out  the  rain  in 
the  cold  winter-season,  my  shirt  was  as  wet  as  muck  witli  the  rain 
that  came  in  upon  me  while  I  was  laboring  to  stop  it  oiit.  And  the 
place  being  higii  and  open  to  the  wind,  sometimes  as  fast  as  I  stop- 
ped it  the  wind  bli'W  it  out  again.  In  this  manner  did  I  lay  all  that 
long  cold  winter,  till  the  next  assize,  in  which  time  I  was  so  starved 
with  cold  and  rain,  that  my  body  was  greatly  swelled,  and  my 
limbs  much  Ijcnuinbed." 

1064.  At  the  Spring  session  of  the  Court,  George  Fox  was  again 
brought  before  it.  He  had  carefully  examined  the  indictment 
found  against  him,  and  though  Judge  Turner  had  charged  the  offi- 
cers to  examine  it  well,  and  the  Judge  himself  had  read  it  over,  yet 
George  found  several  of  the  same  grievous  legal  errors  in  it  that  had 
quashed  the  former  one.  G.  Fox  in  allusion  to  this,  remarks, 
"  Surely  the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  in  it,  to  confound  their  mis- 
chievous work  against  me,  and  to  blind  thfem  therein."  Some  of  the 
officers  of  the  Court,  having  sworn  that  the  oath  was  tendered  to 
him  according  to  the  indictment.  Judge  Twisden^who  now  pre- 
sided— asked  him  what  he  had  to  say?  for  he  would  not  dispute 
with  him  about  anything  but  in  point  of  law. 

George  then  asked  the  Judge,  "  Whether  the  oath  was  to  be  ten- 
dered to  the  King's  subjects  only,  or  to  the  subjects  of  foreign 
princes?  He  replied,  'To  the  subjects  of  this  realm;  for  I  will 
speak  nothing  to  you,'  said  he,  'but  in  point  of  law.'  Then,  said  I, 
look  in  the  indictment,  and  thou  mayest  see  the  word  subject  is  left 
out  of  this  indictment  also.  Therefore,  seeing  the  oath  is  not  to  be 
tendered  to  any  but  the  subjects  of  this  realm,  and  ye  have  not  put 
me  in  as  a  subject,  the  Court  is  to  take  no  notice  of  this  indictment. 
I  had  no  sooner  spoke  thus,  but  the  Judge  cried,  'Take  him  away, 
jailer,  take  him  away.'  So  I  was  presently  hurried  away.  The 
jailer  and  people  looked  when  I  should  be  called  for  again  ;  but  I 
was  never  brought  to  the  Court  any  more,  though  I  had  many  other 
oreat  errors  to  as^icrn  in  the  indictment." 

To  complete  the  injustice  and  illegality  of  the  proceedings,  after 
George  was  sent  away,  the  Judge  asked  the  jury  if  they  were  agreed, 
and  they  said  they  found  for  the  King.  But  he  was  not  brought 
before  the  Court  again,  neither  could  he  hear  there  was  ever  any 
sentence  publicly  passed  upon  him  ;  though  it  Avas  reported  that  he 
was  premunired  ;  and  he  was  kept  in  prison  on  this  charge,  alto- 
gether over  three  years.  During  the  whole  of  this  time,  though 
those  who  came  out  of  curiositv,  or  some  evil  motive,  were  admitted 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  321 

to  his  dismal  abode,  Friends  were  jealously  excluded,  so  that  he 
says  he  was  as  one  dead  to  the  Society  at  large. 

George  Fox  had  now  been  a  prisoner  in  Lancaster  Castle  over 
eighteen  months,  with  no  accommodations  fit  for  a  human  being, 
and  exposed  to  the  inroads  of  the  weather,  let  it  be  as  inclement  as 
it  might.  By  reason  of  his  long  and  close  confinement,  he  became 
greatly  weakened  ;  but,  he  says,  "  The  Lord's  power  was  over  all, 
supported  me  through  all,  and  enabled  me  to  do  service  for  Him, 
and  for  his  truth  and  people  ;  as  the  place  would  admit."  This  ser- 
vice was  in  writing  and  having  published  answers  to  several  books 
that  had  come  out  against  the  principles  held  by  Friends ;  in  show- 
ing the  unlawfulness  of  tithes ;  and  in  pointing  out  that  which  is 
of  the  world,  and  that  which  is  of  God  ;  to  encourage  his  fellow  pro- 
fessors to  stand  firm  in  the  day  of  trial,  relying  on  the  Lord  alone. 

Col.  Kirby,  and  others  of  the  Magistrates,  who  had  been  instru- 
mental in  having  him  thus  immured,  who  felt  keenly  the  exposure 
that  had  been  made  of  their  hypocrisy  and  malice,  and  the  com- 
ments of  the  people  upon  them,  became  very  uneasy  at  having  their 
victim  kept  so  immediately  in  their  own  neighborhood  ;  where  the 
parties  and  the  circumstances  were  generally  known.  Kirby  wished 
much  to  have  G.  Fox  sent  beyond  sea,  so  as  to  be  entirely  out  of 
the  way,  but  at  all  events  to  get  him  out  of  Lancashire. 

Application  being  made  to  the  King  and  Council,  an  order  was  pro- 
cured for  his  removal.  So  he  was  brought  out  of  his  wretched  room 
in  the  Tower,  and  though  they  ofl'ered  him  wine,  which  he  refused, 
they  would  not  allow  liim  any  time  to  refresh  himself,  and  change  his 
clothes,  which,  from  being  kept  constantly  in  dense  smoke,  had  be- 
come offensive;  but  they  put  him  on  a  horse,  though  through  weakness 
he  could  hardly  keep  in  the  saddle,  and  carried  him  fourteen  miles 
that  night.  They  would  not  tell  him  where  they  were  going  with 
him  ;  but  guarded  by  a  Marshal  and  a  company  of  troopers,  he  was 
hurried  along,  while  the  people  crowded  the  streets  of  the  towns 
through  which  he  passed,  to  gaze  upon  him.  Many  Friends  who 
heard  of  his  being  on  the  road,  hastened  to  meet  and  speak  with  him 
which  was  a  mutual  comfort  to  them.  At  York  he  was  put  into  a 
large  chamber,  and  the  greater  part  of  two  troops  of  horse  came  to 
look  at  him,  some  of  whom  put  impertinent  questions  to  him  ;  but 
he  took  no  notice  of  these,  and  soon  felt  himself  called  to  i)reach  the 
gospel  to  them  ;  which  he  did,  and  they  became  quiet  and  respect- 
ful. He  was  kept  two  days  at  York,  and  Lord  Frecheville,  the  com- 
mander of  the  soldiers,  visited  him,  obtained  from  him  an  account 
21 


322  FTJIENDS    IN    THE 

of  the  manner  in  whieli  he  had  been  treated,  and  was  not  only  civil 
but  loving  towards  him.  The  day  after  this  visit,  he  was  sent  under 
an  escort  of  four  or  five  soldiers  to  Scarborough  Castle.  [1665.] 

On  his  first  introduction  to  this  Castle,  as  he  was  so  weak  tliat  he 
frequently  fainted,  they  allowed  him  a  tolerably  comfortable  room, 
and  would  occasionall}''  permit  him  to  go  into  the  open  air,  accom- 
panied by  a  sentry  ;  but  this  indulgence  lasted  not  long.  Soon  they 
put  him  into  a  room,  much  like  the  one  he  had  occupied  at  Lan- 
caster Castle  ;  that  is,  open  to  the  wind  and  rain,  and  filled  with 
dense  smoke  whenever  a  fire  was  made.  Sir  Jordan  Crosland,  the 
Governor  of  the  castle,  who  was  a  Papist,  after  some  time  came  to 
see  his  prisoner,  and  cou'd  hardly  find  his  way  out  of  the  room  in 
consequence  of  the  smoke,  and  George  told  him,  he  thought  it  must 
be  his  purgatory  he  had  put  him  into.  They  consented  to  his  ex- 
pending between  two  and  three  pounds,  to  repair  the  room  so  as  to 
keep  out  the  rain  and  improve  the  draft  of  the  chimney  ;  and  when 
it  was  done,  they  took  him  out  of  it,  and  put  him  in  another  that 
had  neither  hearth  nor  chimney,  and  which  being  close  to  the  sea, 
the  wind  would  blow  the  rain  and  spray  into  it,  "  so  that,"  he  says, 
"  the  water  came  so  over  my  bed,  and  ran  about  the  room,  that  I 
was  fain  to  skim  it  wp  with  a  platter."  Here,  his  friends  shut  out 
from  him  —  for  though  many  travelled  far  to  see  him,  almost  every 
one  was  denied  admittance  —  he  was  obliged  to  make  what  arrange- 
ment he  could  with  others,  to  supply  him  with  the  necessaries  of  life, 
and  sometimes  the  soldiers  would  take  for  themselves  the  food  and 
drink  that  was  purchased  with  his  money.  His  food  was  generally 
bread,  and  water  with  wormwood  steeped  in  it.  When  his  clothes 
were  wet  with  the  rain,  he  had  no  fire  to  dry  them,  and  in  conse- 
quence, his  body  and  limbs  became  greatly  swollen. 

But  neither  the  inhumanity  of  his  oppressors  nor  the  sufferings  of 
his  body,  could  overcome  his  Christian  patience  and  fortitude,  nor 
induce  him  to  forego  the  })rineiples  and  practices  he  had  learned  in 
the  school  of  Christ.  Many  persons  of  note  in  the  world  came  to 
see  him,  some  to  tantalize  him,  and  some  to  find  fault  with  his  reli- 
gious views  ;  but  they  always  found  him  prepared  to  give  a  reason 
for  the  hope  that  was  in  him,  and  often  to  declare  unto  them  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  Threats  of  violence  were  often  made,  and 
on  one  occasion  the  Deputy  Governor  told  him,  the  King,  knowing 
the  influence  he  had  among  the  people,  had  sent  down  an  order, 
that  if  there  should  be  any  stir  in  the  nation,  to  hang  him  over  the 
wall  of  the  castle.     But  none  of  these  things  moved  him,  and  on 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  323 

another  occasion,  when  they  were  talking  much  about  hanging  him, 
he  tokl  them,  "  If  that  was  what  they  desired,  and  it  was  permitted 
them,  I  was  ready,  for  I  never  feared  death  nor  sufferings  in  ray 
life,  but  I  was  known  to  be  an  innocent,  peaceable  man ;  free  from 
all  stirrings  and  plottings,  and  one  that  sought  the  good  of  all  men." 

Thus  with  Christian  love  and  constancy  he  retui-ned  good  for 
evil,  and  finally  so  wrought  upon  the  Governor  and  officers,  that 
their  conduct  towards  him  was  entirely  changed,  and  they  came  to 
treat  him  with  respect,  and  even  kindness.  The  officers  in  speaking 
of  him  to  others  would  say,  "  He  was  as  stiff  as  a  tree  and  as  pure 
as  a  bell,  for  we  could  never  bow  him." 

After  being  immured  in  Scarborough  more  than  a  year,  George 
Fox  addressed  a  letter  to  the  King,  giving  an  account  of  the  cause 
of  his  imprisonment,  and  the  cruel  usage  he  had  received  from  the 
hands  of  those  who  had  charge  of  him,  and  that  he  had  been  in- 
formed no  one  but  the  King  could  release  him.  He  had  previously, 
on  the  occasion  of  the  Governor  of  the  Castle  going  to  London,  re- 
quested him  to  speak  to  Esquire  Marsh  and  some  others  of  influ- 
ence, respecting  his  case,  the  severity,  and  length  in  time,  of  his 
sufferings,  &c. ;  which,  on  his  return,  the  Governor  assured  him  he 
had  done,  and  that  Mai'sh  had  said,  he  would  "go  a  hundred  miles 
barefoot"  for  his  liberty.  Two  Friends  in  London  called  on 
Esquire  Marsh,  who  willingly  undertook,  if  a  correct  account  of 
George  Fox's  case  was  drawn  up,  to  have  it  delivered  to  the  Master 
of  Requests,  and  thus  brought  before  the  King.  This  was  accord- 
ingly done,  and  the  King  signed  an  order  for  his  release.  So  soon 
as  the  order  was  obtained,  one  of  the  Friends,  John  Whitehead, 
carried  it  down  to  Scarborough,  and  delivered  it  to  the  Governor 
of  the  Castle.  Upon  its  receipt,  the  Governor  interposing  no  ob- 
structions and  requiring  no  sureties,  released  his  prisoner;  furnish- 
ing him  with  a  passjwrt  as  follows  : 

"  Permit  the  bearer  hereof,  George  Fox,  late  a  prisoner  here,  and 
now  discharged  by  his  Majesty's  order,  quietly  to  pass  about  his 
lawful  occasions,  without  molestation.  Given  under  my  hand  at 
Scarborough  Castle,  this  first  day  of  September,  1666. 

Jordan  Crosland,  Governor  of  the  Castle." 

So  happy  was  the  effect  of  G.  Fox's  Christian  conduct  on  the 
Governor,  that  ever  after  he  treated  Friends  kindly,  and  did  wliat 
he  could  to  shield  them.  G.  Fox  observes,  it  was  remarkable  that 
very  many  of  those  wlio  were  instrumental  in  bringing  himself  and 
other  Friends  uikUt  the  action  of  the  Court,  by  which  he  was  pre- 


324  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

niuniriMl,  and  in  subjefting  him  to  the  cruelty  inflicted  on  him  in 
prison,  soon  after  either  died,  or  fell  into  practices  that  obliged  them 
to  flee  out  of  the  country.  Four  of  the  Magistrates  active  in  the 
Court,  died  in  a  comparatively  short  time  after,  as  did  the  constable 
and  the  deputy  constable,  the  jailer  at  Lancaster,  and  the  Sheritf'; 
BO  that  when  G.  Fox  was  again  in  that  country,  nearly  all  his  old 
persecutors  were  gone.  Colonel  Kirby,  though  not  cut  oft"  by  death, 
never  prospered  after. 

It  has  been  mentioned  that  Margaret  Fell,  after  pleading  her  own 
cause,  informed  the  Court  she  had  employed  counsel  to  examine  the 
indictment,  and  show  cause  why  she  should  not  have  sentence 
passed  upon  her.  The  next  morning  her  counsel  pointed  out  many 
errors  in  the  indictment,  and  pleaded  for  arrest  of  judgment.  But 
the  Judge  refused  to  recognize  these  errors,  and  proceeded  to  pass 
sentence  on  her,  which  was,  that  "  She  be  put  out  of  the  King's 
protection,  and  forfeit  all  her  estate,  real  and  personal  to  the  King, 
and  suffer  imprisonment  during  life."  In  the  account  of  this  perse- 
cution which  was  published,  she  says,  in  reference  to  the  close  of 
her  trial :  "  But  the  great  God  of  heaven  and  earth,  supported  my 
spirit  under  this  severe  sentence,  so  that  I  was  not  terrified  ;  but 
gave  this  answer  to  Judge  Turner,  who  passed  the  sentence,  '  Al- 
though I  am  out  of  the  King's  protection,  yet  I  am  not  out  of  the 
protection  of  Almighty  God."  She  complained  to  the  Court  that 
the  room  in  which  she  was  imprisoned,  admitted  the  rain  freely,  and 
was  not  fit  for  any  human  being  to  remain  in.  The  Judge  said  this 
ought  not  to  be ;  but  it  does  not  appear  that  any  change  was  made  ; 
and  this  well  educated,  noble  woman,  who,  her  life  long,  had  been 
accustomed  to  all  the  domestic  comforts  and  refinements  of  good 
society,  was  incarcerated  in  that  dismal  cell ;  where  she  remained 
twenty  months  before  she  could  persuade  her  jailer  to  allow  her  to 
go  home  for  a  short  time  to  see  her  family ;  and  after  her  return 
she  was  kept  prisoner  four  more  years.     [166-4.] 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  325 


CHAPTER  XVIIL 

Arrest  and  Trial  of  F.  Howgil  —  Imprisonment  and  Death  of  F.  Howgil  — 
John  Avidiand  —  Suffering  on  account  of  Titlies  —  Value  of  the  Testimonies 
suffered  for  —  Conventicle  Act  —  Short  imprisonments  of  Friends,  in  order 
to  transport  them  on  tiie  third  offence  —  Trials  at  Hertford  —  Cruel  conduct 
at  London — Trials  at  London — Judge's  charge  —  Dead  bodies  of  two 
Friends  seized  and  secretly  buried  —  Grand  Jury  threatened  for  not  finding 
a  Bill  against  Friends— Hannah  Trigg— False  witnesses  —  Sentence  of 
Banislmient  —  Refusal  of  Captains  to  cany  Friends  away  —  Banished 
Friends  put  on  Shore  —  P^mbargo  laid  on  ail  vessels  that  would  not  carry 
Quakers — Mortality  in  Prisons — Persecution  in  the  Isle  of  Man. 

'^pO WARDS  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1663,  Francis  Howgil 
J-  being  engaged  in  his  lawful  business  at  the  market-place  in 
Kendall,  was  taken  by  the  high  constable  before  some  Magistrates 
who  were  sitting  at  a  tavern  •  who  tendered  him  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance, and  committed  him  to  prison,  there  to  be  kept  until  the  next 
session  of  the  Court  to  be  held  at  Appleby.  When  brought  before 
the  Court,  which  was  held  by  Judge  Twisden,  the  usual  course  was 
pursued  of  tendering  the  oath,  and  an  indictment  was  found  by  a  jury. 

The  Judge  seemed  inclined  to  moderation,  offering  Francis  until 
the  next  assizes  to  prepare  for  his  trial ;  but  requiring  that  he  should 
give  surety  for  his  appearance  at  the  Court,  and  for  his  good  be- 
havior, and  that  he  would  not  go  to  meeting,  in  the  mean  time.  To 
this,  however,  Francis  objected,  offering  to  give  his  word  that,  un- 
less something  should  occur  that  would  prevent,  he  would  be  pres- 
ent when  called  for,  but  declining  to  give  surety  for  good  behavior, 
or  not  to  attend  meeting.  Two  of  the  Justices  —  Flemming  and 
Musgrave  —  were  very  bitter  against  him,  the  former,  representing 
that  as  Francis  "  was  a  great  speaker  among  the  Quakers,  if  they 
got  rid  of  him,  probably  they  [the  Quakers]  could  not  get  along 
without  him.  The  latter  thought  the  Courts  were  not  sufficiently 
severe  on  the  Quakers;  for  notwithstanding  all  that  was  done,  they 
continued  to  hold  their  meetings  and  to  increase.  Francis  was  re- 
manded to  jail  until  the  next  assizes. 

When  brought  before  the  Court  at  its  next  session,  Judge  Turner 
presided,  and  F.  Howgil  pre^sentcd  a  {)ai)er  in  which  he  declared  he 
was  bound  U)  observe  tiie  substance  of  all  that  was  contained  in  the 
oatii,  and  was  ready  so  to  declare  before  the  Court;  and  he  desired 
that  it  might  be  taken,  instead  of  his  being  required  to  swear,  as  he 


326  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

declined  that,  solely  on  the  <i;rouiid  of  conscientious  scruple.  There 
was  much  passed  in  relation  to  the  principles  of  Friends,  us  reirards 
swearinii;,  declining  to  own  the  "Church  "  established  by  law,  and  the 
obligation  to  obey  all  laws  which  did  not  contravene  the  commands 
of  Christ.  But  the  Judge  not  being  prepared  to  controvert  what 
Francis  advanced,  finally  required  him  to  speak  to  the  indictment 
and  nothing  else.  It  then  appeared,  that  although  Judge  Twisden 
had  given  him  until  this  assize  to  traverse  the  indictment,  Francis 
had  never  been  allowed  to  have  a  copy  of  it  nor  to  hear  it  read. 
The  Judge  paid  no  regard  to  this,  but  ordered  the  jury  to  find  a 
verdict,  which  they  did,  of  guilty.  In  the  course  of  the  interlocu- 
tion that  occurred  after  the  prisoner  was  asked  what  he  had  to 
say,  why  sentence  should  not  be  passed  upon  him,  F.  Howgil 
cited  several  authors,  who  showed  that  for  the  first  three  hun- 
dred years  of  the  Christian  era,  the  disciples  of  Christ  refused  to 
swear,  and  that  at  different  times  since,  very  many  Christians  de- 
clared it  to  be  contrary  to  Christ's  command.  The  Judge  ex- 
pressed his  surprise  at  this,  but  would  not  allow  it  to  have  any 
weight. 

"Judge. —  Well,  I  see  you  will  not  swear,  nor  conform,  nor  be 
subject,  and  you  think  we  deal  severely  with  you,  but  if  you  would 
be  subject,  we  should  not  need. 

F.  Howgil. —  Yes,  I  do  so  think  indeed,  that  you  deal  severely 
with  us  for  obedience  to  the  command  of  Christ.  I  pray  thee, 
canst  thou  show  me  that  any  of  those  people  for  whom  this  act  was 
made,  have  been  proceeded  against  by  the  statute  ?  though  I  envy 
no  man's  liberty. 

Judge. — O,  yes!  I  can  instance  you  many  up  and  down  the  counti-y 
that  are  premunired.  I  have  pronounced  sentence  myself  against 
divers. 

F.  Howgil. —  What!  against  Papists? 

Judge. —  No. 

F.  Howgil. —  What  then!  against  Quakers  ?  So  I  have  heard. 
It  seems  then,  that  Statute  which  was  made  against  the  Papists, 
thou  lettest  them  alone,  and  executest  it  against  the  Quakers. 

Jutlge. —  Well,  you  will  meet  in  great  numbers,  and  do  increase  ; 
but  there  is  a  new  Statute  ivhich  will  make  you  fexver. 

F.  Howgil. —  Well,  if  we  must  suffer,  it  is  for  Christ's  sake,  and 
for  well  doing. 

Judge. —  In  a  faint  low  voice. —  You  are  put  out  of  the  King's 
protection,  and  the  benefits  of  the  laws.     Your  lands  are  confiscated 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  327 

to  the  King  during  your  life,  and  your  goods  and  chattels  forever 
and  you  are  to  be  prisoner  during  your  life. 

F.  Howgil. —  Hard  sentence  for  obeying  the  command  of  Christ ; 
but  I  am  content,  and  in  perfect  peace  with  the  Lord  ;  and  the  Lord 
forgive  you  all. 

Judge. —  Well,  if  you  will  yet  be  subject  to  the  laws,  the  King 
will  show  you  mercy. 

F.  Howgil.^  The  Lord  hath  showed  mercy  to  me,  and  I  have 
done  nothing  against  the  King,  nor  the  government,  nor  any  man, 
blessed  be  the  Lord,  and  therein  stands  my  peace.  It  is  for  Christ's 
sake  I  suffer,  and  not  for  evil  doing." 

He  was  then  sent  back  to  prison,  where  he  was  kept  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  near  the  close  of  the  year  1668.  His  wife 
and  some  Friends  were  allowed  to  be  with  him  during  the  time  of 
his  last  sickness,  to  whom  he  spoke  repeatedly  of  his  peaceful  feel- 
ings, and  his  full  confidence  that  the  Lord  would  support  all  those 
who  were  faithful  in  maintaining  his  cause.  Among  other  ex- 
pressions are  the  following :  "  I  say  again,  God  will  ow  n  his  people, 
even  all  those  that  are  faithful ;  and  as  for  me,  I  am  well,  and  am 
content  to  die.  I  am  not  at  all  afraid  of  death  ;  and  truly  one 
thing  was  of  late  in  my  heart,  which  I  intended  to  have  written  to 
George  Fox  and  others,  even  that  which  I  have  observed  ;  which  is, 
That  this  generation  passeth  fast  away.  We  see  many  good  and 
precious  Friends,  within  these  few  years,  have  been  taken  from  us, 
and  therefore  Friends  have  need  to  watch,  and  be  very  faithful,  so 
that  we  may  leave  a  good,  and  not  a  bad  savor,  to  the  next  succeed- 
ing generation;  for  you  see  that  it  is  but  a  little  time  that  any  of 
us  have  to  stay  here."  "  He  was  content  to  die,  and  was  ready ; 
and  he  praised  God  for  the  many  sweet  enjoyments  and  refresh- 
ments he  had  received  on  that,  his  prison-house  bed,  whereon  he  lay, 
freely  forgiving  all  who  had  a  hand  in  his  restraint."  A  little  while 
before  his  departure,  he  said,  "  I  have  sought  the  way  of  the  Lord 
from  a  child,  and  have  lived  innocently  as  among  men,  and  if  any 
inquire  concerning  ray  latter  end,  let  them  know  that  I  die  in  the 
faith  in  which  I  lived,  and  suffered  for."  He  had  been  in  that 
prison  over  four  years. 

Amid  the  severe  suffering  meted  out  to  those  who  stood  unflinch- 
ingly for  the  doctrines  and  testimonies  held  by  Friends,  in  the  year 
166;>,  died  Joliii  Audland  ;  who  as  has  been  before  mentioned,  was 
one  of  those  ministers,  that  with  many  more  people  were  convinced 
of  the  truth,  at  the  memorable  meeting  at  Firbank  Chapel  in  1652. 


328  FRTEXDS     IN    THE 

He  was  one  of  the  fir.^t  ministers  wlio  ongaa:e<l  in  tliat  service  before 
the  Society  was  fully  formed,  and  was  eminently  instrumental  in 
spreading  a  knowledge  of  the  doctrine  of  the  Light  of  Christ,  be- 
stowed on  every  man  to  bring  him  salvation,  and  the  gospel  testi- 
monii's  springing  from  it.  Though  at  the  time  of  his  convincement 
occupving  a  priest's  office,  and  having  a  congregation  among  the 
Independents,  when  he  heard  the  gospel  preached  with  convincing 
power,  by  one  who  had  comparatively  little  of  the  learning  of  the 
schools,  he  confessed  that  all  his  great  profession  availed  nothing, 
for  "The  day  of  the  Lord  was  upon  it,  and  the  fire  of  his  Word 
consumed  it  as  dry  stubble."  He  submitted  to  take  up  the  daily 
cross,  and  to  bear  wliat  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  lay  upon  him,  in 
order  to  obtain  that  peace  which  Christ  bestows  upon  his  humble, 
cross-bearing  disciples.  He  became  a  zealous  minister,  spending  his 
time,  strength  and  sul)stance  freely,  for  the  promotion  of  the  cause 
he  had  espoused  ;  and  when  he  came  to  lay  down  his  life,  though 
his  frame  was  greatly  wasted  by  Consumption,  and  his  physical 
strength  prostrated,  yet  he  was  enabled  to  praise  his  Redeemer  for 
all  his  tender  mercies  to  his  soul,  and  to  pour  it  out  in  fervent  prayer, 
that  Friends  "  might  be  preserved  in  the  Truth,  out  of  the  evil  of 
the  world,"  and  that  "  the  gospel  might  be  spread  and  published,  to 
the  gathering  of  all  that  pertain  to  Israel."  He  was  thirty-four 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

The  brief  accounts  given  of  the  trials  at  different  courts  of  the 
Friends  mentioned,  are  representative  of  large  numbers  that  took 
place  at  almost,  if  not  quite  every  session,  in  different  parts  of  the 
kingdom  ;  representative,  as  to  the  arbitrary  and  unjust  character 
of  the  proceedings,  and  the  vindictive  punishment  inflicted,  for  no 
other  offence  than  obeying  the  dictates  of  an  enlightened  and  sensitive 
conscience.  The  jails  were  kept  crowded  not  only  with  those  who 
were  arrested  and  punished  for  being  found  convened  for  the  pur- 
pose of  Divine  worship,  and  those  who  scrupled  to  take  an  oath  ; 
but  also  with  hundreds  of  Friends  who  were  prosecuted  for  tithes. 

The  suffering  from  the  latter  cause,  was  very  severe ;  for  not  only 
was  the  head  of  and  provider  for  the  family,  often  shut  up  in  jail, 
Avhere  he  was  not  allowed  to  do  anything  for  the  support  of  his 
family,  but  seizures  of  cattle,  goods  and  furniture,  were  frequently 
so  remorselessly  made,  that  little  or  nothing  was  left  for  the  use 
or  support  of  the  wife  and  dependent  children.  Great  havoc  was 
al  o  made  of  the  property  —  often  small  in  amount  —  of  Friends, 
on  whom  fines  were  imposed  for  some  religious  act,  construed  into  a 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  329 

crime.  Tluis  thousands  of  pounds  were  forcibly  distrained,  from 
those  who  dare  not  do  otherwise  than  act  in  accordance  with  the  re- 
ligion of  Clirist,  as  they  understood  it,  and  stand  as  witnesses  to  the 
self-denying  requirements  of  his  gospel,  as  He  had  sealed  them  b\ 
his  Spirit  on  their  understandings.  As  the  great  body  of  the  Society 
was  composed  of  those  who  were  in  the  middle  and  the  humbler 
walks  of  life,  dependent  on  their  own  exertions  for  the  means  of 
subsistence,  it  may  be  readily  conceived  into  how  great  straits,  and 
often  positive  suffering,  those  dependent  on  the  labor  of  the  hands 
of  the  head  of  a  family,  were  often  brought,  when  the  little  substance 
possessed  was  swept  away,  or  the  caretaker  shut  up  in  prison  by 
some  unjust  judge,  bent  on  forcing  him  into  conformity,  or  some 
avaricious  priest,  determined  to  exact  the  last  penny  of  tithes  which 
the  law,  and  it  alone,  awarded  him. 

To  meet,  and  as  far  as  possible  relieve  the  distress  thus  caused  ; 
accounts  of  suffering  were  sent  up  regularly  to  Friends  in  London, 
and  subscripti(Mis  raised  from  the  brethren  throughout  the  whole 
land  ;  so  that  pecuniary  help  could  be  extended  where  needed,  by 
suitable  committees,  and  no  Friend  or  his  fomily  be  allowed  to  be- 
come dependent  on  public  charity. 

It  is  no  easy  thing,  unless  brought  under  the  same  government  of 
the  Spirit  of  Christ,  that  required  Friends  of  that  day  to  maintain 
these  testimonies,  in  the  midst  of  that  crooked  and  perverse  genera- 
tion, to  realize  their  unalterable  importance,  or  rightly  to  estimate 
the  painful  cost,  at  which  those  valiant  soldiers  of  the  cross,  finally 
purchased  the  enjoyment  of  the  right  of  liberty  of  conscience,  and 
transmitted  to  succeeding  generations  the  privilege  of  possessing  in 
peace  and  quietness,  the  full  exercise  of  the  duties  belonging  to  the 
religion  of  Christ;  a  privilege  which  very  many  of  them  laid  down 
their  lives,  in  their  efforts  to  secure. 

Disappointed  in  the  result  of  the  persecuting  laws  made  in  former 
reigns,  and  again  brought  into  operation,  and  dissatisfied  with  the 
failure  of  the  Act  directed  specifically  against  Quakers,  to  prevent 
them  from  holding  their  meetings  for  Divine  worship,  or  to  lessen 
their  nundxn-,  it  was  decided  by  the  Council  and  Parliament,  to  re- 
sort to  other  measures  for  ridding  the  country  of  non-conformists, 
and  especially  tin;  irrepressible  Society  of  Friends. 

In  the  trial  of  Francis  Ilowgil,  Judge  Twisdeu  told  him,  "There 
is  a  new  statute  which  will  make  you  fewer."  This  statute  was  enti- 
tUid  "  An  Act  to  Pi'cvent  and  Suppress  Seditious  Conventicles."  The 
avowed  object  of  lliis  Act,  was  to  "provide  furLher  an  1  more  speedy 


330  FRIEXDS    IN    THE 

remedies,  against  the  growing  and  dangerous  practices  of  seditious 
sectaries  and  other  disloyal  persons,  who,  under  pretence  of  tender 
consciences,  do  at  their  meetings  contrive  insurrections,  as  late  ex- 
perience hath  showed."  It  was  apparently  aimed  at  all  non-con- 
formists, and  as  it  was  well  known  that  the  princi])les  held  by 
Friends,  restrained  them  from  taking  part  in  any  insurrection,  or 
movement  hostile  to  the  government,  and  as  their  whole  deportment 
and  published  declarations  had  shown,  they  were  strictly  and  prac- 
tically governed  by  those  principles ;  patiently  and  passively  sub- 
mitting to  the  laws  that  inflicted  such  severe  punishment  on  thera, 
it  might  have  been  supposed  this  law  was  not  intended  to  apply  to 
them,  and  would  not  be  enforced  upon  them.  But  it  is  worthy  of 
note,  that  the  penalties  of  fine  and  imprisonment  which  it  prescribes, 
were  but  rarely  imposed  on  members  of  other  dissenting  Societies, 
and  it  is  doubtful,  whether  sentence  of  banishment  was  executed 
under  it  in  England,  upon  any  but  Friends.  It  was  not  so  much 
to  impose  new  punishments,  as  to  make  the  convictions  more  speedy, 
and  the  penalties  to  be  inflicted  more  immediate  and  certain.  It 
provided,  [1664]  "That  if  any  person  of  the  age  of  sixteen  years  or 
upwards,  being  a  subject  of  this  realm,  at  any  time  after  the  first  day 
of  July,  which  shall  be  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  six 
hundred  sixty  and  four,  shall  be  present  at  any  assembly,  conven- 
ticle or  meeting,  under  color  or  pretence  of  any  exercise  of  religion, 
in  other  manner  than  is  allowed  by  the  liturgy  or  practice  of  the 
Church  of  England,  in  any  place  within  the  kingdom  of  England, 
dominion  of  Wales,  and  town  of  Berwick-upon-Tweed  ;  at  which 
conventicle,  meeting,  or  assembly,  there  shall  be  five  persons  or  more 
assembled  together,  over  and  above  those  of  the  same  household  ; 
then  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  to  and  for  any  two  justices  of  the 
peace  of  the  county,  limit,  division,  or-  liberty  wherein  the  ofience 
aforesaid  shall  be  committed,  or  for  the  chief  magistrate  of  the  place 
■where  such  ofience  aforesaid  shall  be  committed,  (if  it  be  within  a 
corporation  where  there  are  not  two  justices  of  the  peace,)  (2)  and 
they  are  hereby  required  and  enjoined  upon  proof  to  them  or 
him  respectively  made  of  such  offence,  either  by  confession  of  the 
party,  or  oath  of  witness,  or  notorious  evidence  of  the  fact,  (which 
oath  the  said  justices  of  the  peace,  and  chief  magistrate  respectively, 
are  hereby  empowered  and  required  to  administer,)  to  make  a  record 
of  every  such  offence  and  offences  under  their  hands  and  seals  re- 
spectively;  (3)  which  record  so  made,  as  aforesaid,  sliall  to  all  intents 
and  imrposes,  he  in  law  taken  and  adjudged  to  be  a  full  and  perfect 


SEVENTEEXTIT    CENTURY.  331 

oonviction  of  such  offender  for  such  offence ;  and  thereupon  the  said, 
justices  and  chief  magistrate  respectiveli/,  shall  commit  every  such 
offender,  so  convicted  as  aforesaid, Ho  the  jail  or  house  of  correction, 
there  to  remain  without  bail  or  mainprise,  for  any  time  not  exceed- 
ing the  space  of  three  months  ;  unless  such  offender  shall  pay  down 
to  the  said  justices  or  chief  magistrate,  such  sum  of  money  not 
exceeding  five  pounds,  as  the  said  justices  or  chief  magistrate  (who 
are  hereby  thereunto  authorized  and  required)  shall  fine  the  said 
offender  at,  for  his  or  her  said  offence."  The  money  to  go  for  the 
relief  of  the  poor  of  the  parish. 

For  the  second  offence,  convicted  in  the  same  manner,  the  fine  or 
iinprisonment  was  to  be  doubled. 

For  the  third  offence,  convicted  in  the  same  manner,  the  "  offender  " 
is  to  be  committed  to  jail  or  house  of  correction  until  the  next  ses- 
sion of  Court,  where  he  is  to  be  indicted,  and  tried,  and  if  found 
guilty,  he  "  shall  be  transported  beyond  the  seas,  to  any  of  his  Maj- 
esty's foreign  plantations  (Virginia  and  New  England  excepted), 
for  seven  years,  or  to  pay  one  hundred  pounds,"  &c.  In  case  such 
banished  persons  escape  or  return  before  the  end  of  the  time  speci- 
fied, they  shall  be  adjudged  to  be  felons,  and  suffer  death,  "  ivithout 
benefit  of  clergy."  Justices,  Sheriffs,  or  any  person  they  may 
deputize,  are  authorized  to  break  up  all  such  conventicles  or  un- 
lawful assemblies,  and  to  take  into  custody  as  many  of  the  company 
assembled  as  they  may  think  proper. 

Persons  who  allowed  their  dwi'llings,  barns  or  other  houses  to  be 
used  for  holding  these  conventicles,  were  liable  to  the  same  pains 
and  penalties  as  those  who  attended  them. 

If  any  one  sentenced  to  transportation  had  not  property  sufficient 
to  defray  all  the  expense,  he  was  to  be  made  over  to  the  master  of 
the  ship,  or  his  assigns,  to  serve  as  a  laborer  for  five  years. 

Fearing  perhaps  that  some  of  the  subordinate  officers  might  have 
too  much  humanity  to  carry  the  law  into  complete  execution,  it  was 
provided,  that  should  any  constable  or  other  officer  neglect  or  refuse 
to  execute  the  warrants  and  distraints  granted  and  ordered  under 
this  law,  such  officer  shall  forfeit  five  pounds  for  every  such  neglect 
or  refusal,  one  half  of  that  sum  to  be  given  to  whoever  may  bring 
suit  therefor  ;  and  if  any  jailer  permit  a  person  who  has  been  com- 
mitted to  his  custody  for  any  offence  under  this  Act,  to  go  at  large ; 
or  shall  permit  any  person  at  large,  to  join  with  such  prisoner  in 
any  act  of  worship  "  differing  from  the  rites  of  the  church  of  Eng- 
land," he  shall  forfeit  the  sum  often  pounds  for  every  such  offence. 


332  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

By  the  last  provision  it  was  determined  to  pnt  a  stop  to  a  prisoner 
(a  Friend)  visiting  liis  family  for  a  short  time,  so  as  to  see  after 
their  means  of  maintenance  :  anti  also  to  prevent  any  who  were  not 
])risoners,  but  were  visiting  those  who  were,  uniting  with  them  in 
meetings  for  worship. 

The  iniquitous  character  and  cruel  provisions  of  this  Act,  drew 
forth  expositions  and  comments,  not  only  from  Friends,  but  from 
persons  of  other  religious  Societies.  Its  interference  with  what 
might  occur  in  the  privacy  of  domestic  life ;  its  encouragement  of 
eaves-droppers  and  informers  ;  its  contemplated  effect  of  sending  out 
of  the  country  numerous  citizens  of  good  moral  repute,  industrious, 
and  contributing  to  the  public  welfare  and  wealth;  whereby  hus- 
bands and  wives  would  be  separated,  and  families  of  helpless  chil- 
dren might  be  left  destitute  and  with  none  to  care  for  them,  were 
set  forth  ;  and  those  in  power  were  warned,  that  such  wickedness 
would  sooner  or  later  bring  the  judgments  of  an  offended  God  upon 
the  people.  George  Whitehead  published  a  pamphlet,  in  which,  after 
showing  the  irrational  and  unchristian  course  pursued  by  the  govern- 
ment, and  the  injustice  and  inhumanity  that  must  accompany  the 
execution  of  the  law,  he  declared  that  Friends  could  no  more  ado})t 
the  suggestion  made  by  some  who  professed  to  desire  they  should 
not  suflTer  by  it,  of  meeting  in  their  own  houses  privately  to  the  num- 
ber of  five,  for  worship,  than  Daniel  could  have  made  his  prayers 
secretly,  and  not  with  open  windows,  three  times  a  day,  after  the 
King  had  issued  his  decree  forbidding  it.  "  Since  then,"  he  says, 
"  our  meetings  are  kept  in  obedience  to  the  Lord  God,  and  according 
to  the  freedom  he  hath  given  us,  we  may  not  leave  off'our  tedimony 
for  God  in  that  case ;  but  we  must  be  faithful  to  Him,  whatever  we 
suffer  on  that  account.  For  neither  the  threateuings  of  men,  nor 
their  severity  nor  cruelty  acted  against  us,  how  far  soever  it  may  be 
extended,  can  make  us  to  forsake  the  Lord  in  not  keeping  our  asfseni- 
blies,  or  to  be  ashamed  of  Christ  before  men,  lest  hereafter  He  be 
ashamed  of  us  before  his  Father  which  is  in  heaven." 

Such  was  the  unscrupulous  haste  with  which  the  enemies  of 
Friends  sought  to  carry  out  what  they  fondly  hoped  would  prove  the 
means  of  their  extermination,  that  although  the  law  did  not  go  into 
effect  until  the  first  of  the  Seventh  month,  in  the  year  1664,  yet  t)n 
the  12th  and  13th  of  the  next  month,  eight  Friends  were  arraigned 
before  Orlando  Bridgemau,  presiding  over  the  Court  held  in  Hert- 
ford ;  being  indicted  for  the  third  oflfence  under  this  Conventicle  Act. 

Fully  aware  that  Friends  acted  in  this  matter  from  a  sense  of  re- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  333 

ligious  duty  ;  and  let  the  consequences  be  what  they  might,  they  dare 
not  decline  the  due  attendance  at  tlieir  places  for  public  worship, 
their  persecutors  resolved  to  avail  themselves  of  this  faithfulness  to 
the  requiring  of  their  Divine  Master,  in  order  to  hasteu  their  ban- 
ishment from  their  native  land.  Accordingly,  after  violently  as- 
saulting and  breaking  up  a  meeting,  the  Magistrates  would  send 
large  numbers  to  jail,  to  be  kept  there  for  a  few  days.  This  consti- 
tuted the  first  offence.  When  set  at  liberty  ;  for  many  of  them  were 
not  detained  for  the  small  fine  imposed — the  same  individuals  would 
soon  be  found  at  their  meetings  again,  and  being  arrested  and  once 
more  committed  for  a  short  time,  the  same  course  was  pursued  ;  un- 
til, on  the  third  arrest  and  committal,  they  were  indicted  therefor, 
and  held  liable  to  banishment.  Thus,  from  the  middle  of  the  Seventh 
month,  to  the  end  of  the  first  week  in  the  Ninth  month,  in  1664, 
there  were  nine  hundred  and  seventy  Friends  taken  from  the  differ- 
ent meetings  in  London,  at  different  times,  and  committed  to  Bride- 
well or  Newgate. 

At  the  trial  at  Hertford,  before  Judge  Bridgeman,  though  the 
witnesses  swore  the  prisoners  had  met  together  over  the  number  of 
five,  and  were  taken  at  the  times  and  places  specified,  yet  they  could 
not  say  they  heard  any  of  them  speak,  or  do  anything  when  in  the 
meeting  ;  they  were  merely  sitting  still.  After  hearing  the  evidence, 
the  grand  jury  thought  it  insufficient  to  prove  the  indictment,  and 
they  returned  it  ignoramus.  As  this  was  a  legal  return,  and  given 
in  due  form,  the  prisoners  should  have  been  discharged  thereon, 
but  the  Judge  was  not  willing  to  be  so  quickly  deprived  of  his  prey; 
and  addressing  the  jury,  he  said,  angrily,  "My  masters,  what  do 
ye  mean  to  do  ?  will  ye  make  a  nose  of  wax  of  the  law,  and  suffer 
the  law  to  be  baffled?  Those  that  think  to  deceive  the  law,  the  law 
will  deceive  them.  Why  do  ye  not  find  the  bill?"  One  of  the 
jury  replying,  it  became  them  to  be  wary,  for  they  were  upon  men's 
lives,  for  aught  they  knew.  No,  said  the  Judge,  I  desire  not  their 
lives,  but  their  reformation.  He  then  sent  them  out  again,  with 
such  instructions,  that  when  they  returned  they  had  found  the  bill. 

When  arraigned,  the  usual  question  of  guilty  or  not  guilty  being 
put  to  the  four,  who  were  to  be  tried  together,  they  replied  not 
guilty,  and  further,  that  they  had  transgressed  no  just  law.  But, 
said  the  Judge,  "  ye  have  ti'ansgressed  this  law,"  having  the  "  Con- 
venticle Act "  in  his  hand.  He  then  told  them,  that  having  been 
twice  convicted  before,  of  the  same  offence,  as  the  record  proved,  if 
they  were  now  found  guilty  the  sentence  would  be  transportation 


334  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

for  seven  years ;  and  to  show  them  that  lie  had  no  wish  to  pusli  the 
hiw  to  its  liigliest  severity,  but,  if  possible,  to  induce  them  to  con- 
form, he  would  be  willing  to  pass  by  their  two  former  offences,  if 
they  would  promise  not  to  go  any  more  to  their  meetings :  but  this 
must  be  done  before  their  cases  went  to  the  jury.  He  then  put  the 
query,  "  Will  ye  promise  to  meet  no  more?"  They  answered,  they 
could  make  no  such  promise. 

In  his  charge  to  the  jury  the  Judge  instructed  them,  "Ye  arc  not 
to  expect  a  plain,  punctual  evidence  against  them  for  anything  they 
said  or  did  at  their  meeting ;  for  dumb  men  may  speak  to  one 
another,  so  as  they  may  understand  each  other  by  signs ;  and  they 
themselves  say,  that  the  worship  of  God  is  inward  in  the  Spirit,  and 
that  they  can  discern  spirits,  and  know  one  another  in  spirit.  So 
that  if  ye  find,  or  believe  in  your  hearts,  that  they  were  in  the  meet- 
ing under  color  of  religion  in  their  way,  though  they  sat  still  only, 
it  was  an  unlawful  meeting;  and  their  use  and  practice  not  accord- 
ing to  the  liturgy  of  the  church  of  England  ;  for  it  allows  and  com- 
mands when  people  meet  together  in  the  church,  that  divine  service 
shall  be  read,"  &c.  He  also  told  them  that  the  law  had  nothing 
whatever  to  do  with  conscience,  it  was  merely  to  prevent  the  govern- 
ment being  undermined,  and  that  they  must  fiud  for  the  King, 
&c.  Under  these  instructions  the  jury  in  the  course  of  an  hour 
brought  in  a  verdict  of  guilty. 

"  Judge. — Addressing  the  four  prisoners.  What  can  ye  say  for 
yourselves  that  judgment  of  transportation  should  not  pass  against 
you? 

Prisoners. — We  are  innocent,  and  have  transgressed  no  just  law. 
If  we  must  have  that  sentence,  we  give  up  our  bodies  freely  into  the 
hands  of  the  Lord  ;  the  will  of  the  Lord  be  done. 

Judge. —  Have  ye  nothing  more  to  say  ? 

Prisoners. —  Nothing,  but  that  we  are  innocent. 

Judge. — Then  hearken  to  your  sentence.  Ye  shall  be  transported 
beyond  the  seas,  to  the  Island  of  Barbadoes,  there  to  remain  seven 
years." 

To  the  two  prisoners  brought  next  before  the  Court,  the  Judge 
said,  he  had  heard  so  good  an  account  of  one  of  them,  that  he  was 
willing  to  show  them  so  much  favor,  as  to  grant  them  until  the  next 
term  of  the  Court,  to  consider  the  matter  better  for  themselves. 
They  replied.  We  have  transgressed  no  law  of  God,  nor  wronged 
any  man ;  we  desire  it  not,  we  leave  it  to  the  Court.  The  Judge  then 
said  he  would  not  grant  it.     The  other  three  prisoners  were  then 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  335 

brought  to  the  bar,  that  all  might  be  tried  together.  The  testimony 
respecting  one  of  the  latter  was  that  he  was  not  in  the  meeting,  but 
was  taken  a  short  distance  from  the  door  of  the  meeting- house,  with 
his  face  turned  from  it.  The  Judge  tried  to  impress  the  jury,  that 
in  the  latter  case,  the  circumstantial  evidence  was  sufficient  to  con- 
vict;  but  they  returned  a  verdict  of  guilty  for  four,  but  not  guilty 
for  the  other.  To  the  usual  inquiry  what  they  had  to  say  why  judg- 
ment of  transportation  should  not  be  given  against  them  ?  they  re- 
plied, "We  are  innocent,  and  have  not  offended  any  just  law  of  God 
or  man,  to  deserve  that  sentence.  We  leave  it  to  the  witness  for 
God  in  thy  and  your  consciences."  The  Judge  then  said,  "Ye have 
offended  against  this  law  —  having  the  act  before  him  —  which  is 
made  by  the  King  and  Parliament,  and  executed  by  us,  their  sub- 
ordinate ministers  ;  if  it  be  not  righteous  and  just,  we  must  answer 
for  that."  He  then  condemned  them  to  transportation  to  Jamaica, 
there  to  remain  seven  years.  Before  the  Court  rose  up,  the  Judge 
informed  the  prisoners  that  if  each  of  them  would  pay  down  one 
luindred  pounds,  before  the  Court  broke  up,  they  would  be  acquitted 
of  all  that  had  passed,  and  he  would  adjourn  until  the  afternoon  to 
give  them  time  to  think  well  of  it.  In  the  afternoon,  being  asked 
if  they  would  pay  the  £100,  they  all  answered,  No,  and  the  Court 
closed. 

Before  noticing  the  occurrences  attending  the  attempted  execu- 
tion of  the  sentences  passed  upon  these  Friends,  it  Avill  be  well  to 
s])eak  of  some  two  or  three  of  the  trials  that  took  place  in  London. 
Such,  however,  was  the  ferocious  spirit  with  which  this  extreme  of 
persecution  was  carried  on,  that  the  number  of  Friends  prosecuted 
at  different  Courts  was  so  great,  it  would  carry  this  narrative  far 
beyond  the  limits  assigned,  to  enter  into  a  detailed  account  of  one- 
fourth  of  them.  The  same  spirit  inspired  the  actors  in  these  scenes 
that  prompted  the  Puritans  in  New  England  to  torture  with  the 
stocks,  the  scourge,  and  the  branding-iron,  and,  in  the  bitterness  of 
their  vindictive  passion,  finally  to  resort  to  the  gallows,  in  order  to 
rid  themselves  of  those  who  would  bear  witness  to  tlie  truth,  and 
expose  spiritual  wickedness  in  high  places.  Sharp  and  severe  as 
were  the  means  resorted  to  for  this  purpose,  in  America,  compara- 
tively few  Friends  hjst  their  lives  there,  by  the  hands  of  those  who 
hated  them  ;  while  in  England,  hundreds  were  sacrificed  by  the  slow 
torture  inflicted  in  its  horrible  prison-houses  and  dungeons;  and 
in  some  cases,  punishments  harder  to  bear  than  death  itself,  were 
inflicted  on  citizens,  against  whom  nothing  was  charged   but  non- 


336  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

coiiforiiiity  to  the  rcliiiious  profi'ssion  establir^lied  by  law.  Tlie 
spirit  of  til  is  world  is  always  at  eninity  with  God,  and  when  it  as 
God,  sitteth  in  the  temple  of  God,  showing  itself"  that  it  has  usnrped 
the  place  of  God,  it  matters  not  what  may  be  the  outward  profession 
of  the  worshippers,  if  possessed  of  sufficient  power,  they  will  betray 
having  imbibed  more  or  less  the  spirit  of  him  who  was  a  murderer 
from  the  beginning. 

It  has  been  already  mentioned  how  large  a  number  were  crowded 
into  the  jails  in  London,  in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks  after  the  Con- 
venticle Act  took  effect.  The  same  cruel  treatment,  when  breaking 
up  a  meeting  as  before  described,  was  continued  towards  those  who 
were  found  assembled,  and  those  who  were  picked  out  for  the  i)risons. 
One  quotation  from  Besse  may  be  given  -as  an  illustration. 

"On  21st  of  the  Seventh  month  [1664],  were  comniitted  to  New- 
gate, from  Miles-end  Green  meeting-house,  eleven  persons  for  two 
days,  and  from  the  Peel,  twenty-nine  persons  for  four  days.  On  the 
same  day,  about  nine  in  the  morning,  the  City  Marshal  and  other 
officers,  with  constables  and  their  assistants,  came  to  the  Bull-and- 
Mouth  meeting,  and  haled  out  by  force  all  or  most  present,  and  then 
withdrew  into  the  street,  where  the  assembly  continued  ;  and  soou 
after,  the  doors  being  opened,  returned  into  the  house,  where  one 
began  to  preach,  but  was  instantly  haled  out,  and  sent  to  Guild-Hall. 
The  meeting  still  continuing,  the  Lord  Mayor,  with  the  Sheriffs,  and 
Alderman  Brown,  came  in.  Brown  with  his  wonted  fury,  kicked 
some,  pulled  others  by  the  hair  and  pinched  the  women's  arms  until 
they  were  black  ;  and  thus  with  his  own  hands,  shamefully  abused 
others.  The  Mayor  causing  the  doors  to  be  shut,  sent  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty-nine  of  them  to  Newgate  for  four  days;  where 
they  had  not  room  enough  to  sit  down,  nor  scarcely  to  stand,  being 
close  shut  up,  without  respect  to  age  or  sex,  among  felons  and  mur- 
derers. The  rest  of  them  —  about  twenty-seven  —  were  sent  to 
Bridewell." 

Having  by  the  course  adopted,  obtained  a  number  of  prisoners 
who  stood  committed  for  the  third  infraction  of  the  law,  it  was  re- 
solved to  bring  some  of  them  to  trial.  Accordingly  at  the  Sessions 
in  the  Old  Bailey  held  Ninth  month,  1664,  Judge  Keating  addressed 
the  grand  jury  in  relation  to  Friends  and  their  principles  ;  the  ani- 
mus of  wliicli  charge  may  be  understood  from  a  few  extracts:  •'  Be- 
cause this  day  was  appointed  for  the  trial  of  these  people,  and  inas- 
much as  many  are  come  hither,  expecting  what  will  be  done,  I  will 
say  something  concerning  them  and  their  principles,  that  tliey  may 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  337 

not  be  thouglit  worthy  of  pity,  as  suffering  more  than  they  deserve  ; 
for  they  are  a  stubborn  sect,  and  the  King  has  been  very  merciful 
to  them.  It  was  hoped  that  the  purity  of  the  Churcli  of  Engbmd, 
woul(^  ere  this,  have  convinced  them  ;  but  they  will  not  be  re- 
claimed. They  teacli  dangerous  principles :  this  for  one  ;  That  it 
is  not  lawful  to  take  an  oath.  You  must  not  think  their  leaders 
believe  this  doctrine,  only  they  persuade  these  poor  ignorant  souls 
so;  but  they  have  an  interest  to  carry  on  against  the  government, 
and  theref(n-e  will  not  swear  subjection  to  it,  and  their  end  is  rebel- 
lion and  blood.  You  may  easily  know  they  do  not  believe  them- 
selves what  they  say,  when  they  say  it  is  not  lawjal  to  take  an  oath, 
if  you  look  into  the  Scriptures.  That  text  (Matthew  v.)  where  our 
Saviour  sailh,  'Swear  not  at  all,'  will  clear  itself  from  such  a  mean- 
ing as  forbids  swearing,  if  you  look  but  into  the  next  words ;  where 
it  is  said,  '  Let  your  comimmicatioii  he  yea,  yea,  nay,  nay  f  and  it  is 
said,  *Jjt  oath  is  an  end  of  all  strife.''  This  for  the  New  Testament ; 
and  the  old  is  positive  for  swearing,  and  they  that  deny  swearing, 
deny  God  a  special  part  of  his  worship."  He  then  enters  into  a 
declamation  respecting  the  importance  of  swearing:  that  no  gov- 
ernment can  stand,  and  no  laws  be  executed  without  it,  &c.,  &c. 

He  is  not  much  n)oi'e  happy  in  his  exposition  of  the  object  in 
view,  in  thus  prosecuting  Friends  for  attending  their  meetings.  He 
says,  "  Whereas,  they  pretend  in  their  scribbles,  that  this  Act  against 
Conventicles,  doth  not  concern  them,  but  such  as,  under  pretence  of 
worshipping  God,  do,  at  their  meetings,  conspire  against  the  govern- 
ment. This  is  a  mistake, /or  if  they  should  eonsjjire,  they  would  then 
be  guilty  of  treason,  and  xve  should  try  them,  by  other  laws.  But  this 
Act  is  against  meetings;  to  prevent  them  of  such  conspiracy;  for 
they  meet  to  consult  to  know  their  numbers,  and  to  hold  corre- 
spondence, that  they  may  in  a  short  time  be  up  in  arms." 

He  then  went  on  to  inform  the  jury,  that  in  serving  his  Majesty 
at  York,  he  had  found  that  plots  were  carried  on  at  these  meetings, 
and  four  or  five  of  the  speakers,  chief  leaders  in  rebellion,  had  been 
hung;  inducing  the  jury  to  believe  they  were  Quakers.  That  the 
law  was  a  merciful  law,  merely  banishing  for  seven  years  on  the 
third  offence,  and  it  had  nothing  to  do  with  worshipping  God  accord- 
ing to  their  c(tnscience,  for  the  Quakers  could  do  that  in  their  own 
families,  if  not  more  than  five  were  present. 

After  thus  endeavoring  to  prejudice  the  jury  l)y  falsc^hood  and 
invective,  the  Judge  wished  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  trial  of  several 
of  the  prisoners,  but  it  appeared  none  but  a  boy  from  Newgate  was 
22 


338  F  R  r  E  N  D  S    IN    T  II  E 

present.  Upon  the  (jiiory  being  put  to  Jiiiii,  wlietlior  he  was  not  at 
the  Bull  and-Mouth  meeting  on  sucli  a  day?  lie  replied,  "I  was 
not."  Wlieieupon  the  Judge  observed,  that  with  all  their  preten- 
sions to  truth,  the  Quakers  could  lie,  to  promote  their  interest,  or 
escape  suffering.  The  lad  persisting  in  his  declaration,  the  Judge 
said.  We  shall  prove  you  were  tliere  ;  will  you  stand  to  your  profes- 
sion ?  Yes,  said  he,  and  seal  it  with  my  blood.  It  was  then  ordered 
that  the  witnesses  of  the  fact  be  called.  But  no  one-^could  be  found 
to  give  evidence  against  him.  The  Judge  manifested  his  angry 
maliciousness  by  observing,  "  Here  is  a  disappointment,"  and  threat- 
ening that  some  should  suffer  for  it,  dismissed  the  jury. 

Two  Fi-ieuds  who  had  been  kept  in  prison  for  some  time,  dying 
soon  after  their  release,  their  bodies  were  i>ut  in  coffins,  and  taken 
to  the  Bull-and-]Mouth  meeting-house,  in  order  that  the  burial  should 
take  place  thence.  The  Mayor  and  several  of  the  Magistrates  hear- 
ing of  this,  and  fearing  that  the  spectacle  of  the  funeral  might 
awaken  commiseration  in  the  miuds  of  those  who  witnessed  it,  issued 
an  order  to  the  churchwardens  of  the  jiarish,  to  go  that  night,  seize 
the  bodies,  and  bury  them  at  once  in  the  church-yard.  With  this 
warrant,  the  Marshal,  and  several  other  men  with  halberds,  went  at 
midnight  to  the  meeting-house,  and  roused  up  the  family  that  lived 
in  one  part  of  it.  Upon  the  latter  asking  what  was  the  matter,  and 
what  they  had  come  for  ?  the  officer  replied,  they  had  come  "  to 
search  for  a  meeting."  The  door  was  at  once  opened,  that  they 
might  see  there  was  no  meeting  being  held  ;  whereupon  they  went 
iu,  took  possession  of  the  coffins  and  their  contents,  and  carried 
them  awiiy  to  the  place  designated,  to  be  buried,  without  tlieir  fam- 
ilies or  friends  knowing  anything  about  the  matter. 

Sixteen  Friends  were  tried  at  the  sessions  in  the  Tenth  month, 
1664.  The  grand  jury,  dissatisfied  with  the  evidence,  refused  to  find 
a  bill.  The  Judges  threatened  them,  and  finding  that  wliile  they 
were  together,  they  were  unwilling  to  return  the  indictment,,  they 
took  them  apart,  and  by  threats  of  heavy  fines,  and  persuasion  that 
they  need  not  i-egard  anything  more  than  that  more  than  five  of  the 
prisoners  were  together  at  a  given  time,  they  brought  over  a  majority 
to  agree  to  find  a  bill.  One  of  the  majority  afterwards  published  a 
pamphlet  entitled,  "The  Avounded  heart,  or  the  Juryman's  Offences," 
in  which  he  confessed  how  wrong  he  had  acted,  under  the  influence 
of  fear. 

The  Friends  being  found  guilty,  when  brought  up  for  sentence  the 
next  day,  and  the  usual  question  asked,  why  sentence  should  not  be 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  339 

pronounced  against  them,  one  of  them,  a  young  girl  named  Hannah 
Trigg,  replied,  that  she  was  not  sixteen  years  of  age.  The  Judge 
told  her  "  She  lied.'"  A  certificate  signed  by  two  women,  testifying 
that  they  were  present  at  the  birth  of  Hannah  Trigg,  and  that  it 
occurred  on  the  20th  of  the  montli  called  August,  1649,  showing 
she  was  but  fifteen  years  of  age,  was  then  handed  to  the  Court;  but 
they  refused  to  take  any  notice  of  it ;  sentencing  the  girl  with  the 
others,  and  sending  her  back  to  prison.  The  Judge  was  so  con- 
fused or  confounded  when  passing  the  sentence,  that  he  declared 
the  prisoners  had  transgressed  the  laws  of  the  Commonwealth,  and 
ordered  some  of  them  to  be  transported  to  Hispaniola,  an  island 
belonging  to  Spain.  Four  married  women  were  condemned  to 
imprisonment  for  eleven  months. 

Hannah  Trigg,  who  was  but  a  delicate  girl, 'soon  sunk  under  the 
close  confinement  and  poisonous  atmosphere  of  her  prison-house,  and 
died.  The  inhuman  officers  refused  to  allow  her  mother  and  other 
relatives,  to  have  the  sad  consolation  of  paying  the  last  kind  offices 
to  her  remains ;  but  had  them  carried  to  the  ground  appropriated 
for  the  interment  of  felons  who  died  in  prison ;  and  upon  ai'riving 
there,  finding  no  grave  was  prepared,  they  left  the  corpse  on  the 
ground,  saying  they  would  make  a  grave  in  the  morning.  The 
poor  sorrowing  mother,  who  had  followed  the  dead  body  of  her 
child  to  its  last  resting-place,  could  do  no  more  than  watch  by  it 
during  the  livelong  night. 

Trials  of  similar  character  as  those  already  noticed,  were  now 
going  on  at  every  session  of  the  Court  in  London,  and  occasionally 
in  other  parts  of  England.  The  persecuting  Judges  and  Magistrates 
did  not  always  succeed  according  to  their  wishes.  In  one  case,  where 
sixteen  were  tried  before  Judge  Hide,  at  the  Old  Bailey,  such  was 
the  contradiction,  and  false  swearing  of  some  of  the  officers  who  were 
used  as  witnesses,  that  one  of  the  jury,  addressing  the  Judge,  said, 
"  My  lord,  I  beseech  you  let  us  be  troubled  with  no  more  such  evi- 
dence ;  for  we  shall  not  cast  men  on  such  evidence  as  this."  But 
the  Judge,  palliating  the  want  of  truthfulness,  rebuked  the  juryman 
for  being  too  scrupulous.  The  jury  brought  in  a  verdict  that  four 
were  "not  guilty,"  and  the  others  "guilty  of  meeting,  but  not  of 
fact."  The  Judge  beinjj^  displeased,  demanded  of  them,  what  they 
meant  by  "  not  guilty  of  fact."  They  replied,  that  though  there  was 
evidence  of  their  meeting  at  the  Bull-and-Mouth,  there  was  no  evi- 
dence of  their  meeting  contrary  to  the  liturgy  of  the  Church  of 
England.     The  Judge  tried  all   in  his  power  to  change  them  ;  but 


340  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

neither  persuasion  n<ir  menaces  could  induce  them  to  alter  tln'ir 
verdict,  and  tlie  Court,  exasperated  at  the  failure,  bound  six  of 
them  in  £100  each,  to  appear  at  the  King's  Bench  Bar,  at  the  next 
session.  By  a  publication  issued  towards  the  close  of  the  year 
(16(54,)  it  was  shown  there  were  at  that  time  between  sfx  and  seven 
hundred  Friends  in  prison,  and  the  records  prove  that  in  the  two 
years,  1(5()4  and  1065,  upwards  of  two  hundred  wer<>  scntenceil,  in 
different  })arts  of  the  nation,  to  banishment.  It  is  a  noticeable  fact, 
although  the  principal  ministers  in  the  Society  continued  their 
labors  incessantly,  going  from  place  to  place,  when  not  confined  in 
prisons,  strengthening  and  encouraging  their  fellow-members  to  stand 
firmly  in  the  midst  of  the  terrible  storm  that  was  beating  upon  them, 
yet  no  one  of  them  was  brought  to  trial  for  a  third  violation  of  the 
Act,  and  no  one  of  them  sentenced  to  banishment. 

Of  those  who  were  under  sentence  of  transportation,  some  died  in 
prison  before  passage  to  the  places  they  were  to  go,  could  be  ob- 
tained;, some  were  released  by  their  relatives,  who  were  not  Friends, 
paying  the  £100  fine,  and  there  were  a  very  few  instances  of  apos- 
tacy  from  the  faith,  and  drawing  back  in  the  last  hours  of  the  bitter 
trial.  Seven  of  the  Friends  sentenced  by  Judge  O.  Bridgeman,  at 
Hertford,  as  already  narrated,  were  brought  to  London  by  the  jailer ; 
who  agreed  with  the  Captain  of  the  ship  Anne,  of  London,  to  take 
them  ;  some  to  Barbadoes,  and  some  to  Jamaica ;  the  understanding 
being,  they  were  undertaking  the  voyage  of  free  will.  But  when 
the  Captain  found  they  wei'e  to  be  banished  as  convicts  under  the 
Conventicle  Act,  he  refused  to  receive  them  on  board  his  ship.  The 
jailer  applied  to  Albemarle,  Secretary  of  State,  and  swore  that  the 
Captain  knew  the  condition  of  the  prisoners  when  he  contracted  to 
take  them ;  and  although  the  Captain  took  two  witnesses  with  him 
to  the  Secretary,  who  were  willing  to  swear  that  the  jailer  had 
represented  to  the  Captain  that  the  men  for  whose  ])assage  he  con- 
tracted were  free  men,  and  would  take  some  goods  with  them,  Al- 
lieniarle  refused  to  hear  them,  and  told  the  Captain  he  must  take 
them. 

The  prisoners,  in  the  meantime,  were  unfeelingly  treated,  being 
kept  pent  up  in  a  small  dark  room,  at  an  inn.  On  the  night  of  the 
14th  of  the  10th  month,  they  were  forced  into  a  boat  and  rowed  to 
the  ship,  which  laid  in  the  stream.  The  Master  being  on  shore, 
they  were  received  on  board,  but  on  his  return,  taking  their  word, 
that  they  would  come  back  when  he  sent  for  them,  he  put  them  on 
sliore,  with  a  certificate  they  were  there  by  his  permission.     From 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  341 

that  time  until  the  fir^t  of  the  Eleventh  month,  —  six  weeks,  —  the 
Captain  and  crew,  made  every  effort  to  get  the  vessel  down  the 
river,  and  out  to  sea;  but  were  continually  frustrated,  either  by 
storm,  head  wind  or  something  that  prevented  the  vessel  getting 
under  sail.  Six  times  the  prisoners  were  put  on  shore,  and  six 
times,  in  obedience  to  the  Captain's  order,  they  returned  on  board 
again.  On  the  evening  of  the  thirty-first  day  of  the  Tenth  month, 
the  prisoners  were  sent  on  shore  for  the  last  time,  the  Captain 
directing  them  to  meet  him  at  Deal.  He  met  them  there  some 
days  after,  and  in  the  presence  of  several  witnesses,  informed  them, 
he  was  resolved  not  to  carry  them  ;  and  to  clear  them  of  any  blame 
in  the  matter,  he  gave  them  a  certificate  as  follows: 

"  Whereas  there  were  seven  men,  called  Quakers,  brought  on 
board  my  ship,  called  the  Anne  of  London,  by  Wm.  Edmonds, 
jailer  of  Hertford,  viz. —  giving  their  names  — all  which  have  con- 
tinued waiting  upon  my  ship  from  London  to  Deal,  from  the  14th 
of  September  last  till  this  day.  And  I  seeing  that  Providence  hath 
much  crossed  me  hitherto;  whereby  I  perceive  that  the  hand  of  the 
Lord  is  against  me,  that  I  dare  not  proceed  on  my  voyage  to  carry 
them  ?  they  l>eing  innocent  persons,  and  no  crime  signified  against 
them  v.'orthy  of  banishment ;  and  that  there  is  a  law  in  force,  that 
110  Englishman  shall  be  carried  out  of  his  native  country  contrary 
to  his  will ;  and  also  my  men  refuse  to  go  the  voyage  if  I  carry 
them;  which  will  be  much  to  my  hindrance  —  men  being  very 
scarce,  by  reason  of  the  long  press.  For  these  reasons,  therefore, 
and  many  more,  I  will  not  curry  them.  These  are  therefore  to  certify 
any  person  or  persons  who  shall  question  them,  that  they  did  not 
make  an  escape ;  but  I  put  them  on  shore  again  to  go  whither  they 
please.  All  this  is  certified  under  my  own  hand,  this  10th  day  of 
November,  1664."  This  certificate  was  signed  by  the  Captain  and 
four  witnesses. 

The  next  morning  the  ship  got  under  sail,  and  the  principal 
officer  at  Deal,  to  whom  complaints  had  been  made  that  the  Friends 
had  escaped;  and  who  had  had  an  interview  with  the  Captain,  told 
them  that  "  he  could  witness  that  the  ship  went  away  from  them, 
and  not  they  from  it."  They  then  said  to  the  officer  that  if  he,  as 
a  Magistrate,  had  any  thing  to  say  to  or  do  with  them,  he  might  do 
it.  He  replied,  nothing,  but  to  wish  them  well.  After  returning 
to  their  families  in  London,  they  wrote  to  the  King  and  Council  a 
recital  of  all  the  facts  of  the  case  ;  telling  where  they  then  were,  and 
furnishing  them  with  a  copy  of  the  Captain's  certificate. 


342  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

The  sratonient  and  certificate  were  read  in  a  full  Council,  and 
under  pretence  of  there  having  been  collu^^ion  between  the  Captain 
and  prisoners,  an  order  was  issued  by  it,  for  the  rccomniitiueiit  of 
the  Friends  to  prison  ;  where  they  laid  l)etween  seven  and  eight 
years. 

Near  the  close  of  the  year  1664,  Edward  Brush,  Robert  Hays 
and  James  Harding  were  placed  on  board  a  vessel  and  sailed  for 
the  West  Indies.  R.  Hays,  who  was  sick  when  carried  on  board, 
died  soon  after,  but  the  others  arrived  at  Jamaica,  and  lived  through 
the  term  of  years  assigned  them.  E.  Brush  afterwards  returned  to 
England.  These  were  the  only  Friends  on  whom  the  sentence  of 
banishment  was  fully  executed.  The  Master  of  the  vessel  that  took 
out  the  above  named  three  Friends,  carried  with  him  an  order  of 
the  King  and  Council,  directed  to  the  Governor,  requiring  him  to 
receive  the  prisoners,  and  if  they  did  not  pay  the  expense  of  trans- 
portation, &c.,  to  cause  them  to  be  employed  as  servants  during  the 
time  specified  in  their  sentence. 

The  Captains  of  the  shipping  generally,  becoming  apprehensive 
that  their  voyages  would  prove  disastrous  if  they  were  accessory  to 
the  forcible  expatriation  of  their  countrymen,  refused  to  receive 
any  Friends  aboard  their  vessels,  and  it  became  impossible  to  carry 
the  sentences  of  the  Courts  into  eflfect.  To  meet  this  difficulty,  an 
embargo  was  laid  on  all  vessels  in  port  ;  none  being  allowed  to 
sail  without  a  "pass"  from  the  Admiral.  This  "  ])ass  "  was  witli- 
held  from  every  vessel  intending  for  the  West  Indies,  unless  the 
Captain  agreed  to  carry  with  him  a  certain  number  of  condemned 
Friends.  In  the  meantime  the  jails  were  so  crowded  that  the 
mortality  was  great.  In  Newgate  alone,  during  1664,  twenty-five 
Friends  died,  either  while  prisoners,  or  soon  after  being  discharged, 
from  disease  contracted  within  its  walls.  The  bodies  of  several  of 
those  who  died  in  prison  were  withheld  from  their  relations,  and 
buried  in  the  felons'  graveyard. 

Friends  who  were  wellknown  for  their  extensive  labors,  and 
their  devotion  to  the  cause  of  Clirist,  and  who,  by  the  Lord's  provi- 
dence, were  free  from  sentence  of  transportation  and  from  long  im- 
prisonments, were  untiring  in  their  ctforts  to  relieve  their  suffering 
brothers  and  sisters ;  to  strengthen  them  in  the  faith,  and  encourage 
them  in  faithfulness  to  their  divine  Master.  William  Crouch,  him- 
self one  of  the  sufferers,  alluding  to  this  period,  says,  "  In  the  time 
of  this  gi-eat  persecution  and  exei'cise,  which  attended  Friends  and 
their  families,  by  separating  husbands  from    their  wives,  fathers 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  343 

from  tbeir  cliildreu,  masters  from  their  families,  children  from  their 
parents ;  for  uo  other  cause  but  meeting  together  to  worship  God, 
as  they  were  persuaded  in  their  consciences ;  no  crime  being  laid  to 
their  charge,  nor  doing  evil  to  any  man ;  the  Lord  was  at  this  time, 
very  near  to  support  them,  and  by  fresh  visitations  of  his  Spirit  to 
quicken  them,  and  to  encourage  each  other  to  a  steadfast  and  con- 
stant perseverance  in  their  testimony  for  God,  and  the  cause  in 
which  they  Avere  engaged." 

The  firmness  and  Christian  endurance  with  which  some,  in  very 
humble  life,  adhered  to  their  religious  convictions,  amid  persecution 
and  long  continued  suffering,  were  strikingly  exem2:)lified  by  the  few 
who  embraced  the  principles  of  the  gospel  as  held  by  Friends,  in 
the  Isle  of  Man.  The  Island  was  in  the  possession  and  under  the 
government  of  the  Earl  of  Derby,  who  exercised  almost  absolute 
power,  and  it  was  within  the  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  of  the  Bishop 
of  Sodar  and  Man.  The  "  clergy"  on  the  Island  appear  to  have 
been  early  prejudiced  against  and  inimical  to  Friends,  so  that  when 
James  Lancaster  and  Catharine  Evans  had  come  there  and  engaged 
in  declaring  the  truths  of  the  gospel  to  the  people,  they  were  quickly 
ari'ested, —  the  latter  being  taken  out  of  her  bed, —  and  sent  out  of 
the  Island.  Whether  it  was  through  the  instrumentality  of  those 
Friends,  or  by  the  immediate  enlightening  and  instruction  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  is  not  known,  but  there  were  a  few  of  the  inhabitants 
brought  into  fellowship  with  Friends,  embracing  the  doctrines  and 
testimonies  they  were  called  on  to  uphold. 

The  jiez'secution  began  in  the  time  of  the  Commonwealth,  and 
various  means  were  tried  to  force  the  little  company  to  give  up 
meeting  together  for  Divine  worship,  and  conform  to  the  rites  and 
ceremonies  of  the  "  Church."  Fines  and  imprisonment  were  the  lot 
of  most  of  them,  and  some  were  banished  from  the  Island. 

In  1657,  William  Callow  was  kept  in  prison  for  eight  weeks,  for 
having  spoken  reprovingly  to  one  of  the  "  ministers,"  whom  he 
heard  abusing  the  Quakers.  From  him  and  J.  Christen  ten  bushels 
of  oats  were  distrained,  and  carried  to  the  barn  of  the  Magistrate 
who  ordered  the  l6vy  ;  and  the  next  First-day  the  priest  gave  public 
notice,  that  any  of  the  poor  of  the  parish  might  go  and  take  what- 
ever corn  they  wanted.  Many  went,  but  none  would  take  what  was 
offered  them.  The  next  week  one  poor  man  took  a  portion,  and  ex- 
pressed his  determination  to  come  and  get  more;  but  it  so  happened 
that  before  he  had  consumed  what  he  then  took,  he  died,  and  the 
people  interpreted  this  sad  event  to  be  a  Divine  judgment;  no  one 


34t  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

would  luive  anything  to  do  with  what  was  left,  so  that  it  was  spoiled. 
This  was  in  1G57. 

These  poor  men,  Callow  and  Christen,  were  fishermen,  proeurin<^ 
the  means  of  sustenance  for  themselves  and  families  from  the  sea. 
In  1659,  coming  on  shore,  after  having  been  out  all  night  in  the 
wet  and  cohl,  they  were  suddenly  seized  and  hurried  to  prison  ; 
where  they  were  kept  for  sev(M-al  days,  charged  with  not  paying 
2d.  for  the  bread  and  wine,  and  for  tithes.  The  same  treatment 
was  meted  out  to  them  by  the  priest,  in  ir.GO.  In  1662,  this  priest 
having  brought  suit  before  another  priest,  who  acted  as  judge,  had 
them  thrust  into  a  vault  or  dungeon,  dug  out  under  the  graveyard  ; 
and  there  kept  without  beds,  fire,  light,  or  any  other  conveniences, 
for  a  demand  of  18(1.  for  bread  and  wine,  of  which,  of  course,  they 
had  never  partaken.  At  the  end  of  sixteen  days,  some  of  their 
neighbors,  fearing  lest  they  would  die  before  the  priest  would  re- 
lease them,  paid  the  amount  demanded,  and  thus  rescued  them.  In 
the  beginning  of  the  winter  of  that  year,  these  two  Friends,  with 
four  others,  were  confined  in  an  old  tower,  for  fifteen  weeks,  without 
fire  or  candle,  though  the  weather  was  cold.  The  charge  was  neglect- 
ing  to  go  to  "  church,"  and  attending  the  meeting  of  Friends. 

An  order  being  issued  from  the  Bishops'  Court  in  1664,  to  im- 
prison all  Quakers  who,  after  being  admonished,  refused  to  attend 
"church,"  the  men  w^ere  committed,  and  W.  Callow's  wife  being 
ill,  apparently  nigh  unto  death,  he  was  allowed  to  go  to  her  for  two 
days  ;  but  before  she  was  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to  walk,  she, 
and  all  the  other  women  Friends,  being  told  they  had  been  excom- 
municated, were,  with  their  children,  by  an  order  from  the  Bishop, 
conveyed  to  the  noisome  dungeon  or  vault  under  the  graveyard, 
where  the  men  were  shut  up ;  the  officer  before  he  left  them,  pro- 
nouncing what  he  called,  "  The  Bishop's  curse"  upon  them.  In  this 
wretched  abode  they  were  kept  several  months.  But  supported  by 
an  unseen  Hand,  they  endured  all  thehardshii)s  imposed  upon  them, 
and  remained  patiently  firm  in  maintaining  their  religious  princi- 
ples and  testimonies. 

Finding  it  impracticable  to  force  these  poor  but  good  soldiers  of 
Jesus  Christ  to  deny  their  Master  or  his  religion,  it  was  resolved  by 
their  implacable  prosecutors  to  banish  them  from  the  Island.  They 
were  carried  on  board  a  shij),  lying  at  Douglass ;  but  as  soon  as  the 
sailors  learned  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  they  all  left  the  ship; 
declaring  to  the  Captain  they  would  not  "  be  hired  to  carry  people 
out  of  their  native  country,  contrary  to  their  will ;  neither  would 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  345 

they  .sail  with  him,  if  he  consented  to  carry  them."  He  was  obliged 
to  return  the  Friends  to  the  shore,  and  immediately  on  his  sailors 
coming  on  board  again  he  left.  The  Captains  and  crews  of  other 
vessels  likewise  refused  to  carry  the  Friends. 

1665.  Some  days  after,  about  midnight,  Wm.  and  Mary  Callow  were 
taken  out  of  bed,  and  without  being  allowed  to  provide  themselves 
with  a  change  of  clothes,  or  any  other  necessaries,  were  conveyed  by 
soldiers  on  board  a  vessel  that  had  come  into  the  harbor  ;  while  Evan 
and  Jane  Christen  were,  in  like  manner,  hurried  on  board  another 
vessel,  the  sails  of  which  had  been  seized  and  were  detained,  until  the 
Captain  submitted  to  receive  them — and  the  Friends  were  thus  sent 
away  to  Ireland.  On  arriving  at  Dublin,  the  authorities,  after  ex- 
amining the  Captains,  forbid  their  being  landed,  and  ordered  them 
to  be  carried,  in  one  of  the  ships,  whence  they  came.  The  Captain 
of  the  ship,  instead  of  returning  with  them  to  the  Isle  of  Man, 
carried  the  Friends  to  Whitehaven,  in  Cumberland,  England,  and 
put  them  on  shore,  with  a  certificate  of  the  cii'cumstances  under 
whicii  they  and  he  had  been  placed. 

A  Justice  (jf  the  Peace  in  Whitehaven,  being  informed  by  the 
four  Friends  —  who  were  without  any  means  for  their  support  —  how 
they  had  been  treated,  he  issued  an  order  to  have  them  at  once  re- 
placed on  board  the  ship  that  had  brought  them,  and  commanded 
the  Captain  to  take  them  back  to  their  home.  The  Captain  had 
no  alternative  but  to  receive  them  ;  but  when  he  sailed,  instead  of 
obeying  the  command  to  return  them  to  the  Isle  of  Man,  he  took 
them  again  to  Dublin.  Arrived  there,  he  was  not  allowed  to  land 
them,  until  he  gave  security  that  he  would  take  them  away  with 
him,  and  land  them  on  the  Isle.  They  were  then  allowed  to  come 
on  shore,  where  they  remained  until  the  vessel  was  ready  to  sail ; 
when,  relying  on  the  word  of  the  Captain,  and  the  obligation  he 
liad  assumed  to  return  them  to  the  2:)lace  of  their  nativity,  they 
again  went  on  lioard.  But  contrary  to  his  engagement,  and  in  en- 
tire disregard  of  their  feelings,  the  Captain  carried  them  back  to 
Whitehaven,  and  put  them  on  shore. 

1666.  Hopeless  of  being  allowed  to  return  to  their  home,  without 
permission  being  obtained  from  the  Earl  of  Derby  or  the  Bishop  of 
Man,  the  two  men  Friends  resolved,  though  it  was  in  the  midst  of 
winter,  to  seek  one  or  both  of  these  arbiters  of  their  phice  of  abode, 
and  -olicit  a  retraction  of  tiie  order  that  had  banished  them  from 
the  iiome  whei'e  they  were  known,  and  where  they  had  passed 
honest  and  lion(ji-abie  lives,  and  who   iiad  thus  exposed  them  to  be 


346  F  R  I  E  X  I )  S     1  X    T  1 1  !•: 

driven  from  place  to  place,  as  ihoiiyh  iiiiwoftliy  ol'  a  dwelling  on 
earth.  While  their  lui.shands  were  engaged  in  thi.s  attempt,  the 
two  women  were  sent  on  hoard,  the  ship  and  taken  hy  the  Captain 
to  the  Isle  of  Man,  when;,  ininiediatcly  on  tlicir  aiTJval,  liny  were 
shut  up  in  prison. 

Having  found  the  residence  of  the  Earl,  the  two  men  Friends 
made  repeated  efforts  to  ohlain  an  interview  with  him  hut  failed, 
and  after  a  long  time,  he  sent  them  a  message  to  apply  to  the 
Bishop,  stating  where  he  could  be  found.  Accordingly,  they  re- 
paired to  the  place  designated,  and  after  waiting  long,  linally  ob- 
tained an  audience  with  the  Bishop,  and  the  Dean  of  the  island. 
Besse  gives  the  substance  of  the  conversation  that  ])assed  between 
these  dignitaries  and  the  two  persecuted  exiles,  and  it  is  remarkabh; 
as  well  as  affecting,  how  these  poor  unlearned  Christians  were  enabled 
to  ])lead  their  cause,  and  set  forth  in  clear  language,  the  religious 
[)rinciples  by  which  they  were  actuated.  But  it  was  in  vain.  Both 
Bishop  and  Dean  refused  to  permit  them  to  return  to  their  families, 
unless  they  would  conform  to  the  Church  ;  and  contended  that  it 
was  not  persecution  to  punish  them  for  non-conformity. 

After  some  months,  the  two  Friends  resolved  to  lace  all  diffi- 
culties, and  make  an  effort  to  see  their  wives  and  children  once 
more,  who  were  suffering  greatly  from  the  absence  of  their  loving- 
caretakers.  They  therefore  embarked  for  the  Island,  but  on  their 
arrival,  and  it  becoming  known,  the  Master  of  the  vessel  was  or- 
dered not  to  allow  them  to  land.  After  kee])ing  themsome  time, 
ihj  Master  petitioned  the  Bishop  to  allow  him  to  })ut  them  on  shore, 
to  be  at  their  homes  until  he  was  ready  to  sail  again,  when  he  would 
transport  them  to  England.  This  was  reluctantly  granted,  on  con- 
dition that  security  was  given  by  the  Captain  not  to  sail  without 
them.  When  the  ship  was  ready  to  de])art,  soldiers  were  sent  to 
their  houses,  who  took  them  on  board,  amid  the  cries  and  tears  of 
their  distressed  i'amilies;  the  Captain  weeping  with  them,  at  the 
affliction  they  were  under.  Before  they  got  off,  an  attorney  came 
to  them,  with  an  order  from  the  Bishop  and  four  others,  to  seize 
upon  and  sequestrate  whatever  goods,  or  property,  whether  real  or 
personal,  they,  or  any  other  Quaker  or  Quakers  on  the  Island,  nught 
be  found  possessed  of;  all  of  which  was  to  "accrue  and  belong"  to 
the  Lord  Bishop. 

On  landing  at  Newhaven,  William  Callow  concluded  to  apply 
once  more  to  the  Earl  of  Derby;  which  he  did;  but  he  rejected  his 
application,  refusing  to  take  any  further  notice  of  him.     Anxious 


S  E  V  E  X  T  E  E  N  T  H    C  E  X  T  U  R  Y  .  347 

to  obtain  the  interest  of  some  one  high  in  authority,  W.  Callow  had 
a  statement  of  their  cases  laid  before  the  Duke  of  York  and  Prince 
Rupert :  and  the  latter  showed  so  much  interest  in  his  suffering  con- 
dition, as  to  address  a  letter  to  the  Earl  of  Derby  ;  in  which  he 
urges,  that,  insomuch  as  nothing  but  being  a  Quaker  was  alleged 
against  Callow,  he  might  be  allowed  to  join  his  family,  without  any 
injury  being  sustained  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  Isle  of  Man.  Derby, 
however,  would  not  accede  to  the  request,  and  so  replied  to  the  Prince. 

While  prosecuting  his  unsuccessful  suit  with  the  Earl,  W.  Callow 
received  a  letter  from  his  wife,  dated  in  the  11th  month,  1666,  stating 
she  was  sick  and  in  prison  ;  and  that  as  both  she  and  Jane  Christen 
were  enceinie,  they  had  written  to  the  Bishop,  imploring  him  to 
allow  them  to  return  to  their  former  homes  until  Spring,  that  they 
might  endeavor  to  procure  things  necessary  for  themselves  and 
children,  and  they  would  engage  to  come  back  to  the  prison,  when 
the  cold  weather  was  passed  away.  But  the  haughty  prelate  re- 
plied, that  unless  they  would  conform,  and  receive  absolution,  they 
should  stay  where  they  were  ;  and  if  death  was  the  consequence, 
they  would  be  self-murderers. 

In  his  distress  on  account  of  the  helpless  situation  of  his  wife  and 
children,  and  his  separation  from  them  in  their  sufferings,  William 
believed  it  would  be  right  for  him,  to  make  another  effort  to  rejoin 
them  ;  but  before  he  did  so,  he  drew  up  a  statement  of  the  manner  in 
which  he,  with  others,  had  been  driven  from  one  place  to  another, 
the  sport  of  merciless  men,  for  more  thaii  three  years,  and  the  suf- 
fering he  and  his  family  were  still  enduring.  He  once  more  ap- 
pealed to  the  Earl  and  the  Bishop  to  show  some  mercy,  and  allow 
him  to  be  with  his  family,  and  support  them  by  the  labor  of  ins 
hands  ;  seeing  the  Bishop  had  taken  possession  of  all  the  little  prop- 
erty he  had  once  owned.  This  statement  was  put  into  the  Earl's 
hands;  but  he  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the  touching  appeal,  and  sent 
William  word,  that  unless  he  would  conform,  he  should  not  go  to 
his  Island  to  poison  its  inhabitants. 

[1667.]  The  Bishop  having  determined  to  banish  from  the  Island 
the  four  women  Friends,  had  had  them  seized  at  the  different  places 
where  they  were  staying,  and  conveyed  to  j)rison  ;  whence,  as  has 
been  seen,  W.  Callow's  wife  had  written  him  the  letter  mentioned. 
Great  cruelty  was  practised  on  them,  by  the  soldiers  while  executing 
the  Bishop's  orders:  one  of  the  womeu  being  between  seventy  and 
eighty  years  of  age,  and  very  feeble,  and  W.  Callow's  wife  very  sick 
at  the  time.     Having  obtained  a  vessel  for  the  purpose,  the  womeu 


348  F  R  I  E  X  D  S     IN    THE 

with  the  young  chihlren,  were  hroiight  (h)\vii  ti)  tlie  heach  for  om- 
harkation.  Here  a  most  jntiahle  scene  was  witnessed.  When  the 
boat  was  ahont  to  ])nsli  off,  Wni.  Callow's  wife  was  about  to  take 
her  children  with  her;  but  the  soldiers  said  they  had  orders  not  to 
allow  them  to  go,  and  also  to  seize  any  extra  clothing  the  women 
might  have,  if  they  did  not  pay  the  fees  demanch'd.  Entreaty  was 
disregarded,  and  the  women  were  dragged  into  the  boat;  one  leav- 
ini;  four,  and  another  five  weeping  children  on  the  beach,  without 
father  or  mother  to  care  for,  provide  for,  or  protect  them,  while  the 
mothers  with  their  agonized  maternal  feelings,  were  forced  on  board 
the  ship,  unl'urnished  with  sufficient  clothing,  or  other  necessaries. 
The  Bishop  now  had  ])ublic  notice  given,  that  whoever  would  com- 
pound for  William  Callow's  estate,  should  have  a  full  title  made  to 
him  therefor. 

Arrived  in  Cumberland,  the  women  were  there  joined  by  the 
banished  men  Friends;  but  the  Magistrates  of  Whitehaven,  where 
thev  had  been  landed,  after  making  inquiry  into  the  circumstances 
of  their  case,  and  finding  there  had  been  no  legal  jn-oceedings,  ti-ial 
or  sentence,  but  merely  the  arbitrary  commands  of  the  Bisho])  and 
his  officers  to  banish  them,  ordered  all  of  them  to  be  sent  back  to 
Man.  Again  they  were  put  on  board  a  vessel,  and  in  the  Fifth 
month  of  1G69,  they  were  landed  at  Douglass,  the  jjrincipal  port  of 
the  Isle  of  Man  ;  two  of  the  women  having  young  children.  The 
night  of  that  day  they  were  again  dragged  out  of  their  beds,  by 
soldiers,  the  women  not  being  allowed  to  dress  themselves,  or  their 
young  children  properly,  and  were  forced  on  board  the  vessel  that 
liad  brought  them  over,  where  they  were  kept  under  guard  until 
she  sailed  —  no  one  from  the  shore,  but  their  persecutors,  being 
allowed  to  communicate  with  them  —  and  were  carried  over  to  Dub- 
lin. They  had  been  on  shore  there  but  a  few  days,  when  the  Mayor 
and  some  of  the  Aldermen  of  that  city,  issued  an  order,  in  which 
they  stated,  that  it  api)earing  these  natives  of  Man  had  been  con- 
victed of  no  crime,  nor  aft'orded  any  legal  trial,  but  were  banished 
without  their  consent,  they  therefore  required  they  should  be  put 
on  board  a  vessel  and  returned  to  their  native  place. 

Launched  once  more  upon  the  deep,  they  encountered  a  storm, 
and  the  Captain,  when  he  neared  the  shore  of  the  Isle  of  Man,  sent 
the  women  off  in  a  boat.  Information  of  the  landing  of  these  poor 
women  having  reached  the  Bishop,  he,  with  the  Governor,  ordered 
the  vessel  having  the  men  on  board  to  be  watched,  to  prevent  them 
from  being  put  on  shore.     The  Bishop  then  sent  soldiers  to  seize  the 


SEVf:NTEENTH    CENTURY.  349 

women  and  convey  them  on  board  again.  The  soldiers  finding  Jane 
Christen  with  her  husband  —  who  was  not  a  Friend  —  took  her  away 
at  night  from  him  and  their  children,  and  put  her  on  board  the 
ship ;  but  William  Callow's  wife  was  so  ill,  they  did  not  attempt 
then  to  remove  her.  The  Captain  of  the  vessel  being  taken  before 
the  Governor,  represented  to  him  how  greatly  the  females  had  suf- 
fered while  at  sea,  and  his  fears  that  if  they  were  forced  to  leave  in 
their  present  weak  condition,  it  would  prove  too  much  for  them. 
The  Bishop,  however,  was  inexorable  :  he  ordered  a  messenger  to 
be  sent  to  "raise  the  parish  people,"  and  have  William's  wife  car- 
ried to  the  place  where  the  ship  was  lying,  and  she  put  on  board. 
The  messenger  returned,  saying,  he  found  the  woman  so  near  the 
time  of  confinement,  he  w^as  afraid  to  attempt  to  move  her.  The 
Bishop  repeated  his  order;  to  be  executed  forthwith;  and  the  sol- 
diers going  to  her  bedside,  insisted  on  her  getting  up:  they  took  her 
forcibly  away,  not  allowing  her  to  provide  herself  with  any  extra 
clothing,  &c.,  and  carried  her  on  board  the  vessel.  Three  of  the 
neighbors  who  had  been  ordered  to  assist  in  removing  her,  were  so 
affected  with  her  deplorable  condition,  and  the  savage  cruelty  per- 
petrated, in  dragging  her  out  of  the  house,  and  away  from  her  chil- 
dren, that  they  wept,  and  refused  to  be  accessory  to  the  crime :  for 
this  the  Bishop  afterwards  had  them  imprisoned.  The  i)Oor  Friends, 
who  it  may  be  truly  said  could  find  no  certain  dwelling-i)lace  or  rest 
for  their  feet,  were  carried  over  and  landed  at  Peel,  in  Lancashire; 
whereupon  two  Justices  of  that  place  ordered  them  to  be,  as  soon  as 
possible,  sent  back  to  the  Isle  of  Man.  In  compliance  with  this 
order,  on  the  6th  of  the  Eighth  niontli,  1669,  William  Callow  and 
Jane  Christen,  were  put  on  board  one  vessel,  and  Evan  Christen 
and  Alice  Coward  on  board  another;  William's  wife,  having  an 
infant  but  a  few  days  old,  being  obliged  to  be  left  behind.  When 
the  vessels  arrived  with  them  at  the  island,  a  guard  was  sent  on 
board,  who  kept  the  Friends  close  prisoners.  On  the  1st  of  the 
Ninth  month,  the  Governor  sent  for  W.  Callow,  and  when  brought 
before  him,  he  asked  him  if  he  would  not  like  to  go  to  Virginia? 
William  told  him  he  had  no  business  there.  The  Governor  then 
informed  him  they  had  resolved  to  send  him  there.  A  long  con- 
versation ensued,  in  which  William  declared  he  had  committed  no 
wrong,  had  never  been  put  upon  trial,  and  demanded  that  he  should 
have  a  trial  under  the  laws  of  England.  But  the  Governor  told 
him  he  had  written  an  order  to  have  him  transported  to  Virginia, 
and  he  would  take  the  responsibility  :  answering  for  it  to  his  Lor.'.- 


350  FUTENDS    IN    THE 

sliip.      Two  s()](lier.<  were  tlieii  (•(iiiimaiidcd  lo  take  liini  on  board  a 
vessel,  then  lying  in  the  harlxM-,  hound  to  America. 

The  Master  of  the  ship  aj)peared  disposed  to  be  kind  to  the  suf- 
fering Manksnian;  but  when  the  sailors  came  to  understand  how 
it  was,  that  William  was  about  to  be  sent  away  from  his  home,  his 
wife,  and  his  children,  they  told  the  Captain  they  would  not  make 
the  voyage  if  he  consented  to  carry  him;  for,  said  they,  "They  had 
never  heard  of  a  ship  that  carried  Quakers,  against  their  will,  that 
prospered."  Finding  his  men  determined,  the  Captain  solemnly 
promised  them,  that  after  getting  away  from  the  island,  he  would 
land  the  Quaker  in  Ireland  ;  which  he  did  ;  putting  "William  on  shore 
about  forty  miles  north  of  Dublin.  William  went  direct  to  that  city, 
and  at  once  sailed  for  Whitehaven  to  join  his  wife.  In  the  mean 
time,  the  other  Friends  were  once  more  expelled  from  their  native 
place,  and  carried  into  Scotland,  whence  they  travelled  into  Eng- 
land, where,  it  would  appear,  they  were  at  last  all  allowed  to  remain. 

Thus  were  these  innocent  and  harmless  Christians  for  years  made 
the  sport  of  the  malice  of  an  implacable  Bishop,  and  the  tyranny  of 
a  proud,  hard-hearted  noble.  It  was  remarked  of  the  two  vessels 
whose  owners  or  Captains  had  volunteered  to  carry  these  Friends 
away  from  their  homes,  that  one  was  shortly  after  wrecked,  and  all 
on  board  perished  ;  the  other  was  greatly  disabled  while  lying  in 
the  port  of  the  Isle  of  Man,  and  the  Captain  lost  his  lading  and  all 
his  money. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Depravity  of  tlie  Time  — Marked  Simplicity  of  (h-ess  and  manners  in  Friends 
—Warnings  of  Judgments  — Plague  in  London  —Unrelenting  Persecution 
of  Friends  —  Deaths  in  Prisons  —  G.  Whitehead's  Testimony—  Sufferings  of 
Fifty-five  Friends  sentenced  to  hanisliment— Friends'  love  and  sympathy 
for  each  other  —  Death  of  Samuel  Fisher  —  Introduction  of  Episcopacy  into 
.Scotland  —  Sufferings  of  the  Covenanters  —  Persecution  of  Friends  in  Scot- 
land—David Barclay  — John  Swiuton  —  Eol)ert  Barclay  — No  change  in 
the  King  or  Court  —  "  Corporation  Act"—  Unmitigated  I  ntolerance  —  Great 
fire  in  London —Thomas  Ibbitt  — George  Fox  in  London  — Account  of 
Meetings  held  for  tlie  Restoration  of  the  Followers  of  J.  Perrot. 

WHILE  the  Magistrates  were  so  industrious  in  breaking  up  the 
meetings  of  Friends,  and  inflicting  wanton  and  cruel  punish- 
ment on  those  who  continued  to  meet  together  to  offer  that  worship 


SEVENTEENTH     CENTURV.  351 

which  is  iu  spirit  and  in  truth,  little  or  nothing  appears  to  have  been 
done  by  them  to  stay  or  lessen  the  contagion  of  debauchery,  profanity 
and  other  vices,  that  had  spread  through  all  ranks  of  society.  The 
"  clergy,"  absorbed  generally  in  securing  and  enjoying  the  revenues 
of  their  benefices,  exacted  tithes  and  other  sources  of  income  with 
unmerciful  rigor,  were  not  unfrequently  intemperate  in  their  habits, 
and  i'ar  more  bent  upon  enforcing  uniformity,  than  promulgating  or 
practising  the  requirements  of  the  moral  law.  Luxury  and  pride 
marked  the  manners  and  habits  of  those  considered  the  higher 
classes  ;  while  extravagance  in  dress,  in  eating  and  drinking,  and 
indulgence  in  low  sports  were  carried  to  great  length,  among  most 
who  could  obtain  means  for  the  indulgence.  The  history  of  the  time, 
as  given  by  those  best  acquainted  with  it,  justifies  the  assertion,  that 
the  great  majority  of  the  people,  from  the  Court  down  to  the  rabble, 
came  within  the  description  denounced  by  the  prophet,  as  those 
who  "  draw  iniquity  with  cords  of  vanity,  and  sin  as  it  were  with 
a  cart-rope." 

From  the  time  of  their  rise,  Friends  had  been  conspicuous  from 
the  unwavering  controversy  they  maintained,  not  only  against  the 
vices  commonly  denounced  as  such  by  all  religious  professors,  but 
against  all  those  habits  and  customs  of  society  that  fostered  the 
pride  of  the  human  heart,  or  were  likely  to  betray  into  things  in- 
consistent with  the  character  and  duties  of  a  self-denying  discijjle  of 
Christ;  who,  while  enjoying  the  bles.sings  of  heaven  with  cheerful- 
ness, ought  to  pass  the  time  of  his  sojourning  here  iu  fear  of  offend- 
ing his  Lord  and  Master.  Hence,  while  their  assertion  of  the 
scriptural  doctrine  of  the  headship  of  Chiist  iu  his  church,  and  the 
equal  standing  of  its  members,  according  to  the  gifts  which  He  con- 
ferred upon  them,  struck  at  the  unauthorized  assumptions  of  the 
clergy,  and  called  forth  their  enmity  aud  opposition  ;  so  the  sim- 
plicity of  their  manners,  and  style  of  living,  the  plainness  of  their 
dress  and  address,  and  the  uniformity  of  carriage  observed  towards 
high  and  low,  were  a  palpable  rebuke,  not  only  to  the  rich  and 
great,  but  to  all  who  conformed  to  the  fashions  and  follies  of  the  age. 

Springing  up  as  they  did  in  the  time  of  Puritan  rule,  and  very 
many  of  the  early  converts  coming  from  the  more  scru})uluus  of  the 
high  professing  sects  of  that  day,  they  had  adopted  the  ])lain,  un- 
ornaraeiited  apparel  worn  by  th(;ir  consistent  members;  and  as  the 
religious  principles  they  embraced,  forbade  compliance  with  the 
changing  fashions,  unless  for  real  use  and  service —  tlie  lawful  ends 
of  clothing  —  they  soon   became   known   by  their  peculiar  api)arel 


352  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

as  well  as  tlieir  mode  of  speech.  Tims  as  witnesses  to  the  spirituality 
of  the  Gospel,  to  the  necessity  of  taking  up  the  daily  cross  in  things 
which  the  world  professed  to  esteem  of  little  or  no  account,  but  the 
non-observance  of  which  it  would  not  tolerate,  drew  upon  them  the 
scorn  and  hatred  of  the  worshippers  of  the  god  of  this  world;  who, 
like  Demetrius  of  old,  feared  that  if  they  continued  to  turn  away 
much  people,  their  idols  would  be  despised,  and  their  magnificence 
destroyed. 

In  the  language  of  one  of  the  early  members,  '■  These  things  [their 
plainness  of  speech,  behavior  and  apparel]  to  be  sure  gave  them  a 
rough  and  disagreeable  appearance  witli  the  generality,  who  thought 
them  turners  of  the  world  upside  down,  as  indeed  in  some  sense  they 
were ;  but  in  no  other  than  that  wherein  Paul  was  so  charged  ;  viz., 
to  bring  things  back  into  their  primitive  and  right  order  again. 
For  these  and  such  like  praetic^es  of  theirs  were  not  the  results  of 
humor,  or  for  civil  distinction,  as  some  have  fancied  ;  but  a  fruit  of  an 
inward  sense,  which  God  through  his  holy  fear  had  begotten  in  them." 
.  .  "  But  God  having  given  them  a  sight  of  themselves,  they  saw 
the  whole  world  in  the  same  glass  of  truth,  and  sensibly  discerned 
the  affections  and  passions  of  men,  and  the  rise  and  teiideney  of 
things;  what  it  was  that  gratified  the  'lust  of  the  fiesh,  the  lust  of 
the  eye,  and  the  pride  of  life,'  which  are  not  of  the  Father,  l)ut  of 
the  world." 

"With  a  Court  composed  mostly  of  libertines  and  their  mistresses, 
an  "established  church,"  which,  though  like  that  of  Sardis,  had  a 
few  who  had  "not  defiled  their  garments,"  was  under  the  control  of 
men  who  used  all  the  arts  of  priestcraft  to  obtain  the  honors  and 
power  of  this  world  ;  who  showed  that  the  principal  care  about  their 
flocks  was  to  strip  them  of  the  fleece,  and  who  while  professing  to 
be  representatives  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  made  unrelenting  war  on 
all  who  would  not  bow  down  to  the  image  they  had  set  up ;  with 
wickedness  stalking  abroad  with  brazen  front,  unshamed  and  unre- 
strained, while  those  who  strove  to  serve  the  Most  High,  and  liring 
all  the  tithes  He  required  into  his  storehouse,  w'ere  persecuted,  often 
unto  death,  because  they  could  not  conform,  and  yet  obey  the  dic- 
tates of  an  enlightened  conscience  ;  it  is  no  marvel,  that  many  began 
to  fear  that  the  Almighty  would  visit  the  nation  with  his  judgments, 
and  in  some  way  avenge  his  ovvn  elect,  who  cried  unto  him  day  and 
night.  Neal  and  Bsixter  both  speak  of  the  licentiousness,  as  well  as 
cruelty,  that  prevailed ;  of  the  foreboding  of  calamity,  and  of  the 
afilictious  that  visited  the  nation,  as  judgments  incurred. 


SEVENTEENTH    C  E  X  T  U  R  Y  .  353 

Several  Frieuds  had  been  concerned  to  warn  tlie  Court  and  Par- 
liament more  particularly,  and  the  people  generally,  that  judgments 
were  impending  over  the  land,  and  that  unless  there  was  a  change 
for  the  better,  dire  calamity  would  ensue.  George  Fox  the  younger, 
in  1601,  had  put  forih  a  fervent  address  and  expostulation  ;  in  which 
he  declared  he  had  seen  in  the  Light  of  the  Lord  that  many  of  the  peo- 
ple would  be  taken  away,  and  "  that  an  overflowing  scourge,  yea,  even 
a  great  and  terrible  judgment  was  to  come  upon  the  land,  and  that 
many  in  it  would  fall  and  be  taken  away."  When  the  Courts  began 
to  sentence  Friends  to  transportation,  [1664]  George  Bishop  ad- 
dressed the  King  and  Parliament  in  these  words,  "  Thus  saith  the 
Lord,  meddle  not  witli  my  people  because  of  their  conscience  to  me, 
and  banish  them  not  out  of  the  nation,  because  of  their  conscience; 
for  if  you  do,  I  will  send  my  plagues  upon  you,  and  you  shall  know 
that  I  am  the  Lord." 

Through  the  intrigues  of  the  French  Monarch,  war  broke  out 
between  the  English  and  Dutch  nations,  and  it  soon  began  to  be 
seen,  that  with  all  their  high  pretensions  and  arrogant  scorn  of  those 
who  were  not  of  the  church  of  England,  the  sycophants  of  the 
Court  were  unable  to  contend  with  the  statesmen  and  naval  force  of 
the  Republic.  Peculation  and  incapacity  were  the  prominent  fea- 
tures of  the  administration  of  the  affairs  of  the  nation.  The  Dutch 
swept  the  ocean  of  English  shipping,  blockaded  their  seaports,  put 
an  end  for  the  time  to  all  trade,  and  sailed  up  the  Thames,  so  near 
to  London  that  their  guns  were  heard  in  that  city,  and  they  burned 
the  fleet  that  lay  in  the  river.  During  the  two  and  a  half  years 
the  war  continued,  England  was  drained  of  much  of  both  blood 
and  treasure,  and  when  it  ended,  discontent  and  murmuring  per- 
vaded the  people. 

In  the  autumn  of  1664,  a  few  cases  of  the  Plague  occurred  in 
London,  outside  the  walls.  Ic  excited  some  apprehension,  but  as  it 
did  not  then  assume  the  character  of  an  epidemic,  there  was  no 
general  alarm  at  its  presence.  In  the  early  months  of  1665  it  reap- 
peared, and  began  gradually  to  creep  from  one  locality  to  another, 
until  th.e  whole  city  and  its  environs  became  affected,  and  a  carnival 
of  death  set  in,  such  as  had  very  rarely  if  ever  been  experienced  in 
Great  Britain  before.  Notwithstanding  that  as  the  pestilence  in- 
creased, thousands  lelt  the  city,  ho})ing  to  escape  the  contagion,  the 
mortality  continued  to  progress;  until  in  the  Ninth  and  Tenth 
months  of  1665,  the  numbers  that  died  in  a  week  varied  between 
six  and  eiglit  thousand.  Large  pits  were  dug  in  different  parishes, 
23 


354  F  II I  R  N  T)  S    I  N    T  I  r  !•; 

into  wliicli  limidrcils  of  l)o(lios  -were  thrown  iiidiscriiniiiately,  and 
covered  over  with  cartli,  when  iillrd  to  within  three'  or  fonr  feet  of 
the  surface. 

The  face  of  London  was  now  altogetlier  chano-ed.  All  trade  was 
stopped  ;  horror  or  despair  was  depicted  on  the  countenances  of 
most  of  those  who  were  seen  in  the  streets  ;  the  stillness  that  reigned 
was  broken  by  the  groans  and  shrieks  of  the  suifering  and  the 
dying ;  while  the  rumbling  of  the  dead-cart  by  day  and  at  night  was 
mingled  with  the  cry  of  the  attendants,  "  Bring  out  your  dead." 
Grass  grew  in  (he  streets  once  crowded  with  the  l>iisy  multitude; 
almost  all  the  public  buildings  were  shut  n]),and  hundreds  of  houses 
were  deserted  by  their  former  tenants.  The  Plague  having  spread 
into  many  })arts  of  the  country,  especially  in  villages,  carried,  as  was 
supposed,  by  those  lieeing  from  the  city,  tlie  inhabitants  were  greatly 
alarmed,  and  often  refused  to  allow  those  travelling  to  pass  along 
the  roads,  or  find  a  resting-place  in  their  respective  neighborhoods  ; 
so  that,  although  London  was  the  chief  seat  of  the  desolating 
scourge,  its  appalling  calamities  were  felt  throughout  the  kingdom. 

Notwithstanding  the  message  to  the  peoj)le  by  this  awful  visita- 
tion, was  so  loud  and  solemn,  to  break  off  their  sins  by  righteous- 
ness, and  their  iiii(|uities  by  showing  mercy  to  the  i)oor,  yet  it  did 
not  overcome  the  hardness  of  heart  to  which  continuation  in  sin 
always  gives  rise.  It  is  said  that  robbery  and  murders  were  never 
so  numerous  as  during  the  height  of  the  pestilence;  and  this  can  be 
easily  understood  :  for  where  people  arrive  at  that  pitch  of  wicked- 
ness that  they  neither  fear  God  nor  regard  man,  their  crimes  will 
multiply  with  the  temptations  presented,  and  the  facility  with  which 
they  may  be  perpetrated.  But  it  is  an  astonishing  fact,  that  even 
when  this  confessed  judgment  of  the  Almighty  was  making  itself 
felt,  by  the  removal  by  death  of  thousands  in  a  week,  the  pei-secutors 
of  Friends  did  not  cease  the  unrelenting  cruelty  they  had  been 
practising  so  long.  In  the  latter  end  of  the  Fifih  month,  1665,  there 
were  one  hundred  and  twenty  men  and  women  lying  in  the  jails  in 
London,  under  sentence  of  banishment.  Besides  these,  Newgate  and 
Bridewell  were  crowded  with  other  Friends,  sent  there  for  the  fii'St 
or  second  offence  against  the  Act.  The  meetings  for  worship,  which 
Friends  felt  bound  to  keep  up  notwithstanding  the  pestilence,  were 
assailed  in  the  usual  manner,  and  even  after  the  Plague  had  entered 
the 'jails,  and  was  proving  fatal  among  the  prisoners,  the  Magis- 
trates continued  to  send  innocent  men  and  women  into  their  pesti- 
leutial  atmosphere,  knowing  it  was  most  probable  they  would  never 


SEVEXTEENTH    CENTURY.  355 

leave  them  alive.  These  deadly  cells  of  Newgate  and  Bridewell  were 
thus  kept  thronged,  and  in  the  former  above  fifty-two  Friends  laid 
down  their  lives  as  witnesses  to  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  Of  this 
number,  twenty-two  had  been  condemned  to  banishment.  Of  the  num- 
ber of  deaths  among  Friends  in  the  other  prisons,  no  account  is  given. 

George  Whitehead,  who,  under  a  sense  of  duty,  came  into  London 
in  the  time  of  the  Plague,  and  continued  there,  visiting  the  sick, 
looking  after  the  welfare  of  those  in  prison,  and  in  other  ways  assist- 
ing to  help  and  comfort  his  suifering  brethren  and  sisters,  in  an  epis- 
tle which  he  afterwards  addressed  "  To  the  remnant  of  Friends'  and 
chosen  of  God,  whom  He  hath  yet  preserved  to  bear  their  testimony, 
in  and  about  the  city  of  London,"  thus  testifies  respecting  the  clos- 
ing scenes  of  many  whose  death  he  witnessed  : 

"And  the  life,  peace,  satisfaction  and  comfort  that  many  innocent 
Friends  felt,  and  that  some  expressed  and  signified  on  their  death- 
beds, I  am  a  living  witness  of,  for  them ;  having  some  times,  as  the 
Lord  hath  drawn  me  in  his  love,  been  present  with  many  of  them 
when  they  were  very  low  in  the  outward  man,  and  with  divers  when 
upon  their  death-beds  in  that  destructive  prison  of  Newgate,  and 
some  other  places.  Yea,  when  sorrow  and  sadness  have  seized  upon 
my  spirit,  and  my  heart  and  soul  have  been  pierced  and  wounded, 
when  I  have  seen  the  sad  sufferings  of  so  many  harmless  lambs,  on 
their  sick  beds  in  these  noisome  holes  and  prisons;  yet  at  the  same 
time  having  a  deep  sense  and  knowledge  of  the  Lord's  love  and 
care  to  them  in  that  condition,  and  truly  felt  his  life  and  power 
stirring  amongst  them  ;  this  on  the  other  hand  has  refreshed  and 
revived  my  spirit;  knowing  that  Christ,  their  salvation  and  re- 
demption was  manifest  to  and  in  them,  though  in  that  suffering 
state,  as  they  have  followed  and  obeyed  Him  through  sufferings  and 
tribulation.  With  such,  to  live  was  Christ  in  that  state,  and  to  die 
was  gain  ;  it  being  through  death  that  the  Lord  had  appointed  the 
final  deliverance  of  many  from  the  cruelties  and  rod  of  their 
oppressors,  and  from  the  evil  to  come.  The  faithfulness,  upright- 
ness and  innocency  of  divers  of  those  that  were  taken  away,  their 
constancy  of  spirit  to  the  Lord  and  his  living  truth,  their  unfeigned 
love  for  the  brethren — by  which  it  was  evident  they  had  passed 
from  death  unto  life  —  and  that  living  and  faithful  testimony  they 
bore  for  the  Lord  in  their  lil'etime,  being  well  known  and  manifest 
amongst  us ;  tlieir  memorial  is  truly  precious  to  us,  and  n(;ver  to  be 
forgotten  ;  and  we  are  satisfied  that  they  are  counted  worthy  for  the 
Lurd,  and  the  world  was  ncjt  worthy  of  them." 


o66  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

Although  tlie  embargo  on  the  vessels  in  port,  unless  furnished 
with  a  "  i)ass,"  subjected  the  captains  trading  to  the  West  Indies  to 
great  inconvenience  and  loss,  yet  so  fully  were  they  convinced  of  the 
iniquity  of  banishing  innocent  men  and  women  from  their  families 
and  country,  that  they  refused  to  receive  them  on  board  their  ships  ; 
and  thus  it  was  that  so  many  were  kept  in  jail,  waiting  the  execu- 
tion of  their  sentences.  At  length  a  man  named  Fudge  offered  to 
take  such  as  might  be  put  on  board  his  vessel ;  and  fifty-five  were 
brought  out  of  Newgate,  embarked  in  a  barge,  and  rowed  to  where 
the  vessel  was  lying.  [IGBo.]  The  Captain  was  on  shore  when  they 
came  alongside,  and  the  sailors  all  refused  to  do  anything  towards 
getting  them  on  board.  The  jailers  and  other  officers  told  the 
seamen  these  men  and  women  were  the  King's  goods,  and  ti-ied 
what  they  could  to  persuade  them  to  assist,  but  they  would  not 
raise  a  finger  in  the  work ;  so  that  after  with  great  labor  placing 
four  on  the  deck,  the  officers  gave  out  and  took  the  others  back  to 
Newgate.  In  about  three  weeks  they  were  again  taken  down  to 
the  ship,  and  soldiers  were  sent  ta  assist  in  removing  them  into  her. 
Efforts  were  again  made  to  induce  the  sailors  to  assist  in  transfer- 
ring the  prisoners  from  one  vessel  to  another,  but  they  steadily  re- 
fused, and  the  soldiers  were  obliged  to  do  the  work  themselves,  whicli 
they  did  with  great  brutality. 

There  were  now  fifty-nine  on  board,  of  whom  eighteen  were  women. 
The  men  were  all  crowded  between  decks,  where  there  was  not  height 
sufficient  to  stand  upright.  But  this  vessel,  like  the  one  which  the 
seven  banished  Friends  had  been  put  on  board, —  who  were  after- 
wards sent  on  shore  by  the  Captain,  because  he  believed  the  hand 
of  the  Lord  frustrated  all  his  attempts  to  leave  the  shores  of  Eng- 
land,—  was  continually  hindered  by  some  unforeseen  circumstance, 
from  getting  down  the  river.  Fudge,  the  Captain,  was  arrested  for 
debt,  and  could  not  continue  in  command,  and  it  was  seven  months 
from  the  time  the  Friends  were  forced  to  embark  in  her,  before  she 
reached  LamVs  End.  During  this  long  delay  the  Plague  broke  out 
among  the  prisoners  and  crew,  and  twenty-seven  of  the  former  died 
of  it.  The  day  after  the  ship  got  out  to  sea,  she  was  captured  by  a 
Dutch  privateer,  and  carried  into  Horn,  in  North  Holland  ;  whence, 
when  it  was  found  they  would  not  be  exchanged  as  prisoners  of 
war,  the  Friends  were  sent  home,  being  furnished  with  a  ceptificate 
of  the  facts,  and  a  passport. 

It  was  to  be  expected  that  a  pestilence  of  so  contagious  a  cliar- 
acter  and  so  fatal  in  its  effects,  as  to  sweep  off  one  hundred  thousand 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  357 

of  the  inhabitants  of  London,  in  tlie  comparatively  short  time  of  its 
visitation,  would  include  among  its  victims  some  of  the  Friends  re- 
siding there,  besides  those  who  being  placed  by  the  Magistrates 
where  the  poison  was  in  its  most  virulent  form,  could  hardly  hope 
to  escape  its  fatal  effects.  A  number  died,  and  as  the  deploral)le 
condition  of  the  city  jiaralyzed  almost  all  trade,  the  bereaved  fami- 
lies were  often  left  helpless  and  suffering.  To  meet  the  exigency, 
and  make  the  needful  provision  for  the  widows  and  orphans,  some 
Friends,  both  men  and  women,  devoted  themselves  to  the  work  of 
administering  relief;  holding  regular  meetings  once  in  the  week  for 
receiving  information,  and  devising  the  best  modes  for  meeting  the 
uaeds  of  the  cas&s  presented.  As  Friends  in  the  country  became 
aware  of  the  suffering  and  wants  of  their  brethren  and  sisters  in  the 
stricken  city,  they  manifested  that  brotherly  love  and  sympathy  one 
for  another,  which  was  a  marked  feature  in  their  religious  charac- 
ter, by  not  only  contributing  of  their  substance,  but  by  several  of 
the  more  substantial  members  going  up  to  London  as  with  their  lives 
in  their  hands,  in  order  to  lend  their  aid  in  the  arduous  work  re- 
quired ;  to  suffer  with  them,  and  by  both  example  and  precept,  to 
encourage  and  strengthen  them  in  the  performance  of  their  social 
and  religious  duties.  Among  those  who  were  drawn  thus  to  visit 
Friends  in  London,  were  Alexander  Parker,  George  Whitehead 
and  Josiah  Cole,  all  eminent  ministers. 

In  this  year,  [1665,]  Samuel  Fisher,  of  whom  some  account  has 
been  given,  died  in  prison,  in  London,  having  been  kept  there  closely 
for  over  eighteen  months. 

As  the  testimony  of  one  entirely  unconnected  with  Friends,  to  the 
worth  of  this  learned  man,  but  meek  and  exemplary  Friend,  the 
following  from  the  pen  of  the  editor  of  Neal's  Puritans,  is  of 
interest;  "There  died  in  prison  this  year,  Mr.  Samuel  Fisher,  a 
man  of  great  parts  and  literature,  of  eminent  piety  and  virtue,  who 
reflected  honor  on  each  denomination  of  Christians  with  which, 
through  the  change  of  his  sentiments,  he  became  successively  con- 
nected. ...  In  1623,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  became  a  student 
in  Trinity  College,  Oxford,  where  he  took  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Arts,  and  then  removed  to  New  Inn.  At  tiie  University  he  dis- 
tinguislied  himself  by  his  application  and  proficiency,  gaired  an  ac- 
curate knowledge  of  Greek  and  Roman  Antiquities,  and  was  par- 
ticularly given  to  the  study  of  rhetoric  and  poetry.  ...  In  1632, 
he  was  presented  to  the  vicarage  of  Lidd,  in  Kent,  a  living  of  £500 
per  annum.     H'.'re  he  had  the  character  of  a  very  powerful  preacher, 


358  FRIEXDS    IX    THE 

uiiitod  with  humility  and  all'ahiliry  of  carriage.  While  in  this 
situation,  in  consequence  of  frequent  conversation  with  a  Baptist 
minister,  he  was  led  into  an  examination  of  the  questions  concern- 
ing baptism,  which  ended  in  his  embracing  the  opinions  of  the  Bap- 
tists, being  baptized  by  immersion  .  .  .  having  freely  resij^ned  his 
living,  and  returned  his  diploma  to  the  bishop.     .     .    .    He  rented 

a  farm  and  commenced  a  grazier During  his  connection 

with  the  Baptists  he  baptized  some  hundreds,  and  was  frequently 

engaged  in  public  disputes  in  vindication  of  their  sentiments 

He  was  deemed  an  ornament  to  the  sect,  and  one  of  the  chief  de- 
fenders of  its  doctrine.  In  1654,  he  embraced  the  principles  of  the 
Quakers,  and  became  an  active  and  laborious  minister  among  them. 
He  preached  at  Dunkirk  against  the  idolatry  of  the  priests  and 
friars,  and  in  company  with  another  Friend,  travelled  on  foot  over 
the  Alps  to  Rome,  where  they  testified  against  the  superstitions  of 
the  place,  and  distributed  some  books  among  the  ecclesiastics,  and 
'  left  it  without  molestation.  After  his  return  he  suffered  among 
Protestants  the  persecution  he  escaped  among  the  Romanists.  The 
greater  part  of  the  last  four  years  of  his  life  was  spent  in  prison,  and 
after  two  years'  confinement  in  the  White  Lion  prison,  in  South- 
wark,  he  died,  '  in  perfect  peace  with  God,  in  good  esteem  both  with 
his  friends  and  many  others,  on  account  of  the  eminence  of  his  natu- 
ral parts,  and  acquired  abilities  as  a  scholar,  and  of  his  exemplary 
humility,  social  virtues,  and  circumspect  conversation  as  a  Christian  ; 
in  meekness  instructing  those  who  opposed,  and  laboring  incessantly 
by  his  discourses  and  by  his  writings,  to  propagate  and  promote  true 
Christian  practice  and  piety.'  " 

William  Caton  also  died  in  this  year,  in  Amsterdam,  where  he 
had  been  married  to  a  Dutch  w^oman  of  high  repute  among  Friends 
of  that  place,  and  continued  to  reside. 

In  1662,  after  the  re-establishment  of  Episcopacy  in  England,  it  was 
introduced  again  into  Scotland  as  the  national  religion — after  an  in- 
terruption of  twenty-four  years  —  notwithstanding  a  very  large  por- 
tion of  the  people  was  opposed  to  it.  Sharp  was  made  Archbishop, 
and  several  bishops  were  assigned  benefices  in  diflTerent  parts  of  the 
country.  Burnet's  account  of  the  character  of  these  men,  represents 
most  of  them  to  have  been  very  unfit  for  holding  any  oflice  in  a  pro- 
fessed Christian  church ;  especially  the  Metropolitau,whom  the  writers 
of  the  time  describe  as  a  man  whose  conduct  was  regulated  l)y  no 
good    principle.     The    Scotch    Parliament,  like  that  of   the  sister 


SEVENTEENTH    CENT  U  11 Y.  359 

Kingdom,  was  compliant  to  the  wishes  of  the  royalists  and  the  high 
church  party.  It  annulled  the  laws  passed  since  1633,  which  were 
in  favor  of  Puritanism,  declared  the  "solemn  League  and  Cove- 
nant" unlawful,  and  commenced  a  series  of  oppressive  acts,  which 
inflicted  sufferings  that  wore  out  the  patience  of,  and  finally  drove 
the  persecuted  Covenanters  —  who  did  not  hold  to  the  peaceable  prin- 
ciples of  the  Gospel  as  Friends  did — into  insurrection  and  rebellion. 
A  Court  of  Ecclesiastical  Commission  was  instituted,  which  acted 
as  though  governed  by  the  same  principles  as  the  tSpauish  Inquisi- 
tion ;  passing  sentence  without  allowing  it  to  be  known  who  was  the 
accuser,  what  was  the  evidence  of  guilt,  or  what  defence  could  be 
made  by  the  accused.  Having  risen  in  arras,  attended  at  first  with 
some  success,  the  Covenanters  were  totally  defeated  at  Pentland  ; 
and  the  pretext  being  thus  obtained,  there  followed  a  succession 
of  judicial  murders,  imprisonment,  tines,  and  proscription,  that 
stamped  the  administration  and  executive  with  indelible  disgrace. 

The  whole  course  of  these  events  illustrates  how  much  better  it  is 
to  obey  the  precepts  of  Him  who  knows  what  is  in  man,  and  sees  the 
end  from  the  beginning,  than  to  give  place  to  the  dictates  of  passion 
or  corrupt  human  reai^on ;  remembering  that  He  can  and  will  sup- 
port and  preserve  all  who  adhere  to  the  principles  of  his  gospel,  and 
in  the  midst  of  danger  and  persecution  seek  not  to  avenge  them- 
selves or  to  resist  evil  by  violence,  but  resign  themselves  and  their 
cause  into  the  hand  of  their  almighty  Father.  One  of  their  his- 
torians, speaking  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterians  under  this  severe  per- 
secution, saj-^s,  "  Many  were  exorbitantly  fined,  unjustly  imprisoned, 
oppressed  by  soldiers,  plundered  by  dragoons,  and  a  lawless  High- 
land host.  Multitudes  were  forced  to  wander  about  in  dens  and  caves 
of  the  earth.  Not  a  few  were  tortured  by  boots,  thumb-kins,  fire- 
matches,  &c.  Some  were  beheaded,  others  were  hanged  and  quar- 
tered ;  women  as  well  as  men  suffered  death :  some  of  them  were 
hanged  and  others  drowned  :  prisons  were  crowded,  and  ships  were 
loaded  with  prisoners,  who  were  banished  from  their  native  country  ; 
of  whoui  many  perished." 

With  the  feeling  that  prevailed,  it  was  not  to  be  expected  that 
Friends  would  escape  with  any  less  suttering  than  had  accompanieil 
the  rise  and  slow  increase  of  the  Society  in  that  part  of  Great  Britain. 
George  Keith  joined  himself  to  Friends,  after  having  been  educated 
in  the  Presbyterian  faith,  and  taken  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts 
in  the  University  of  Aberdeen,  of  which  city  he  was  a  native. 
Going  to  the  "church"  in  Aberdeen,  in    IGGo,  and  attempting  to 


360  FRIENDS     IX    THE 

(Icflare  tlic  pnnciplcs  whicli  1k'  liiul  adopted,  he  Ava.s  knocked  down 
and  beaten  by  the  bell-hanger,  and  then  committed  to  the  jail. 
Four  other  Friends  were  taken  Irom  their  meeting  in  the  same 
city  and  shut  up  in  what  was  called  the  Iron  House,  among  thieves 
and  nuirilerers.  The  same  course  towards  Friends  was  pursued  in 
other  parts  of  Scotland,  but  the  persecution  was  never  so  general 
nor  so  barbarous  as  in  England.  It  did  not  produce  the  effect 
desired,  lor  several,  members  of  the  different  congregations,  con- 
tinued to  leave  them,  and  join  themselves  to  the  persecuted  (Quakers. 
Among  those  who  united  themselves  to  Friends  in  1666,  was 
David  Barclay  of  Ury,  "  descended  from  an  ancient  and  honorable 
family ; "  and  near  the  close  of  the  same  year  his  son  Robert  Barclay, 
who  afterward  wrote  the  famous  "Apology  for  the  True  Christian 
Divinity,"  became  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  doctrines  held  by 
Friends  and  willingly  cast  in  his  lot  among  them. 

Until  past  middle  life  David  Barclay  had  spent  most  of  his  time 
in  the  army,  having  entered  into  service  under  Gustavus  Adolphus, 
King  of  Sweden,  and  risen  to  the  rank  of  Colonel.  During  the 
civil  wars  in  Great  Britain  he  was  in  active  service  as  commander 
of  cavalry,  and  appears  to  have  been  engaged  in  many  conflicts, 
and  important  services.  He  was  appointed  Governor  of  Strath- 
boggie,  a  strong  military  position.  His  wife  was  a  Gordown,*  whose 
family  was  connected  with  that  of  James  I.,  of  England.  He  was 
repeatedly  elected  to  Parliament.  After  the  restoration  he  was 
committed  a  close  prisoner  to  Edinburg  Castle.  Here  he  was  kept 
for  a  considerable  time,  but  finally  was  liberated  without  any  specific 
charge  having  been  brought  against  him.  Prior  to  his  imprison- 
ment, however,  disgusted  with  the  injustice  and  hypocrisy  he  saw 
in  the  world,  and  anxious  to  devote  the  remainder  of  life  to  obtain- 
ing a  knowledge  and  the  practice  of  religion,  he  retired  from  the 
occupation  and  associations  that  had  heretofore  engrossed  his  atten- 
tion, and  gave  his  time  to  reading  the  New  Testament,  as  the  means, 
as  he  thought,  of  acquiring  the  knowledge  of  the  religion  of  Christ 
in  its  original  purity.  Hearing  there  was  a  people  called  in  derision 
Quakers,  who  though  everywhere  spoken  against  as  great  sticklers 
for  an  uncompromising  testimony  against  the  corrupt  ways  of  the 
world,  were  nevertheless  admitted  to  be  truthful,  honest  and  un- 
flinching in  upholding  what  they  believed  to  be  right,  he  concluded 
there  must  be  something  in  their  religion  different  from  that  of 
ordinary  professors.  Having  occasion  to  go  up  to  London  he  there 
*  Afterwards  spelled  Gordon. 


SEVENTEEXTII     CENTURY.  361 

met  with  some  Friends,  and  l)y  conversation  witli  tliem,  and  yield- 
ing to  the  enlightening  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  became  con- 
vinced that  this  evilly  entreated  peoj)le  held  the  truths  of  the  gospel 
iu  their  purity.  He  did  not,  however,  at  that  time,  conclude  to 
join  the  Society.  During  his  imprisonment  iu  Edinburg  Castle 
he  met  with  John  Swinton,  likewise  a  prisoner;  who  though  he  had 
been  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Court  of  Sessions,  and  a  member  of 
the  Council  of  State  for  the  Government  of  Scotland,  had  become  a 
Friend.  The  intercourse  between  them  served  to  remove  any  doubts 
or  fears  D.  Barclay  —  who  was  a  cautious  man  —  might  have  had, 
respecting  the  scriptural  soundness  of  the  religion  professed  by 
Friends,  and  that  they  held  themselves  ready  to  give  up  all  for  its 
sake.  He  therefore  joined  himself  to  the  Society,  and  ever  after 
adorned  it  by  his  exemplary  life  and  conversation  ;  meekly  endur- 
ing the  scorn  and  sufiering  which  his  conscientious  course  brought 
upon  him. 

Walter  Scott,  who  was  a  descendant  of  John  Swinton,  gives  the 
following  account  of  his  ancestor:  "  Tiie  celebrated  John  Swinton, 
of  Swinton,  nineteenth  baron  in  descent  of  that  ancient  and  once 
powerful  family,  was,  with  Sir  "William  Lockhard,  of  Lee,  the  person 
whom  Cromwell  chiefly  trusted  in  the  management  of  Scottish 
affairs  during  his  usurpation.  After  the  restoration,  Swinton  was 
devoted  as  a  victim  to  the  new  order  of  things,  and  was  brought 
down  in  the  same  vessel  which  conveyed  the  Marquis  of  Argyle  to 
Edinburgh,  where  that  nobleman  was  tried  and  executed.  Swinton 
was  destined  to  the  same  fate.  He  had  assumed  the  habit  and  en- 
tered into  the  Society  of  the  Quakers,  and  appeared  as  one  of  their 
number  before  the  Parliament  of  Scotland.  He  renounced  all  legal 
defence,  though  several  pleas  w^ere  open  to  him,  and  answered  in 
conformity  with  the  princijjles  of  his  sect ;  that  at  the  time  these 
crimes  were  imputed  to  him,  he  was  in  the  gall  of  bitterness  and 
bond  of  iniquity;  but  that  God  Almighty  having  since  .called  him 
to  the  Light,  he  saw  and  acknowledged  these  errors,  and  did  not 
refuse  to  pay  the  forfeit  of  them,  even  though,  in  the  judgment  of 
the  Parliament,  it  should  extend  to  life  itself.  Respect  to  fallen 
greatness,  and  to  the  patient  and  calm  resignation  with  which  a 
rnan  once  in  high  power  expressed  himself  under  such  a  change  of 
fortune,  found  Swinton  friends;  family  connections,  and  some  in- 
terested considerations  of  Middleton  the  Commissioner,  joined  to 
procure  his  safety  ;  and  he  was  dismissed,  but  after  a  long  imprison- 
ment and  much  dilai)idation  of  his  estates." 


362  F  R  I  E  X  D  S     I  N    TII  E 

At  Avliat  time  John  Swiuton  joined  the  Society  of  Friends  is  not 
mentioned,  nor  whether  lii.<  eonvineenient  was  by  instrumental  means 
or  through  tlie  immediate  ilhiminatiiig.  convincing  power  of  Divine 
Grace  ;  but  as  he  is  mentioned  by  Ah>xander  JaH'ray  as  one  with 
wliom  lie  took  counsel  on  religious  matters,  when  he(Jaffray)  felt 
himself  required  to  give  up  the  ordinances  and  ceremonials  of  the 
Presbyterian  Society,  it  is  probable  he  had  long  been  a  seeker  after 
the  knowledge  of  vital  religion,  and  was  ready  to  embrace  the  doc- 
trines and  testimonies  of  the  gospel  as  held  by  Friends,  when  he  first 
heard  them  preached.  Indifferent  as  he  seemed  to  the  result  of  his 
trial  before  the  Scotcli  Parliament,  whether  he  should  be  condemned 
to  death  or  not,  such  was  the  love  that  filled  his  heart  towards  his 
fellow-men,  and  his  sense  of  duty  to  do  what  he  could  for  the  salva- 
tion of  their  souls,  that  while  shut  up  in  the  castle  of  Edinburgh, 
he  labored  so  assiduously  to  communicate  a  knowledge  of  the  truth 
among  his  fellow  prisoners,  that  the  Governor,  fearing  the  spread  of 
his  religious  views,  shut  him  up  in  solitary  confinement  for  many 
weeks,  permitting  no  intercourse  to  be  held  with  him. 

Robert  Barclay  was  born  at  Gordonstown,  the  seat  of  hh  mother's 
family,  in  1648,  and  received  some  part  of  his  education  at  the  best 
schools  in  his  native  country.  At  an  early  age,  his  father  sent  him 
to  Paris,  and  entered  him  as  a  student  in  the  Scottish  College  in  that 
city,  of  which  his  uncle  was  Rector.  Here  he  made  so  great  pro- 
gress in  his  studies,  as  to  attract  the  notice  of  the  different  masters, 
and  to  secure  the  approbation  of  his  uncle  ;  who  offered  to  make  him 
his  heir,  if  he  would  agree  to  remain  with  him.  Although  his  early 
training  had  been  in  the  principles  of  the  strictest  sect  of  Presbyteri- 
ans, yet,  being  now  thrown  into  the  society  of  Roman  Catholics,  he  be- 
came somewhat  tinctured  with  several  of  their  superstitious  notions, 
and  though  he  had  become  a  ])roficientin  the  Latin  and  French  lan- 
guages, had  acquired  a  considerable  knowledge  of  Greek,  and  bid 
fair  to  become  eminent  as  a  scholar,  his  father,  fearing  lest  he  might 
be  induced  to  embrace  the  Popish  religion,  brought  him  home  when 
in  his  seventeenth  year.  His  return  to  Scotland  was  in  1664,  two 
years  before  his  father  joined  with  Friends.  Although  so  young, 
his  mental  powers  were  far  more  developed  than  is  ordinary  at  that 
age,  and  he  continued  to  improve  them,  both  by  study,  by  reading, 
and  by  a.ssociation  with  men  of  intellectual  culture. 

Anxious  to  make  himself  more  fully  acquainted  with  the  differ- 
ences in  religious  opinion  that  were  separating  his  countrymen  into 
sects,  bitterly  opposed  to  each  other,  he  visited  extensively  among 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  363 

liis  relatives  and  friends,  who  made  different  profession  ;  especially 
among  his  Catholic  relatives,  in  different  parts  of  the  country.  He 
observed  the  change  that  had  taken  or  was  taking  place  in  his  fa- 
ther's views  and  habits,  and  was  deeply  impressed  by  the  circumspect 
conduct,  and  religious  feeling  that  marked  his  every-day  life ;  but 
when  David  Barclay  was  imprisoned  in  Edinburgli  Castle,  the 
Governor  denied  him  any  intercourse  with  his  son.  D.  Barclay, 
however,  was  very  anxious  his  son  should  not  adopt  any  form  of 
religion  from  imitation,  or  any  other  motive  than  heartfelt  convic- 
tion, and  therefore  thought  it  right,  seeing,  that  though  young,  he 
was  more  than  ordinarily  capable  to  examine  and  judge  for  himself, 
to  leave  him  to  be  guided  in  this  matter  by  his  own  convictions. 
Removed  from  the  influence  of  his  Roman  Catholic  associates  in 
Paris,  and  at  liberty  to  compare  the  tenets  of  that  apostate  "  Church," 
Avith  the  plain  teachings  of  the  New  Testament,  he  soon  became  exr 
tricated  from  the  notions  with  which  it  had  in  some  measure  en- 
snared him,  and  was  left  free  to  turn  his  mind  seriously  to  seek  for 
the  pearl  of  great  price. 

It  does  not  appear  that  R.  Barclay  became  a  convert  to  Friends' 
principles,  through  the  medium  of  preaching ;  though  there  has  been 
a  tradition  handed  down,  that  he  was  deeply  impressed  by  these 
few  words,  uttered  by  a  minister  in  the  first  meeting  of  Friends 
which  he  attended  :  "  In  stillness  there  is  fullness,  in  fullness  there  is 
nothingness,  in  nothingness  there  are  all  things."  In  the  "  Ury 
Record,"  it  is  stated,  "  He  came  by  the  power  of  God  to  be  reached, 
and  made  to  bow  before  the  truth."  He,  speaking  of  himself,  says, 
"  Who  not  by  strength  of  argument,  or  by  particular  disquisition  of 
each  doctrine,  and  convincement  of  my  understanding  thereby,  came 
to  receive  and  bear  witness  to  the  Truth ;  but  by  being  secretly 
reached  by  this  Life.  For  when  I  came  into  the  silent  assemblies 
of  God's  people,  I  felt  a  secret  power  amongst  them  which  touched 
my  heart ;  and  as  I  gave  way  unto  it,  I  found  the  evil  weakening 
in  me,  and  the  good  raised  up;  and  so  I  became  thus  knit  and 
united  unto  them,  hungering  more  and  more  after  the  increase 
of  this  power  and  life,  whereby  I  might  find  myself  perfectly  re- 
deemed."     [1667.] 

Having  given  himself  up  to  walk  in  obedience  to  the  Divine  will, 
as  manifested  through  the  inward  appearance  of  the  Spirit  of  Ciirist 
Jesus,  Robert  Barclay,  tliough  but  in  the  twentieth  year  of  his  age, 
found  himself  called  to  a  life  of  great  watchfulness  and  dedication  ; 
by  which  he  became  an  able  witness  of  the  regenerating  power  of 


364  FRIENDS    IX    T II E 

Divine  Grace,  establislied  upon  the  everlasting  Rock  and  founda- 
tion of  prophets  and  apostles,  and  prepared  to  receive  a  gift  in  the 
ministry.  Through  the  remainder  of  his  comparatively  short  life, 
he  labored  abundantly  to  bring  others  to  a  knowledge  of  the  trutii 
as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and  to  defend  the  true  Christian  divinity  as  set 
forth  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  from  the  assaults  and  cavils  of  tlie 
ignorant  or  unbelieving ;  and  his  labor  was,  and  continues  to  be, 
greatly  blessed  in  the  Lord.  His  father  phvced  him  upon  his  estate 
at  Ury,  accompanied  by  a  Friend  named  Falconer,  who  had  at 
different  times  suffered  imprisonment  on  account  of  faithfulness  to 
his  religious  principles  ;  and  a  meeting  of  Friends  was  soon  held  in 
the  house  there.  Robert  was  at  that  time  but  nineteen  years  of  age. 
The  number  of  Friends  in  Scotland  continued  slowly  to  increase. 
There  never  being  those  large  conviucements,  wliich  often  followed 
•the  promulgation  of  the  doctrines  they  held,  in  England  ;  nor  was 
their  persecution,  though  often  very  severe,  of  that  barbarous  char- 
acter which  disgraced  the  party  in  power  in  the  sister  kingdom. 
This  result  was  not  owing  to  any  less  bitterness  and  hate  on  the 
part  of  the  clergy  and  bishops,  but  because  the  civil  power  was  in 
the  hands  of  men  not  always  disi)0sed  to  allow  it  to  be  made  use  of 
to  gratify  the  ungoverned  passions  of  the  "  ministers"  of  the  so-called 
Church.  Several  of  the  Magistrates  not  only  refused  to  impose  the 
fines  and  imprisonment  which  the  ecclesiastics  sought  to  inflict,  but 
sometimes  made  use  of  their  authority,  to  set  free  some  whom  they 
were  convinced  were  illegally  or  cruelly  punished. 

Early  after  the  Plague  had  begun  to  spread  in  London,  the  Court 
removed  to  Oxford,  and  while  it  was  ravaging  the  city,  the  Parlia- 
ment was  convened  in  the  same  town,  [1664-5.]  Whatever  sobering 
effect  it  may  have  produced  on  others,  the  pestilential  scourge  does 
not  appear  to  have  so  impressed  either  King  or  Parliament,  as  to  in- 
duce the  former  to  attempt  to  reform  liimself  and  his  immoral  court, 
or  the  latter  to  cease  their  vain  and  unchristian  attempts  to  enforce 
uniformity  in  religion.  It  was  said  that  the  King  having  inquired 
whether  any  Quakers  died  with  the  disease,  and  learning  that  such 
was  the  case,  remarked  that  then  the  pestilence  could  not  be  regarded 
as  an  evidence  of  Divine  displeasure  at  the  treatment  they  received  ; 
forgetting  that  the  righteous  are  often  taken  from  the  evil  to  come  ; 
and  that  though  one  event,  so  far  as  regards  death,  happens  to  the 
evil  and  the  good,  yet  the  chastisements  of  the  Almighty  are  inflicted 
to  arouse  the  bad  to  a  sense  of  their  wickedness,  to  induce  them  to 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  365 

repent  and  to  amend  their  ways.  Even  Defoe,  speaking  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Court  having  escaped  the  Phigue,  says,  "  For  which  I 
cannot  say  that  they  ever  showed  any  great  token  of  thaiikfuhiess, 
and  hardly  anything  of  reformation ;  though  they  did  not  want 
being  told  that  their  crying  vices  might,  without  breach  of  charity, 
be  said  to  have  gone  far  in  bringing  that  terrible  judgment  upon  the 
■whole  nation." 

1665.  The  Parliament,  untaught  by  the  failure  of  its  previous  efforts 
to  change,  by  force,  men's  religious  convictions,  or  by  the  trouble,  loss 
and  misery  spread  over  the  nation,  by  its  vain  attempt  to  oblige  all 
the  people  to  support  what  it  chose  to  call  the  "  Church,"  proceeded 
to  enact  another  penal  law  against  Dissenters,  whicli  was  styled, 
"  An  act  to  restrain  non-conformists  from  inhabiting  corporations." 
This  Act  prescribed  an  oath  to  be  taken,  that  it  was  not  lawful  to 
take  up  arms  against  the  King,  or  against  his  person  by  his  author- 
ity, or  against  those  commissioned  by  him,  or  to  attempt  to  change 
the  government.  It  also  set  forth,  that  whereas,  "  many  vicars, 
curates,  lecturers  and  other  persons  in  holy  orders"  liad  not  sub- 
scribed to  the  Act  of  Uniformity,  and  yet  undertook  to  preach  in 
unlawful  assemblies,  instilling  their  poisonous  principles  of  schism, 
Ac,  therefore,  all  such  persons  shall  not,  after  "the  24th  of  March  " 
ensuing,  come  or  be  within  five  miles  of  any  city,  town-corporate, 
or  borough  represented  in  Parliament,  Avherein  they  may  have, 
since  the  Act  of  Oblivion,,  been  parson,  vicar,  &c.,  or  preached  in 
any  conventicle  —  before  they  have  subscribed  to  the  afore-men- 
tioned oath  before  a  Magistrate,  &c.,  under  a  penalty  of  £40 ;  one- 
third  to  be  paid  to  the  person  sueing  for  it.  And  if  they  do  not 
take  the  oath,  they  shall  also  be  incapable  of  teaching  in  any  school, 
or  to  take  boarders,  or  tablers,  for  instruction,  under  a  like  penalty. 
The  offenders  in  either  case  may  be  committed,  by  two  justices,  to 
prison  for  six  months.  Though  this  law  was  ostensibly  aimed  at 
the  clergy  of  the  Presbyterians,  Baptists  and  Independents,  and  it 
wrought  them  much  suffering,  it  was,,  nevertheless,  principally  made 
use  of  as  a  means  for  distressing  Friends. 

It  might  seem  from  the  contemplated  suffering  likely  to  result 
from  the  operation  of  this  Act,  that  the  Court  and  Parliament,  so 
far  from  regarding  the  depoi)ulating  of  London  by  the  Plague  as  a 
retribution  for  the  profligacy  of  the  people,  or  for  their  cruelty 
towards  Dissenters,  must  rather  have  construed  it  as  a  judgment 
for  not  taking  more  severe  measures  for  their  extermination.  Cer- 
tainly they  manifested  no  disposition  to  relent  in  their  persecution, 


366  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

Imt  went  on  with  tlio  same  arrofraiit  intolcranco,  to  allow  no  man  to 
judge  for  him.self  in  what  manner  or  form  he  should  worship  and 
serve  his  Creator.  The  cry  of  oppression  and  sufferina:,  though  find- 
ing entrance  at  the  ear  of  the  Lord  of  Sabaoth,  appeared  to  make 
no  other  impression  on  their  feelings,  than  to  embitter  them  still 
more,  if  possible,  against  the  non-conformists,  and  to  seek,  by  wdiat- 
ever  means  they  could  command,  to  punish  and  destroy  them.  It 
is  not  surprising,  therefore,  to  find  the  great  fire  in  London,  that 
followed  not  long  after  the  disappearance  of  the  Plague,  spoken  of 
by  several  writers  of  that  day,  as  another  just  judgment  of  the 
Almighty  for  the  persevering  wickedness  of  the  Court  and  people. 
Its  origin  was  never  clearly  ascertained,  though  the  Committee 
appointed  by  Parliament  to  investigate  the  matter,  reported  having 
received  evidence  of  fire-balls  having  been  thrown  into  houses  by 
certam  Papists,  who  had  fled  from  the  country.  A  Frenchman,  who 
afterwards  was  shown  to  have  been  insane,  was  convicted  and  exe- 
cuted on  his  own  confession,  which  probably  was  a  mere  delusion. 

The  fire  commenced  on  the  2d  of  September,  1666,  near  where 
the  Monument  now  stands,  and  continued  to  burn  between  three 
and  four  days,  laying  in  ashes  nearly  the  whole  of  the  city  within 
the  walls.  Thirteen  thousand  two  hundred  dwelling-houses  and 
shops,  eighty-nine  "churches,"  many  public  buildings, school-houses, 
libraries,  &c.,  were  consumed,  including  the  great  "  Cathedral  of  St. 
Paul."  Merchandise,  furniture,  and  goods  of  various  kind,  and  of 
enormous  value  were  destroyed,  and  very  many  were  reduced,  as  by 
a  stroke,  from  comparative  wealth  to  poverty,  by  its  terrible  ravages. 
The  inhabitants,  driven  unexpectedly  from  their  homes,  could  carry 
but  little  away  with  them,  and  were  often  glad  to  escape  with  their 
lives,  leaving  their  household  goods  behind  them.  Cabins  and  tents 
were  hastily  erected  on  the  fields  around  ;  where  many  of  those  who 
had  been  rich  were  glad  to  find  lodging  and  shelter  ;  while  hundreds 
were  forced  to  wander  away  to  seek  for  food  and  temporary  protec- 
tion. It  was  an  awful  calamity,  and  for  a  while  stayed  the  hand  of 
persecution. 

John  Evelyn,  in  his  Diary,  containing  much  of  historical  interest, 
thus  records  his  observation  of  the  fire:  "September  3d  [1666],  the 
fire  continued  all  this  night— if  I  may  call  that  night  which  w^s 
light  as  day  for  ten  miles  round  about— after  a  dreadful  manner, 
when  conspiring  with  a  fierce  east  wind  in  a  very  dry  season.  I  went 
on  foot  to  Bankside  in  Southwark,  and  saw  the  whole  south  part  of 
the  city  burning,  from  Cheapside  to  the  Thames,  and  all  along  Corn- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  367 

hill,  Tower  Street,  Fencluirch  Street,  Gracious  Street,  and  so  along 
to  Bainard's  Castle,  and  was  taking  hold  of  St.  Paul's  church.  The 
conflagration  was  so  ujiiversal,  and  the  people  so  astonished,  that 
from  the  beginning — I  knew  not  by  what  despondency  of  ftite — 
they  hardly  stirred  to  quench  it.  So  that  there  was  nothing  heard 
or  seen  but  crying  and  lamentation;  and  running  about  like  dis- 
tracted creatures.  ...  All  the  sky  was  of  a  fiery  aspect  like  the 
top  of  a  burning  oven,  the  light  being  seen  above  forty  miles  round 
about  for  many  nights.  The  poor  inhabitants  were  dispersed  about 
St.  George's  Fields  and  JVIoorfields,  as  far  as  Highgate;  several 
miles  iu  circle ;  some  under  tents,  some  under  miserable  huts  and 
*  hovels  ;  many  without  a  rag  or  necessary  utensil,  bed  or  board  ;  who 
from  delicateness,  riches  and  easy  accommodations  in  stately  and 
well-furnished  houses,  were  now  reduced  to  extremest  misery  and 
poverty." 

Many  Friends  suffered  great  loss  of  goods,  &c.,  by  the  fire. 

Two  or  three  days  befi)re  the  fire  began,  a  Friend  from  Hunting- 
don, named  Thomas  Ibbit  came  to  London,  and  went  through  the 
streets,  with  his  clothing  loose  and  disarranged,  proclaiming  that  a 
judgment  by  fire  would  lay  waste  the  city.  In  an  interview  which 
some  Friends  obtained  with  him  in  the  evening  of  one  of  those  days, 
on  being  asked  what  was  the  origin  of  his  concern,  and  the  authority 
of  his  message  ?  he  informed  them  that  he  had  a  vision  of  the  fire, 
and  a  sense  of  the  impending  judgment  for  some  time ;  but  that  he 
had  put  off"  coming  and  declaring  it,  as  he  was  commanded,  until, 
as  he  said,  he  felt  the  fire  in  his  own  bosom.  Before  he  left  the  city 
he  saw  his  prediction  fulfilled,  and  London  in  flames.  This  quick 
confirmation  of  what  he  believed  to  be  the  word  of  the  Lord  through 
him,  proved  too  much  for  his  Christian  steadfastness.  Whether  he 
became  inflated  with  spiritual  pride,  or,  what  is  more  probable,  the 
exciting  circumstances  around  him  unsettled  his  brain  and  deprived 
him  of  the  use  of  his  reason,  he  gave  himself  up  to  the  extravagant 
notion  that  the  same  omniscient  Being  who  had  enabled  him  to  fore- 
see the  coming  event,  would  give  him  })ower  to  stop  the  devouring 
element.  He  therefore  placed  himself  in  front  of  the  advancing 
flames  with  outstretched  arms,  and  had  not  some  of  his  friends 
dragged  him  away,  it  seemed  probable  he  would  have  paid  the 
penalty  of  his  infatuation  with  his  life.  He  afterwards  recovered 
from  his  frenzy,  and  confessed  the  error  into  which  he  had  been 
betrayed. 

The  liberation  of  George  Fox  from  Scarborough  Castle  after  ha v- 


308  FRIEXDS     IX    THE 

ing  been  a  close  prisoner  there  and  at  Lancaster,  very  nearly  three 
years,  as  already  stated,  took  place  the  day  before  the  great  fire  in 
London  broke  out.  His  physical  system  had  suffered  greatly  from 
the  cruel  usage  he  had  endured,  so  that  his  stiffened,  swollen  limbs, 
were  hardly  able  to  bear  the  weight  of  his  body,  and  his  strength 
was  so  reduced  he  could  with  difficulty  ride  on  horseback.  Never- 
theless, his  mind,  ever  active  and  mainly  bent  on  promoting  the 
cause  of  truth  and  righteousness,  with  wliich  he  felt  that  the  inter- 
ests of  the  Society  he  had  been  so  instrumental  in  gathering  was 
inseparably  connected,  would  not  permit  him  to  seek  recovery  by 
indulgence  in  ease  and  retirement.  He  engaged  at  once  in  his  usual 
religious  labors,  and  as  he  was  able  to  bear  it,  travelled  through 
several  counties,  holding  meetings,  many  of  which  were  large,  visit- 
ing his  friends  in  many  places,  proclaiming  the  truths  of  the  gospel, 
and  holding;  out  the  word  of  admonition  and  encouraijement,  suited 
to  the  day  of  severe  suffering.  After  thus  laboring  in  the  north  he 
turned  south,  and  slowly  made  his  way  once  more  to  London.  [1666.] 
He  makes  but  little  comment  in  his  Journal  upon  the  condition  in 
which  he  found  thingsthere;  merely  saying,  "  Being  come  to  London 
I  walked  a  little  among  the  ruins  and  took  good  notice  of  them.  I 
saw  the  city  lying,  according  as  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  me 
concerning  it  several  years  before."  Varied,  as  may  be  supposed, 
must  have  been  his  emotions,  as  he  reflected  on  the  past  scenes  in 
which  he  had  been  a  deeply  interested  actor  in  the  great  city  now 
in  ruins.  The  earnest  gospel  labors  of  himself  and  his  friends  and 
fellow  ministers,  who  but  a  few  years  before  had  come  up  from  the 
north  to  "  declare  the  word  of  the  Lord  ; "  the  numbers  that  had 
been  gathered  into  communion  with  them  out  of  the  multitude  that 
thronged  its  streets;  the  dreadful  suffering  through  which  they  had 
passed,  and  were  still  enduring;  the  difficulties  and  occasional  dis- 
order attending  the  influx  of  members  into  the  Society,  not  yet 
.iniformly  concrete  and  reduced  to  systematic  government ;  and  the 
1  emoval  from  works  to  rewards,  of  many  of  those  devoted,  highly 
gifted  men,  who,  as  sons  of  thunder  or  consolation,  had  proved  them- 
selves eminently  qualified  to  share  with  him  in  the  great  Avork,  to 
which,  in  the  ordering  of  the  glorified  Head  of  the  church,  he  had 
been  called  would  all  press  upon  him.  But  he  knew  the  good  cause 
was  in  the  hands  of  One  who  was  all-sufficient  for  the  work. 

The  violence  of  persecution  was  stayed  for  a  time,  and  George 
Fox,  after  attending  the  remaining  meetings  in  London  —  the  Bull- 
and-Mouth  meetinsr-house  havinir  been  burnt — travelled  into  some  of 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  369 

the  southcri!  counties,  attending  the  regular  raeatings  of  Friends,  and 
often  holding  public  meetings,  which  were  large.  On  his  return  to 
Loudon,  he  was  engaged  with  other  Friends,  in  holding  a  series  of 
meetings  with  those,  who,  having  imbibed  the  notion  first  started  by 
J.  Perrot,  of  not  taking  off  the  hat  in  time  of  public  prayer,  and 
some  other  inconsistencies  in  relation  to  the  good  order  of  the  Church, 
had  given  Friends  no  little  trouble  in  some  places ;  creating  party 
spirit  and  strife.  But  as  several  who  had  been  caught  with  this 
delusion,  seeing  the  evil  consequences  arising  from  it,  had  become 
uneasy  with  their  course,  and  desirous  to  have  the  breach  healed, 
it  was  concluded  to  appoint  a  meeting,  to  which  all  of  them  who 
were  willing,  were  invited  to  come.  Referring  to  this  meeting,  G. 
Fox  says,  "Several  meetings  we  had  with  them,  the  Lord's  ever- 
lasting power  was  over  all,  and  set  judgment  on  the  head  of  that 
which  had  run  out.  In  these  meetings,  which  lasted  whole  days, 
sevei-al  who  had  gone  out  with  John  Perrot  and  others,  came  in 
again,  and  condemned  that  spirit  which  led  them  to  '  keep  on  their 
hats  when  Friends  prayed,  and  when  themselves  prayed.'  Some 
of  them  said,  '  Friends  were  more  righteous  than  they ; '  and  that 
'  If  Friends  had  not  stood,  they  had  been  gone  and  had  fallen  into 
perdition.'  Thus  the  Lord's  power  was  wonderfully  manifested, 
and  came  over  all." 

Thomas  Ellwood,  who  in  the  infancy  of  his  religious  life,  had 
been  caught  with  this  innovating  spirit,  but  was  soon  favored  to 
see  its  evil  origin  and  escape  from  its  withering  influence,  observes 
in  his  Journal,  "But  when  that  solemn  meeting  was  appointed  at 
'London,  for  a  travail  in  spirit  on  behalf  of  those  who  had  thus  gone 
out,  that  they  might  rightly  return,  and  be  sensibly  receiv^ed  into 
the  unity  of  the  body  again,  my  spirit  rejoiced,  and  w^ith  gladness 
of  heart  I  went  to  it,  as  did  many  more  of  both  city  and  country ; 
and  with  great  simplicity  and  humility  of  mind,  did  honestly  and 
openly  acknowledge  our  outgoings,  and  take  condemnation  and 
sliame  to  ourselves.  And  some  that  lived  at  too  remote  a  distance 
in  thi5  nation,  as  well  as  beyond  the  seas,  upon  notice  given  of  that 
meeting  and  the  intended  service  of  it,  did  the  like  by  writing,  in 
letters  directed  to  and  openly  read  in  the  meeting;  which  for  that 
purpo.se  was  continued  many  days.  Thus  in  the  motion  of  Life 
were  the  healing  waters  stirred  ;  and  many,  through  the  virtuous 
power  thereof,  were  restored  to  soundness ;  and  indeed  not  many 
were  lost." 
24 


)70  FRIENDS    IN    THE 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Sottiii!^  up  ^leetings  for  Discipline  —  Kemarks  on  G.  Fox — Necessity  for 
Discipline  —  Genera!  Meetings  —  Quarterly  Meetings —  Meetings  for  Busi- 
ness in  London  —  Yearly  Meeting  —  Meeting  for  Snffcritigs  —  System  of 
Church  Government —  Disci[)line. 

WHILE  still  in  Loudon,  George  Fox  gives  tlic  first  notice  of  the 
concern  wliicli  was  upon  him,  to  establish  a  uniform  system 
of  Church  government,  ibr  the  now  numerous  and  widespread  So- 
ciety of  Friends.  He  says :  "  Then  I  was  moved  of  the  Lord  to 
recommend  the  setting  up  of  five  Monthly  Meetings  of  men  and 
women  in  the  city  of  London,  besides  the  women's  meetings  and 
the  Quarterly  Meetings,  to  take  care  of  God's  glory,  and  to  ad- 
monish and  exhort  such  as  walked  disorderly  or  carelessly,  and  not 
according  to  truth.  For  whereas  Friends  had  only  Quarterly  Meet- 
ings, now  truth  was  spread  and  Friends  grown  more  numerous,  I 
was  moved  to  recommend  the  setting  of  Monthly  Meetings  through- 
out the  nation.  And  the  Lord  opened  to  me  what  I  must  do,  and  how 
the  men's  and  women's  Monthly  and  Quarterly  Meetings  should  be 
ordered  and  established  in  this  and  other  nations ;  and  that  I 
should  write  to  those  where  I  came  not,  to  do  the  same." 

Twenty  years  had  elapsed  since,  in  obedience  to  the  command  of 
Christ  his  Saviour,  George  Fox  had  first  gone  forth  to  proclaim 
among  the  people  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  as  they  had  been  made 
clear  to  his  understanding  by  the  same  Holy  Spirit  that  had  inspired 
holy  men  of  old  to  record  them  in  the  sacred  Scriptures.  Early  in 
his  mission  he  had  been  given  to  see  "The  harvest  white,  and  the 
seed  of  God  lying  thick  in  the  ground,  and  none  to  gather  it,"  and 
for  this  he  had  "  mourned  with  tears."  He  had  witnessed  the 
general  agitation  and  unsatisfied  seeking  of  the  people  on  the  sub- 
ject of  religion,  while  through  years  of  strife  and  bloodshed,  the 
doctrines  of  Christianity,  and  the  form  of  government  for  tlie  pro- 
fessed Church  of  Christ,  were  looked  upon  as  questions  that  could 
and  must  be  decided  at  the  point  of  the  sword.  Going  forth  without 
scrip  or  purse,  but  with  his  feet  shod  with  a  preparation  of  the  gospel 
of  peace,  he  had  witnessed  the  convincing  power  attending  the 
preaching  of  that  gospel,  with  a  measure  of  the  Holy  Ghost  sent 
down  from  heaven:  and  how,  by  the  Light  of  Christ  in  the  soul, 
people   were  brought  to    see,  to  compieliend,  and  to   embrace  the 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  371 

simple  spiritual  religion  of  which  He  [Christ]  was  the  Author.    His 
soul  had  been  bowed  under  sympathy  with  and  grief  for  them,  while 
he  saw  them  endui'iug  suffering,  and  even  death  itself,  rather  than 
forego  the  jieace  that  passeth  understanding;  obtained  by  obedience 
to  that  Light,  in  the  denial  of  self,  in  renouncing  the  manners  and 
fashions  of  a  vain  world,  and  its  forms  of  religion,  corrupted  by  the 
contrivances  of  men.    He  had  seen  a  noble  band  of  valiant  soldiers 
of  the  cross  quickly  raised  up,  and  equipped  by  the  Captain  of  Sal- 
vation, with  weapons,  "  not  carnal,  but  mighty  through  God  to  the 
pulling  down  of  strongholds,  casting  down  imaginations,  and  every 
high  thing  that  exalte^h  itself  against  the  knowledge  of  God."    Not- 
withstanding the  bigoted,  and  passionate  opposition  of  other  reli- 
gious professors  to  the  distinguishing  doctrine  they  preached — Christ 
within,  or  a  measure  of  his  Spirit  given  to  every  man  for  his  salva- 
tion— some  falsely  declaring  that  it  depreciated  the  necessity  for,  or 
the  value  of  the  one  great  propitiatory  offering  made  on  Calvai-y,  for 
the  sins  of  the  whole  world  ;  some  equally  untruly  asserting,  that  it 
was  a  blasphemous  assumption  of  a  divinity  in  man,  as  a  created 
being ;  while  others  derided  it  as  a  misconception  of  natural  con- 
science, arising  from  ignorance  and  superstition — yet,  he  knew  it  met 
the  Witness  for  Truth  in   the  minds  of  the  hearers,  who  had  long 
been  seeking  the  way  of  salvation,  and  who  received  it  joyfiiUy.  Thus 
tens  of  thousands  had  been  brought  to  experience  for  themselves, 
the  efficacy  of  obedience  to  "  that  inward  Light,  Spirit  and  Grace," 
which  he  had  been  commanded  to  turn  people  to,  when  first  com- 
missioned to  go  forth  on  his  errand  of  love  and  mercy,  and  had 
found,  as  he  had  declared  they  would  find,  that  by  it,  "  all  might 
know  their  salvation  and  their  way  to  God."     From  almost  every 
denomination  of  professing  Chi'istians,  they  had  been  gathered  ;  and 
those  who  were  faithful,  under  the  teaching  of  the  Divine  gift  or 
Grace,  had  learned  to  speak  the  same  language,  to  believe  in  and 
maintain  the  same  doctrines  and  testimonies,  and  patiently  to  sub- 
mit, not  only  t(j  the  reproaches  and  revilings  of  men,  but  to  the 
cunningly  devised  tortures  of  their  implacable  enemies. 

But  as  the  Scripture  doctrine  of  reconciliation  to  God  by  the  death 
of  his  Son,  and  of  justification  by  faith  in  Christ  risen  and  glorified, 
had  been  corrupted  by  Protestants  generally  ;  by  supposing  that  men 
ol)tain  remission  of  sius,  and  are  justified  in  the  sight  of  God,  by  a 
self-wrought  belief  in,  and  appliciation  to  themselves,  of  the  atoning 
death  and  sufferings  of  Christ  on  Calvary,  without  the  transforming 
operation  of  his  Holy  Spirit  on  the  soul ;  so  this  doctrine  of  the  Uni- 


372  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

versa!  Raving  Ligl)t,  or  Grace  of  God  whicli  bringetli  Salvation,  and 
which  hath  appeared  unto  all  men,  was  liable  to  be  perverted  and 
abused  ;  by  supposing  that  it  brought  man  into  an  equality  with 
Christ,  or  rendered  his  propitiatory  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of  mankind 
unnecessary,  or  without  effect  for  salvation.  It  might  also  be  in- 
voked as  authority  to  sanction  or  cover  up  individual  aberration 
from  the  strait  and  narrow  way  of  self-denial,  or  to  justify  insubor- 
dination to  the  restrictions  and  injunctions  of  church  government. 

Friends  had  become  a  numerous  body;  those  who  professed  to 
hold  the  principles  inculcated  by  them,  and  who  attended  their 
meetings,  were  considered  its  members,  without  any  rules  for  their 
formal  admission  having  been  adopted,  and  the  Society  was  held 
responsible  for  their  conduct ;  its  enemies  narrowly  watching  for 
any  occasion  whereby,  through  them,  they  could  bring  odium  upon  it. 
Though  persecution  and  suffering  kept  it  generally  clear  of  those 
who  were  not  sincere  in  their  profession,  and  consistent  therewith  in 
their  lives  and  conversation,  yet  experience  had  already  been  had, 
in  the  cases  of  J.  Naylor  and  his  followers,  and  of  J.  Perrot  and  his 
abettors,  of  the  perversion  of  Christian  doctrine,  and  the  disorder 
and  disunity  into  which  it  led.  Besides  this,  such  is  human  fi-ailty, 
and  the  powerful  influence  of  self,  that,  as  our  Saviour  told  his  dis- 
ciples, "it  must  needs  be  that  offences  come;"  and  the  means  were 
required  by  which  the  offender  might  be  reclaimed,  or  the  Church 
and  cause  of  Truth  exonerated  from  the  reproach  his  or  her  con- 
duet  might  otherwise  bring  upon  it.  George  Fox,  therefore,  saw 
that  the  time  had  come  when  the  Society  should  be  organized  in 
distinct  meetings  for  taking  charge  of  the  affairs  of  the  church,  and 
a  system  of  church  government  instituted,  based  upon  the  principles 
laid  down  by  Christ  for  the  treatment  of  an  offending  brother. 

It  has  been  seen  that  the  unity  of  fliith  and  practice,  which  had 
drawn  Friends  together  into  one  body,  springing  as  it  did  from  the 
love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  their  hearts,  created  and  fostered  a  deep 
interest  in  each  other's  welfare  ;  and  when  the  fellowship  of  suffer- 
ing for  their  Christian  faith  was  added  thereto,  by  the  general  per- 
secution they  underwent,  it  led  to  the  exercise  of  a  spirit  of  kind- 
ness and  unselfish  benevolence,  that  sought  for  opportunities  to 
relieve  distress,  to  administer  help  and  encouragement,  and  to  com- 
municate, in  every  way,  as  they  had  ability,  to  each  other's  welfare. 

It  was  for  promoting  and  carrying  out  this  good  work,  as  well  as 
for  promulgating  the  Gospel,  that  "General  Meetings''  had  been 
held  in  different  parts  of  England,  of  which  mention  is  made  in 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  373 

several  Fiieuds'  Joui'iials.  One  such  was  held  at  Swaiiingtou,  in 
1654 ;  oueat  Edge  Hill  in  1656  ;  one  at  Balby  in  1658,  and  one  at 
the  house  of  John  Crook,  in  the  same  year.  At  these  meetings  the 
wants  and  sufferings  of  Friends  in  different  places  were  made  known  ; 
and  besides  relief  being  afforded,  admonition  and  directions  were 
issued,  as  to  the  course  to  be  pursued  in  the  discharge  of  domestic, 
social  and  religious  duties  ;  and  also  for  a  cheerful  compliance  with 
the  requirements  of  civ-il  government,  where  such  compliance  did 
not  conflict  with  the  maintenance  of  the  testimonies  of  the  Gospel 
which  Friends  were  called  to  uphold. 

George  Fox  thus  speaks  of  one  of  these  "  General  Meetings"  held 
at  Skipton,  in  1660 ;  giving  an  insight  of  their  character,  and  of 
some  of  the  business  that  occupied  the  time  and  attention;  "To 
this  meeting  came  many  Friends  out  of  most  parts  of  the  nation  ; 
for  it  was  about  business  relating  to  the  church,  both  in  this  nation 
and  beyond  the  seas.  Several  years  before,  when  I  was  in  the 
north,  I  wjus  moved  to  recommend  to  Friends  the  setting  up  of  this 
meeting  for  that  service ;  for  many  Friends  suffered  in  divers  parts 
of  the  nation,  their  goods  were  taken  from  them  contrary  to  law, 
and  they  understood  not  how  to  help  themselves,  or  where  to  seek 
redress.  But  after  this  meeting  was  set  up,  several  Friends  who 
had  been  Magistrates,  and  others  who  understood  something  of  the 
law,  came  thither,  and  were  able  to  inform  Friends,  and  to  assist 
them  in  gathering  up  the  sufferings,  that  they  might  be  laid  before  the 
justices.  Judges,  or  Parliament.  This  meeting  had  stood  several 
years,  and  divers  Justices  and  Captains  had  come  to  break  it  up  ; 
but  when  they  understood  the  business  Friends  met  about,  and 
saw  Friends'  books,  and  accounts  of  collections  for  relief  of  the 
poor,  how  we  took  care  one  county  to  help  another,  and  to  help 
our  Friends  beyond  sea,  and  provide  for  our  poor  that  none  of 
them  should  be  chargeable  to  their  parishes,  &c.,  the  Justices  and 
officers  confessed  that  we  did  their  work,  and  would  pass  away 
peaceably  and  lovingly,  'commending  Friends'  practice.'  Some- 
times there  would  come  two  hundred  of  the  poor  of  other  people, 
and  wait  till  the  meeting  was  done,  for  all  the  country  knew  we  met 
about  the  poor,  and  after  the  meeting,  Friends  would  send  to  the 
bakers  for  bread,  and  give  every  one  of  those  poor  people  a  loaf, 
how  many  soever  there  were  of  them  ;  for  we  were  taught  '  to  do 
good  unto  all,  though  especially  to  the  household  of  faith.'" 

While  these  "General  Meetings,"  which  appear  to  have  been 
held  at  irregular  intervals,  and  to  have  been  comi)ose(l  of  Friends 


374  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

appointed  to  tliat  service,  in  ditterent  counties,  served  not  only  for 
transacting  such  business  as  is  mentioned  in  the  extract,  but  to  bind 
the  nuMubers  more  ch^sely  together  as  one  body,  and  produce  more 
unity  of  action,  and  more  general  understanding  of  the  condition 
of  the  iSociety,  and  the  progress  making  in  the  great  work  assigned 
it,  there  were  other  things  that  required  more  ])rompt  and  continued 
attention  than  these  General  Meetings  could  render;  such  as  min- 
istering to  the  necessities  of  those  who  were  deprived  of  the  care  and 
labor  of  the  head  of  the  family  by  imprisonment ;  or  stripped  of 
their  means  of  subsistence  l)y  heavy  fines,  or  exorbitant  levies  for 
tithes ;  sup{)]ying  food  and  raiment  for  those  languishing  in  jails, 
where  otherwise  they  would  have  been  without  these  necessaries; 
the  registration  of  deaths,  and  births — •  for  from  the  rise  of  the  So- 
ciety, the  children  of  Friends  appear  to  have  been  considered  its 
members — to  take  care  in  regard  to  proceeding  in  marriage ;  to  col- 
lect and  transmit  to  the  Friends  in  London  appointed  to  receive 
them,  accounts  of  sufferings;  and  to  exercise  a  spiritual  care  over 
the  flock.  For  attention  to  these  varied  duties  Quarterly  Meetings 
were  first  instituted,  composed  of  a  few  suitable  Friends  deputized 
thereto  by  the  several  meetings  in  one  or  two  counties.  These 
Quarterly  Meetings  appear  to  have  exercised  very  similar  functions 
to  those  since  confided  to  Monthly  Meetings. 

In  1666,  however,  the  great  increase  of  members  in  the  Society  ; 
the  exigencies  of  the  time  from  the  implacable  persecution  by  their 
enemies;  the  manifested  necessity  to  take  more  efficient  measures 
for  reclaiming  or  disowning  those  who  fell  away  from  the  religious 
principles  of  Friends,  or  otljerwise  walked  disorderly,  as  well  as  to 
watch  over  one  another  in  love,  and  encourage  each  other  in  spiritual 
as  well  as  temporal  matters,  all  contributed  to  render  it  needful, 
that  a  more  perfect  arrangement  should  be  made,  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  good  order  in  the  church,  and  the  building  up  of  the  members 
on  the  most  holy  faith  ;  and  accordingly,  as  has  been  stated,  George 
Foxwas  moved  to  establish  Monthly  Meetings  throughout  theSociety. 

No  d()u1)t  other  substantial  Friends  were  instrumental  in  this 
work  of  organization  and  systematizing  the  church  government  of 
the  Society;  but,  it  is  evident  that  upon  George  Fox  the  burden 
of  the  work  was  principally  laid  by  the  Head  of  the  Church,  and 
lie  labored  in  it  assiduously,  notwithstanding  his  physical  weakness 
and  suffering;  so  that  in  1668,  he  says,  "The  men's  Monthly  Meet- 
ings were  settled  tliroughout  the  nation.  The  Quarterly  Meetings 
"were  generally  settled  before.     I  wrote  also  into  Ireland,  Scotland, 


SEYEXTEEXTH    CENTURY.  375 

Holland,  Barhadoes,  and  several  parts  of  America,  advising  Friends 
to  settle  their  men's  Monthly  Meetings  in  those  countries ;  for  they 
had  their  Quarterly  Meetings  before."  These  Montlily  Meetings 
attended  to  much  of  the  business  that  had  previously  engaged  the 
care  of  the  Quarterly  Meetings ;  the  latter  receiving  reports  from 
those  Monthly  Meetings  subordinate  to  them,  and  extending  advice 
and  assistance  to  them,  as  circumstances  required. 

The  rapid  increase  of  Friends  in  London,  following  the  first 
preaching  of  the  gospel  within  its  walls  by  Edward  Burrough, 
Francis  Howgil,  and  others  called  there  to  labor  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  and  the  peculiar  circumstances  surrounding  Friends  in 
that  large  city,  had  early  made  it  necessary  to  institute  a  super- 
visory meeting,  to  take  charge  of  the  affairs  of  the  infant  Society  in 
the  city  and  the  places  immediately  surrounding  it.  William  Crouch 
mentions  in  his  memoirs,  that  soon  after  taking  the  BuU-and-Mouth 
for  a  meeting  place  (1655),  "  The  ancient  Friends  about  the  city 
did  sometimes  meet  together,  to  the  numl)er  of  eight  or  ten,  some- 
times a  few  more  were  added,  ...  to  consult  about  and  consider  the 
affairs  of  Truth,  and  to  communicate  to  each  other  what  the  Lord 
opened  to  them  for  the  promotion  thereof;  and  also  to  make  such 
provision  to  supply  all  necessary  occasions,  which  the  service  of  the 
church  might  require."  This  was  called  "  The  two  weeks'  Meeting," 
and  it  appears  to  have  exercised  authority  as  to  matters  of  arrange- 
ment and  disciplinary  oversight,  over  the  various  meetings  and 
members  embraced  in  the  London  district. 

When  suffering  from  persecution  increased,  and  the  jails  were 
filled  with  Friends,  a  similar  meeting  composed  of  women  Friends 
was  established;  to  which  was  especially  confided  visiting  the  sick 
and  feeble,  and  ministering  to  their  necessities,  as  also  to  look  after 
the  widows  and  orphans. 

These  meetings  continued  steadily  to  perform  their  functions  un- 
til 1666,  when,  as  has  been  bef<)re  mentioned,  George  Fox  advised 
the  setting  up  of  five  Monthly  Meetings  in  and  about  London  ;  which 
was  done.  The  two  weeks'  Meeting,  though  the  extent  of  its  juris- 
diction was  thus  greatly  lessened,  still  continued  to  have  under  its 
care,  for  several  years,  those  Friends  residing  within  the  old  walls 
of  London,  and  was  particularly  charged  with  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments for  and  the  oversight  of  marriages. 

As  yet  there  was  no  regular  Yearly  Meeting ;  though  there  ap- 
pears to  have  been  a  General  Meeting  of  Ministers  from  all  parts 
of  the  nation,  assembled  in  London  in  166H,  wliich  issued  an  epistle 


376  F  R  I  E  X  D  S     I  X    T  IT  E 

of  udvice  and  iiistmu-tioii  to  the  (liflrrcnt  meetini^s  and  mcnibors. 
Again,  in  1672,  anotlier  General  Meeting  of  similar  character  con- 
veucd  in  London,  in  which  it  was  agreed  "  That  for  the  better  order- 
ing, managing  and  regulating  tlie  public  affairs  of  Friends,  relating 
to  the  truth  and  service  thereof,  tliere  be  a  general  meeting  of  Friends 
held  at  London  once  a  year,  in  the  week  caUed  Whitsun-week  ;  to  con- 
sist of  six  Friends  for  the  city  of  London,  three  for  the  city  of  Bristol, 
two  of  the  town  of  Colchester,  and  one  or  two  from  each  of  the 
counties  of  England  and  Wales."  The  proposed  meeting  assembled 
according  to  appointment  the  next  year,  and  it  was  then  concluded 
to  discontinue  tliis  annual  representative  meeting  until  "Friends  in 
God's  wisdom  shall  see  a  further  occasion  :  "  but  the  general  meeting 
of  Ministers  to  be  kept  up. 

Of  the  duties  of  these  General  Meetings  of  Ministers,  besides  issu- 
ing advice  and  directions  to  Friends  generally,  information  is  given 
by  the  following  extract  from  an  exhortation  by  George  Fox  in 
1674.  "Let  your  General  Assemblies  of  the  Ministers,  examine  as 
it  was  at  the  first,  whether  all  the  ministers  that  go  forth  into  the 
counties,  do  walk  as  becomes  the  gospt'l  ;  for  tliat  you  know  was  one 
end  of  that  meeting,  to  prevent  and  take  away  scandal,  and  to  ex- 
amine if  all  who  preach  Christ  Jesus,  do  kee|)  to  his  government, 
and  in  the  order  of  the  gospel,  and  to  exhort  them  that  do  not." 

In  1077,  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers  in  London  again  ex- 
tended an  invitation  to  the  Quarterly  Meetings  to  send  representa- 
tives to  the  meeting  to  be  held  at  the  same  time  in  the  next  year  in 
London,  "For  the  more  general  service  of  Truth  and  the  body  of 
Friends,  in  all  those  things  wherein  we  may  be;  capable  to  serve  one 
another  in  love."  This  representative  meeting  was  held  accordingly, 
and  after  transacting  its  business,  renewed  the  invitation  to  the  dif- 
ferent Quarterly  Meetings  to  send  their  representatives  next  year  ; 
which  was  done;  and  from  that  time  to  tlie  present,  a  similar  repre- 
sentative body  has  met  annually  not  only  in  London,  but  in  every 
other  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends,  and  exercised  supreme  supervisory 
and  legislative  power  over  its  subordinate  branches. 

Referring  to  its  own  establishment,  the  Yearly  Meeting  says,  in 
one  of  its  epistles  issu;  d  some  years  after  it  was  first  regularly  held, 
"The  intent  and  design  of  our  annual  assemblies,  in  their  first  con- 
stitution, was  for  a  great  and  weighty  oversight  and  Christian  care 
of  the  affairs  of  the  chnrches,  pertaining  to  our  holy  profession  and 
Christian  communion  ;  that  good  order,  true  love,  unity  and  concord 
may  be  faithfully  followed  and  maintained  among  us." 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  377 

The  Yearly  Meeting  continued  to  be  composed  exclusively  of  the 
representatives  regularly  appointed  from  time  to  time,  to  attend  and 
take  part  in  its  deliberation  and  action,  from  the  year  1677,  when  it 
was  instituted,  until  more  than  a  quarter  of  the  next  century  had 
passed  by.  Then  it  was  concluded  that  the  Yearly  Meeting  of 
London  should  consist  of  the  members  of  the  General  and  the 
Quarterly  Meetings  in  Great  Britian,  and  that  representatives  should 
be  sent  to  it  from  the  Half  Year's  Meeting  in  Ireland.  The  appoint- 
ment of  representatives  from  all  the  Quarterly  Meetings  was  con- 
tinued; who  were  expected  to  give  account  of  and  to  answer  for  the 
respective  meetings  which  sent  them,  and  to  them  was  confided  the 
duty  of  nominating  a  clerk  for  the  meeting,  and  his  assistants. 
Members  had  the  right  to  appeal  from  the  judgment  of  the  Monthly 
and  Quarterly  Meetings  to  which  they  belonged  to  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing :  its  decision  in  all  cases  is  final. 

As  has  been  seen,  Friends  were  undergoing  great  persecution  and 
much  suffering  during  the  time  when  the  Yearly  Meeting  was  first 
established,  and  cases  of  distress  were  frequently  occurring,  i-equir- 
ing  the  speedy  care  and  intervention  of  Friends  who  could  have 
prompt  access  to  those  in  authority,  and  labor  for  their  relief;  who 
also  might  embrace  any  opportunity  that  presented,  to  restrain  the 
hands  of  those  who  were  active  in  spoiling  Friends  of  their  goods, 
and  to  mitigate,  as  far  as  possible,  the  application  of  oppressive 
laws.  For  these  purposes  a  corresponding  committee  had  been  kept 
iu  London  [1666],  to  receive  accounts  of  cases  of  suffering,  and 
extend  help  and  counsel  as  they  were  enabled.  It  was  therefore 
now  concluded,  that  this  corresponding  committee,  together  with 
other  Friends  appointed  by  the  Quarterly  Meetings,  should  meet  regu- 
larly, in  London,  so  often  as  miglit  be  agreed  upon,  in  the  interval 
between  the  conclusion  of  one  Yearly  Meeting  and  the  beginning 
of  another ;  to  represent  the  Yearly  Meeting  during  its  recess,  and 
take  the  charge  of  these  and  other  matters  brought  to  its  notice; 
and  from  the  character  of  its  principal  business  at  that  time,  it  took 
the  name  of  The  Meeting  for  Sufferings.     [1677.] 

Thus  was  a  system  of  church  government  organized  throughout 
the  Society,  which  while  it  avoided  laying  any  undue  restriction  on 
individual  spiritual  liberty,  yet  provided  for  that  subjection  of  the 
members  ^o  the  authoi'ity  of  tlie  church,  which  insui'ed  order,  pres- 
ervation and  edification,  so  long  :is  it  was  allowed  to  have  free 
action  ;  and  which  by  fully  recognizing  the  Headship  of  Christ  in 
the  chur(;h,  left  free  the  exercise  of  every  gift  which  He  bestowed, 


378  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

aud  nimoil  at  promoting  a  consistont  and  circumspect  conversation 
among  tlie  members,  and  the  mutual  edification  of  each  otlicr  in 
love.  Universal  in  its  application  and  simple  in  its  working,  this 
system  of  church  government,  when  exercised  in  the  Spirit  of  the 
Saviour  of  men,  while  it  holds  every  member  accountable  to  the 
meeting  in  which  his  right  of  membership  rests,  for  his  conduct  and 
the  religious  principles  he  inculcates,  gives  him  the  right  to  receive 
the  extension  of  every  care  and  encouragement  which  a  religious 
Society  can  properly  bestow,  to  meet  his  wants,  and  prompt  the 
devotion  of  his  heart  to  the  service  of  his  Creator. 

No  code  of  Christian  discipline  had  yet  been  authoritatively 
agreed  upon  ;  but  at  different  times  some  of  the  Friends,  who  had 
given  full  proof  of  their  large  experience  in  things  pertaining  to  the 
welfare  aud  extension  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  had  written  epistles 
to  the  members  and  meetings ;  pointing  out  the  duties  that  were  to 
be  performed  aud  the  line  of  action  to  be  observed  in  order  to  keep 
the  camp  clean,  and  to  bring  the  members  forward  in  the  perform- 
ance of  their  services  in  religious,  social  and  civil  life.  Besides  these 
highly  valued  advices,  similar  epistles  emanating  from  the  General 
Meetings,  were  received  and  observed,  as  clothed  with  an  authority 
Avhich  was  not  to  be  disobeyed  or  gainsaid.  But  in  16G8,  George 
Fox  drew  up  and  had  sent  to  the  respective  meetings,  a  document 
containing  his  sense  of  what  should  claim  the  attention  and  care  of 
meetings  for  discipline,  and  the  manner  in  which  they  should  man- 
ifest that  care  over  their  members.  It  was  entered  upon  the 
minute-books  of  many  meetings,  and  as  it  shows  the  various  sub- 
jects which  the  Society,  in  its  early  days,  was  concerned  to  take  in 
charge,  and  also  the  religious  concern  and  comprehensive  grasp  of 
that  pre-eminent  Elder  and  pillar  in  the  Church,  extracts  from  it 
are  here  given  : 

"Friends'  Fellowskip  must  be  in  the  Spirit,  and  all  Friends  must 
knoiv  one  another  in  the  Spirit  and  Poiver  of  God. 

"First.  —  In  all  the  meetings  of  the  country,  two  or  three  being 
gathered  from  them  to  go  to  the  General  Meetings,  for  to  give  no- 
tice one  to  another,  if  there  be  any  that  walk  not  in  the  truth,  and 
have  been  convinced  and  gone  from  truth,  and  so  dishonor  God, 
that  some  may  be  ordered  from  the  meeting  to  go  and  eshort  such, 
and  bring  to  the  next  General  Meeting  what  they  say. 

"2ndly.  —  If  any  that  profess  the  truth,  follow  pleasures,  drunk- 
enness, gamings  or  are  not  faithful  in  their  callings  and  dealings, 


SEVENTEENTH     CENTURY.  379 

nor  lionest  nor  just,  hut  run  into  debt,  and  ?o  brintr  n  sciindal  upon 
the  truth,  Friends  may  give  notice  to  the  General  Meeting  (if  there 
be  any  such)  and  some  may  be  ordered  to  go  and  exhort  them,  and 
bring  in  their  answer  next  General  Meeting. 

"  ordly. — And  if  au}^  go  disorderly  together  in  marriage,  contrary 
to  practice  of  the  holy  men  of  God,  and  assemblies  of  the  rigliteous 
in  all  ages;  who  declai'ed  it  in  the  assemblies  of  the  righteous,  when 
they  took  one  aiiother;  (all  things  being  clear,)  and  they  both  being 
free  from  any  other,  and  when  they  do  go  together,  and  take  one 
another,  let  there  not  be  less  than  a  dozen  Friends  and  relations 
present  ^according  to  your  usual  order)  having  fu-st  acquainted  the 
Men's  Meeting,  and  they  have  clearness  and  unity  with  them  ;  and 
that  it  may  be  recorded  in  a  book  according  to  the  word  and  com- 
mandment of  the  Lord  ;  and  if  any  walk  contrary  to  the  truth 
herein,  let  some  be  ordered  to  speak  to  them  and  give  notice  thereof 
to  the  next  General  Meeting, 

"Gthly. —  And  all  such  as  marry  by  the  Priests  of  Baal,  who  are 
the  rough  hands  of  Esau,  and  fists  of  wickedness  and  bloody  hands, 
and  who  have  had  their  hands  in  the  blood  of  our  brethren,  and  are 
the  cause  of  all  the  banishment  of  our  brethren,  and  have  spoiled  so 
many  of  their  goods,  casting  into  prison,  and  keep  many  hundreds 
at  this  day  —  such  as  go  to  them  for  wives  or  husbands,  must  come 
to  judgment,  and  condemnation  of  that  spirit  that  led  them  to  Baal, 
and  of  Baal's  priests  also  ;  or  else  Friends  that  keep  their  habitations 
must  write  against  them  and  Baal  both  ;  for  from  Genesis  to  the 
Revelations  you  never  read  of  any  priest  that  marfted  people ;  but 
it  is  God's  ordinance,  and  whom  God  joins  together  let  no  man  put 
asunder ;  and  they  took  one  another  in  the  assemblies  of  the  right- 
eous when  all  things  were  clear.  Therefore,  let  all  these  things  be 
inquired  into  and  brought  to  the  General  Meeting,  and  from  thence 
,  some  ordered  to  go  to  them  and  to  return  what  they  say  at  your 
next  meeting.  And  all  these,  before  they  or  any  of  them  be  left  as 
heathens  or  written  against,  let  them  be  three  or  four  times  gone  to  ; 
that  they  may  have  Gospel  order,  so  that  if  it  be  possible  they  may 
come  to  that  which  did  convince  them,  to  condemn  their  unrighteous 
doings  that  so  you  may  not  leave  a  hoof  in  Egypt. 

"  8thly. —  And  in  all  your  meetings  let  notice  be  given  to  the  Gen- 
eral Meetings  of  all  the  poor ;  and  when  you  have  heard  that  there 
are  many  more  poor  belong  to  one  meeting  than  to  another  and  that 


380  FRIENDS   IX  tut: 

meeting  tlicreUv  1)unl(MiO(l  and  oppressed,  li't  the  rest  of  tlie  meet- 
ings assist  :ui(l  lielp  tliem  ;  so  that  you  may  ease  one  another,  and 
help  to  bear  one  another's  burdens,  and  so  fulfil  the  law  of  Christ, 
and  so  see  that  nothing  be  lacking,  according  to  the  apostle's  words. 
Mark,  nothing  lacking,  then  all  is  well.  ...  So  there  is  not 
to  be  a  beggar  now  amongst  the  Cliristians,  according  to  the  law  of 
Jesus,  as  there  was  not  to  be  any  amongst  the  Jews,  according  to  the 
law  of  God. 

"  lOthly. —  And  that  notice  be  taken  of  all  evil  speakers,  back- 
biters, slanderers  and  foolish  talkers  and  idle  jesters;  for  all  these 
things  corrupt  good  manners,  an<l  are  not  according  to  the  saints 
and  holy  ones;  whose  words  are  seasoned  with  salt,  ministering  grace 
to  the  hearers. 

"  llthly. —  And  all  such  who  are  tale  carriers  and  railers,  whose 
work  is  to  sow  dissension,  are  to  be  reproved  and  adinonislied  :  for 
such  do  not  bring  people  into  the  unity  of  the  Spirit,  but  by  such 
doings  come  to  lose  their  own  conditions. 

"rithly.— And  all  such  as  go  up  and  down  to  cheat  by  borrowing  and 
getting  money  of  Friends  in  by-places  (and  have  cheated  several). 

"  lothly. — And  if  there  happen  any  differences  between  Friend 
and  Friend  of  any  matters,  and  if  it  cannot  be  ended  before  the 
General  Meeting,  let  half  a  dozen  Friends  from  the  General  Meet- 
ing be  ordered  to  put  a  steady  end  thereto  ;  that  justice  may  be 
speedily  done,  that  no  difference  may  rest  or  remain  amongst  any  : 
(and  let  your  General  Meeting  be  once  in  every  quarter  of  a  year, 
and  to  be  appointed  at  such  places  as  may  be  most  convenient  for 
the  most  of  Friends  to  meet  in).  So  that  the  house  may  be  cleansed 
of  all  that  is  contrary  to  purity,  virtue,  light,  life,  and  Spirit  and 
power  of  God.  So  that  Friends  may  not  be  one  another's  sorrow 
and  trouble,  but  one  another's  joy  and  ci'own  in  the  Lord. 

"l-4thly. — -And  all  Friends  see  that  your  children  be  trained  up 
in  the  fear  of  the  Lord  ;  in  soberness  and  holiness,  and  righteousness, 
temperance  and  meekness,  and  gentleness,  lowliness  and  modesty  in 
their  apparel  and  carriage;  and  so  to  exhort  your  children  and  fam- 
ilies in  the  truth  ;  that  the  Lord  may  be  glorified  in  all  your  families; 
and  teach  your  children  when  they  are  young,  then  will  they  re- 
member it  when  they  are  old, according  to  Solomon.  So  that  your 
children  may  be  a  blessing  to  you  and  not  a  curse. 

''  16thly. — And  also  that  Friends  do  buy  necessary  books  for  the 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  381 

registering  of  births,  marriages,  and  burials,  as  the  holy  men  of  God 
did  of  old  ;  as  you  may  read  through  the  Scriptures ;  that  every  one 
may  be  ready  to  give  a  testimony  and  certificate  thereof,  if  need  re- 
quire, or  any  be  called  thereunto. 

"  ITthly. — And  also  that  the  sufferings  of  Friends  (of  all  kinds  of 
sufferings)  in  all  the  counties  be  gathered  up  and  put  together,  and 
sent  to  the  General  Meeting,  and  so  sent  to  London,  to  Ellis  Hookes  ; 
that  nothing  of  the  memorial  of  the  blood  and  cruel  sufferings  of 
your  brethren  be  lost,  which  shall  stand  as  a  testimony  against  the 
murdering  spii'it  of  this  world,  and  be  to  the  praise  of  the  everlast- 
ing power  of  the  Lord  in  the  ages  to  come ;  who  supported  and  up- 
held them  in  such  hardships  and  cruelties ;  who  is  God  over  all, 
blessed  for  ever.     Amen. 

"  ISthly. —  And  let  inquiry  be  made  concerning  all  such  as  do 
pay  tithes,  which  makes  void  the  testimony  and  sufferings  of  our 
brethren  who  have  suffered,  many  of  them  to  death  ;  by  which  many 
widows  and  fatherless  have  been  made,  and  which  is  contrary  to  the 
doctrine  of  the  apostles  and  the  doctrine  of  the  martyrs,  and  con- 
trary to  the  doctrine  of  the  righteous  in  this  present  age ;  all  such 
are  to  be  inquired  into,  and  to  be  exhort(id. 

"  Dear  Friends  be  faithful  in  the  service  of  God,  and  mjnd  the 
Lord's  business,  and  be  diligent,  and  bring  the  power  of  the  Lord 
over  all  those  that  have  gainsaid  it;  and  all  you  that  be  faithful  go 
to  visit  them  all  that  have  been  convinced,  from  house  to  house, 
that  if  it  be  possible  you  may  not  leave  a  hoof  in  Egypt ;  and  so 
every  one  go  seek  the  lost  sheep  and  bring  him  home  on  your  backs 
to  the  fold,  and  there  will  be  more  joy  of  that  one  sheep  than  the 
ninety-nine  in  the  fold. 

"  And  my  dear  friends  live  in  the  wisdom  of  God,  that  which  is 
gentle  and  pure,  from  above,  and  easy  to  be  entreated,  and  bear  one 
another's  infirmities  and  weaknesses,  and  so  fulfil  the  law  of  Christ; 
and  if  any  weakness  should  appear  in  any  of  your  meetings,  not  for 
any  to  lay  it  open  and  tell  it  abroad ;  that  is  not  wisdom  that  doth 
so,  for  love  covers  a  multitude  of  sins,  and  love  preserves  and  edifies 
the  body,  and  they  that  dwell  in  love  dwell  in  God,  for  He  is  love, 
and  love  is  not  provoked.  And,  therefore,  keep  the  law  of  love, 
which  keeps  down  that  which  is  provoked,  for  that  which  is  pro- 
voked hath  words  which  are  for  condemnation,  therefore  let  the  law 
of  love  be  amongst  you,  it  will  keep  down  that  which  is  provoked 
and  its  words,  and  so  the  body  edifies  itself  in  love. 


382  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

"Copies  of  this  to  be  sent  all  abroad  amongst  Friends  in  their 
men's  njcetings.     [1668.]  G.  F." 

This  may  be  considered  the  basis  upon  which,  under  the  leading 
and  authority  of  the  Head  of  the  Church,  the  code  of  discipline  was 
shai)ed  and  extended,  according  as  the  varying  circumstances  of 
the  Society  rendered  needful.  Many  years  elapsed  before  Queries 
were  regularly  sent  to  the  subordinate  meetings,  to  be  answered. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Friends  in  Ireland — Persecntion  there — Cruelty  of  Geo.  Claphara — Efforts  of 
Wm.  Edmundson  to  rescue  Friends  from  liis  oppression  —  Interview  of  W. 
E.  witli  the  Lord  Lieutenant — W.  E.'s  service  at  Londonderry  —  Meetings 
for  Discipline  set  up  in  Ireland  —  G.  Fox  visits  Ireland  —  Admiral  Penn  — 
Account  of  Wm.  Penn ^  Death  of  R.  Farnsworth  —  Continued  Persecution 
—  Lord  Clarendon  — Death  of  Thomas  Loe — Josiah  Cole  and  F.  Howgil 

IRELAND  had  had  several  ministers  of  the  gospel  raised  up  from 
among  those  who  were  convinced  of  the  truth  as  held  by  Friends, 
and  through  the  instrumentality  of  these,  many  others  had  been 
brought  to  a  knowledge  of  the  way  of  life  and  salvation,  and  to  con- 
form in  all  things  to  the  doctrines  and  testimonies  of  the  gospel 
which  distinguished  Friends.  Like  their  fellow  professors  in  Eng- 
land and  other  places,  they  gave  evidence  of  the  sincerity  of  their 
religious  convictions,  and  the  sure  foundation  on  which  their  faith 
was  built,  by  the  patience,  meekness  and  devotedness  with  which  they 
bore  the  multiplied  wrongs  and  cruelties  heaped  upon  them,  as  well 
as  by  the  love  and  sympathetic  fellowship  that  subsisted  among  them. 
1660.  Several  ministers  from  England,  were  concerned  to  travel 
throughout  the  principal  parts  of  the  Island,  preaching  the  everlast- 
ing gospel,  strengthening  the  hands  of  those  of  the  same  household 
of  faith,  and  bringing  many  off  from  the  lifeless  forms  of  the  religion 
they  professed,  to  join  with  those  who  were  not  ashamed  to  confess 
Christ  before  men,  by  taking  up  the  daily  cross,  and  living  in  con- 
formity with  the  restraining,  self-denying  precepts  of  his  gospeh 
Among  these  ministers  were  John  Burnyeat  and  Robert  Lodge,  who, 
lauding  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  travelled  pretty  generally  through 
the  settled  parts  of  the  different  j)rovinces,  declaring  "  the  true  faith 
m  Jesus,"  undergoing  great  hardships,  and  suttering  much  abuse 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  883 

from  the  ignorant  people.  They  were  repeatedly  imprisoned  ;  hut  He 
in  whose  service  they  were  engaged,  made  way  for  their  liberation, 
and  supported  them  under  all  their  trials.  Rutty,  in  his  "  Rise  and 
Progress,"  speaking  of  these  two  Friends,  says,  "  They  were  impris- 
oned several  times,  besides  other  abuses  that  they  received,, because 
of  the  testimony  they  had  to  bear  in  towns  and  steeplediouses, 
against  hireling  priests:  and  thus  having  labored  in  the  gospel 
together  for  the  space  of  twelve  months,  and  been  instrumental  in 
the  convincing  and  gathering  of  many  to  the  truth,  being  clear  of 
their  service  here,  in  the  Seventh  month  1660  tliey  took  shipping 
for  England." 

Thomas  Loe,  another  eminent  minister  from  England,  spent  con- 
siderable time  in  Ireland,  travelling  often  on  foot.  In  Rutty's 
account  it  is  stated,  that  in  1657  he  came  into  Dublin,  "  Where  he 
declared  the  day  of  the  Lord  through  the  streets  thereof,  preaching 
the  word  of  life  and  salvation,  from  James'  gate  until  he  came  to 
Lazar's  hill."  .  .  .  .  "  He  had  blessed  service,  and  many  were  con- 
vinced by  him." 

1660.  A  few  of  the  Magistrates  were  very  inimical  to  Friends, 
and  made  use  of  their  power  to  persecute  them.  Thus  a  Judge 
named  Alexander,  caused  five  Friends  who  had  been  sent  to  jail  at 
Carlow,  for  being  found  at  a  meeting  for  worship,  but  were  declared 
not  gidltij  by  the  jury,  to  be  again  indicted,  and  obtaining  a  verdict 
against  them,  he  fined  them  £320.  At  Cork  he  fined  three  other 
Friends  for  the  same  offence  £1190,  and  at  Waterford  he  imposed 
a  fine  of  £580  on  nine  Friends  for  a  similar  offence.  At  Limerick 
he  fined  the  Friends  who  had  assembled  to  hold  a  meeting,  £40  a 
piece  and  kept  them  in  prison  four  months,  when  they  were  i"eleased 
by  an  order  from  the  Lords  Justices. 

William  Edmundson,  who,  with  most  of  the  men  Friends  of  the 
meeting  to  which  he  belonged,  had  been  excommunicated  by  the 
Bishojj's  Court,  because  of  their  not  attending  at  the  so-called  church, 
and  refusing  to  pay  tithes,  church  dues,  &c.,  continued  indefatigable 
in  his  labors  to  serve  his  Divine  Master  and  the  cause  of  his  suffer- 
ing people.  He  gives  the  following  account,  which  anay  be  taken 
as  illusti-ating  the  character  of  the  persecution  Friends  throughout 
the  nation  had  to  endure,  more  especially  from  the  j)riests,  in  con- 
sequence of  their  faithful  adherence  to  their  Christian  principles. 

"1665.  Having  my  liberty,  I  found  a  concern  on  my  mind  to 
solicit  the  Government  against  the  priest's  fierceness  and  cruelty ;  for 
George  Claphau),  priest  of  Mountmelick,  endeavored  to  prtivent  the 


384  FRIENDS     IN    THE 

miller  grinding::  corn  for  our  families,  or  any  speaking  or  trading 
with  us  or  any  of  our  families.  He  watched  the  market  and  Friends' 
shops,  and  those  whom  he  saw  or  knew  to  deal  with  us,  he  sent  the 
Apparitor  to  summon  to  the  Bishoi)'s  Court,  and  so  forced  them  to 
pay  him  and  the  Apparitor  money  to  get  free  from  trouble;  they 
being  afraid  of  the  lVishoi)'s  Court,  it  bore  su('h  a  great  name.  This 
priest  told  his  hearers,  that  if  they  met  any  of  us  in  the  highway, 
they  sliould  shun  us  as  they  would  shun  the  plague;  and  if  they 
owed  us  anything,  they  need  not  pay  it,  or  if  they  knocked  us  on 
the  head,  the  law  would  bear  them  out.  At  which  the  people  were 
much  troubled,  and  in  general,  their  love  declined  from  the  priest, 
and  drew  towards  Friends ;  and  they  would  offer  their  servants  to 
carry  our  corn  to  the  mill,  that  we  might  get  bread  for  our  families, 
or  any  other  kindness  they  could  do  for  us." 

"  I  drew  up  a  statement  of  several  of  his  gross  proceedings,  and  got 
many  of  his  own  people  to  sign  it,  who  had  been  abused ;  then  I  went 
to  Dublin  and  petitioned  the  Government;  who  with  the  Primate 
took  notice  of  it,  and  the  Privy  Council  resented  it,  being  contrary 
to  all  law  and  rule.  They  sent  an  order  for  the  priest  and  Apparitor 
to  appear  before  the  Council ;  where  they  were  sharply  reproved, 
and  would  have  been  punished,  for  the  Primate  said,  he  would  make 
them  examples.  But  I  told  him  we  desired  nothing  but  to  be  quiet, 
and  to  live  peaceably  in  our  callings,  and  that  they  should  desist 
from  their  cruelty.  The  Primate,  who  was  also  Chancellor,  said, 
if  they  did  not  desist  we  should  write  to  him,  and  he  would  make 
them  examples  to  the  nation.  So  I  forgave  them,  and  let  all  pro- 
eeedino-s  fall.  This  gained  much  on  the  minds  of  many  chief  men 
in  authority." 

1665.  "  Priest  Clapham  was  very  angry  against  me,  although  I 
had  forgiven  him.  being  very  greedy  and  covetous.  One  time  he 
took  my  neighbor's  horse  and  car,  came  to  my  house,  and  loaded 
up  and  carried  away  a  great  deal  of  cheese :  also  at  that  time  he 
took  away  much  goods,  corn  and  wearing-clothes  from  Friends  of 
our  meeting;  for  some  church  dues,  as  he  said.  While  I  was  at  a 
meeting  in  Mountmelick,  where  I  used  to  attend  when  at  home, 
he  —  being  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  —  sent  a  constable  to  apprehend 
me,  and  made  a  mittimus  to  send  me  to  Maryborough  jail ;  but  the 
Earl  of  Mountrath,  superseded  his  warrant,  and  set  me  at  liberty, 
until  the  assizes.  When  the  assizes  came  on,  he  [the  Earl]  stood 
by  me  against  the  said  priest,  who  had  drawn  u[)  two  indictments 
against  me  ;  and  when  they  came  into  Court,  four  lawyers,  one  after 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  38.'l 

tlie  other,  ploadtn]  for  me  ;  tlioiigli  I  knew  nothing  of  tlieni  nor  gave 
them  any  fee.  But  the  Lord  gave  us  phice  in  the  minds  of  the 
people,  and  their  hearts  yearned  towai'dsus;  so  that  as  I  passed 
through  them  in  tlie  Court-house,  they  wouhl  say,  'The  Lord  bless 
you,  AVilliam  !  the  Lord  help  you,  William  ! '  The  indictment  was 
quashed,  and  the  priest  hissed  at  by  the  Court,  to  his  shame." 

"  Another  time,  this  priest  Clapham  indicted  several  Friends  of  our 
meeting,  at  the  assizes  at  Maryborough,  and  one,  for  being  at  a  meet- 
ing on  such  a  day,  which  he  called  an  unlawful  assembly,  and  for  not 
being  at  church,  as  he  called  it,  on  the  same  day.  [1665.]  He  also 
indicted  me  for  not  paying  a  levy  or  assessment  towards  the  re- 
pairs of  his  worship-house ;  though  the  wardens  and  constables  had 
before  taken  from  me  for  the  same,  a  mare  worth  three  pounds  ten 
shillings.  Several  Friends  were  thus  proceeded  against,  and  we  were 
fined,  and  an  order  given  to  distrain  our  goods  ;  on  which  account 
I  rode  to  Dublin,  and  petitioned  the  Lord-lieutenant  and  Council. 
I  and  one  other  Friend  were  admitted  into  the  Council  chamber  to 
state  our  grievance,  and  had  a  very  fair  hearing,  the  Judge  being 
present  who  gave  judgment  against  us  at  the  assizes.  The  Council 
gave  their  judgnit^nt  that  the  proceedings  were  illegal.  The  Lord- 
lieutenant  wished  to  know  why  we  did  not  pay  tithes  to  the  minis- 
ters ?  I  showed  him  out  of  the  Scriptures  that  the  law  was  ended 
which  gave  tithes,  and  the  priesthood  changed  which  received  them, 
by  the  coming  and  suffering  of  Christ;  who  had  settled  a  ministry 
on  better  terms,  and  ordered  them  a  maintenance.  He  would  know 
what  maintenance  the  ministry  would  have?  I  told  him,  Christ's 
allowance;  and  I  showed  him  from  the  Scriptures  what  that  was,  as 
the  Lord  opened  them  to  me  by  his  Spirit  and  power,  which  gave 
me  wisdom  and  utterance,  and  set  home  what  I  said  to  their  under- 
standings. There  were  three  Bishops  present,  and  not  one  of  them 
replied  in  all  this  discourse,  though  so  nearly  concerned  in  it.  Li 
conclusion,  the  Lord-lieutenant  bid  God  bless  us,  adding,  we  should 
not  suffer  for  not  going  to  their  public  worship,  neither  for  going  to 
our  meetings.  This  quieted  the  priests,  and  it  soon  went  abroad 
that  the  Quakers  had  the  liberty  of  their  religion,  which  was  a  great 
ease  to  Friends,  for  we  had  been  often  imprisoned,  and  had  much 
goods  taken  from  us  on  that  account." 

But  though  persecution  was  thus  somewhat  restrained  in  Ireland, 
it  was  by  no  means  stojjped.  Shortly  after  the  relief  obtained,  Wil- 
liam Edmunds(jn,  with  several  other  Friends,  was  taken  from  a 
meeting  and  put  into  prison.  [1667.]  "There  (he  says)  we  had  liv- 
25 


386  F  R  I  i:  \  D  S     IN"     T  II  F, 

ing,  powerful  mectiii";?; ;  imuiy  Friends  and  friendly  people  came  out 
of  the  oountrv  to  them,  and  though  under  suffering,  we  had  a  sweet, 
heavenly,  refreshing  time,  for  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shone  amongst 
us.  The  ))riest  of  the  town  kept  his  worship  in  the  session-house, 
and  it  being  under  one  roof  with  the  jail,  we  could  hear  him  at  his 
v/orship ;  likewise  he  and  his  people  could  hear  us  at  ours.  The 
Lord's  power,  so  confounded  him  that  he  could  not  get  on  in  his 
devotion,  but  left  the  place  and  came  no  more  to  Avorship  there 
while  we  were  prisoners.  The  Lord's  power,  truth  and  testimony 
were  over  them  all,  everlasting  praises  to  His  great  name." 

William  Edmundson,  wdio  was  eminently  gifted  by  his  divine 
Master,  ainl  made  use  of  as  a  nui-siug-father  in  the  infant  Society 
in  Ireland,  was  often  called  into  services  requiring  great  faith  and 
Christian  boldness.  He  mentions  that  on  one  occasion  [1668],  "I 
was  moved  of  the  Lord  to  go  from  my  own  house  to  Londonderry,, 
to  warn  them  to  re])ent,  or  the  Lord  would  bring  a  scourge  over 
them.  So,  in  obedience  to  the  Lord,  I  went ;  and  when  I  came  there 
it  hai)pened  to  be  a  day  of  hun)iliation,  as  they  called  it;  being  at 
the  time  the  Plague  was  in  London.  They  were  gone  to  their  worship 
at  the  Cathedral,  and  I  was  moved  of  the  Lord  to  go  there.  When 
I  came  to  the  door,  the  man  who  used  to  ring  the  bells,  met  me,  and 
took  me  by  the  hand  ami  led  me  near  the  pulpit,  where  the  Bishop 
was  preaching.  He  thought  he  had  got  a  Presbyterian  convert,  and 
did  not  take  off  my  hat  until  he  saw  the  people  gazing  at  me,  when 
he  took  it  off  and  laid  it  by.  I  stood  there  until  the  Bishop  had 
done  preaching  ;  the  people's  eyes  were  on  me,  and  I  spoke  what  the 
Lord  gave  me  to  say,  warning  them  to  repent,  or  the  Lord  would 
bring  a  scourge  over  them,  and  scale  their  walls  without  a  ladder. 
The  Bishop  called  to  the  Mayor  and  officers  to  take  me  away,  but 
.the  dread  of  the  Lord's  power  was  over  them  ;  they  all  sat  still  and 
did  not  molest  me.  When  I  had  delivered  the  Lord's  message  I 
went  towards  the  door,  where  the  man  who  led  me  in  met  me,  and 
took  me  by  the  hand,  having  my  hat  in  his  other  hand  ;  he  led  me 
to  the  door,  put  my  hat  on  my  head,  and  l)id  God  speed  me  well." 

"  Lwent  to  my  lodgings,  which  was  a  public  house  kept  by  John 
Gibson,  who,  with  his  wile,  was  convinced  of  the  truth.  There  I 
was  moved  to  write  a  paper  to  the  Bishop  and  Magistrates,  and  the 
next  day  I  went  to  the  Bishop's  house  with  it,  he  listing  in  the  city. 
I  knocked  at  the  door,  and  the  man  who  led  me  in  and  out  of  the 
worship-house  the  day  before,  opened  the  door,  and  made  his 
apology,   that  he   did  me   no  harm    at   the  cliurch.      I    told   hiiu 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  387 

he  did  well,  and  asked  him  for  the  Bishop.  He  said  he  was  goue 
to  dinner  and  a  great  many  gentlemen  with  him,  and  he  told  me  it 
would  be  better  for  me  to  come  when  they  had  dined. 

"  I  went  back  to  my  lodgings,  and  in  a  little  time  came  again,  and 
they  having  then  dined,  I  sent  my  paper  to  them  ;  and  they  sent  a 
priest  to  call  me  up.  As  I  was  going  up  the  stairs  the  word  of  the 
Lord  said  unto  me,  '  I  will  make  thee  a  wall  of  brass.'  There  were 
the  Bishop,  the  Governor,  the  Mayor,  several  justices  of  the  peace, 
priests  and  others,  in  a  great  dining-room ;  the  Bishop  sat  with  his 
hat  on  and  the  rest  all  stood  bare-headed.  When  I  came  into  the 
room  the  Bishop  rose  up  from  his  seat,  put  off  his  hat,  and  met  me 
with  several  low  bows  ;  but  I  was  as  a  wall  of  brass,  and  stood  in 
the  power  of  the  Lord  that  was  with  me,  which  smote  him.  Then 
he  sat  down  and  told  me  what  I  had  said  at  their  worship  the  day 
before  was  true,  and  he  preached  the  same,  and  pointed  to  the  priests, 
saying  they  preached  the  same,  and  therefore  there  w^as  no  need  of 
me.  I  told  him  the  more  preachers  of  truth  the  better,  and  there 
was  need  enough  ;  and  he  being  a  Bishop  ought  to  encourage  me. 
He  said  he  must  know  what  I  came  to  the  city  for,  and  who  sent 
me,  and  he  bade  the  Mayor  examine  me.  So  the  Mayor  came  from 
among  the  rest,  and  asked  me  where  I  dwelt?  I  told  him  in  the 
•  Queen's  county.  He  asked  what  trade  I  was  ?  I  told  him,  a  plough- 
man. He  asked  my  business  there,  and  who  sent  me  ?  I  told  him 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  sent  me,  to  warn  them  to  repent,  or  He  would 
lash  them  with  his  judgments.  As  I  declared  this,  the  Lord's  power 
reached  him,  and  he  could  not  refrain  from  tears,  being  a  tender 
spirited  man  ;  so  he  went  back  behind  the  rest" 

"  The  Bishop  seeing  this,  was  amazed,  and  bid  two  of  his  waiting- 
men  take  me  into  the  buttery  and  make  me  eat  and  drink.  They 
took  me  by  the  arms  down  the  stairs,  and  bid  me  go  into  the  but- 
tery to  eat  and  drink.  I  told  them  I  could  not  eat  or  drink  there  ;  but 
they  urged  me,  saying,  I  heard  their  lord  command  them  to  make  me 
eat  and  drink.  I  asked  them  if  they  were  Christians  at  that  house  ? 
They  said,  Yes ;  then  said  I,  let  your  yea  be  yea,  and  your  nay  be 
nay,  for  that  is  Christ's  command.  I  said  I  will  not  eat  nor  drink 
here,  and  you  take  no  notice  of  it,  being  accustomed  to  break  your 
yea  and  nay.  They  stood  silent  and  let  me  go,  for  the  Lord's  power 
astonished  them,  and  was  over  them  all." 

"  I  went  to  my  lodgings  and  was  moved  of  the  Lord  to  write  a 
paper  and  put  it  on  the  gates  of  the  city,  and  to  declare  the  Lord's 
message  through  the  streets.     Accordingly,  I  wrote  a  paper  that 


388  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

evening,  and  in  the  morning  went  first  to  the  Mayor,  and  told  iiim 
the  message  I  had  to  the  city.  He  said  the  Bishop  had  chided  him 
the  day  before,  becanse  lie  did  not  send  me  to  prison  ;  but  he  did 
not  intend  to  do  it  so  long  as  the  law  would  bear  him  harmless,  and 
wislu'd  he  had  me  living  ])y  him,  and  then  I  should  soon  have 
another  to  help  to  suppress  wickedness.  I  went  from  the  Mayor, 
and  beginning  near  Water-gate,  sounded  the  Lord's  message  through 
the  streets:  it  was  dreadful  to  the  people,  and  several  ran  as  if 
before  naked  swords.  As  I  came  near  the  main  guard,  a  soldier 
being  at  the  door  mocked,  but  in  the  dread  of  the  Lord's  power  I 
looked  in  at  the  guard-house  door,  and  cried,  Soldiers!  all  repent. 
The  soldiers  on  the  guard  were  smitten  as  men  affrighted,  for  the 
power  of  the  Lord  was  mighty,  in  which  I  performed  this  service ; 
and  when  I  had  done,  I  put  a  paper  on  the  gates,  as  the  Lord  moved 
me.  Being  clear,  I  left  the  city  and  visited  Friends'  meetings  in  the 
North,  and  they  admired  the  Lord's  goodness  that  carried  me  through 
that  service  without  a  prison." 

"  The  day  I  left  Londonderry,  the  Bishop  took  his  journey  towards 
Dublin,  and  as  I  was  infornied  by  those  who  said  they  heard  him, 
he  preached  a  sermon  before  the  Lord-lieutenant  and  government, 
against  the  Quakers;  comparing  us  to  Corah,  Dathan  and  Abiram, 
and  urging  them  with  many  arguments  to  suppress  us ;  but  he  was» 
taken  sick  in  the  worship  house,  carried  to  his  lodging,  and  died  ; 
having  preached  his  last  sermon  against  the  Lord's  people  and  ser- 
vants, who  truly  fear  him." 

William  Edmundson  subsequently  remarks,  that  the  people  of 
Londonderry  had  reason  to  remember,  and  did  remember  and  speak 
of  the  prophetic  warning  delivered  to  them  ;  when  in  the  siege,  by 
the  army  of  King  William,  "  Thousands  died  for  want  of  bread,  and 
through  other  miseries,  the  Lord  having  scaled  their  walls  without  a 
ladder,  yet  suffered  not  their  enemies  to  get  the  city  by  force  of  arms, 
or  scaling  ladders." 

As  has  been  already  stated,  George  Fox  had  written  to  Friends 
in  L-eland,  advising  the  setting  up  of  meetings  for  discipline,  and 
William  Edujuudson, — whom  Rutty  in  his  history  speaks  of  "  as 
tlie  chief  instrument  in  this  land  [L-eland]  for  the  spreadhig  of 
truth,  and  preserving  of  Friends  faithful  therein," — had  labored-  un- 
tiringly in  the  work.  "  Provincial  Meetings"  had  beeji  set  up,  which 
met  every  six  weeks,  performing  the  same  duties  as  Quarterly  Meet- 
incrs  in  Euffland.  In  16G9  Georjje  Fox  crossed  over  to  Ireland  on 
a  religious  visit,  aud  assisted  iu  establishing  a  more  general  and  effi- 


SEVENTEEXTH    CENTURY.  389 

cieut  system  of  clmrcli  government ;  setting  np  men's  and  women's 
meetings  throughout  the  nation  ;  many  of  which  were  held  every 
two  weeks  ;  and  instituting  a  general  Half  Year's  meeting,  to  meet  in 
Dublin,  wliieh  sent  representatives  to  London.  W.  Edmundson, 
speaking  of  the  settlement  of  these  meetings,  says,  "  I  was  much 
eased  by  them,  as  I  told  George  Fox  at  that  time ;  for  I  had  a  great 
concern  in  those  things,  which  had  lain  heavy  upon  my  spirit  for 
several  years  before,  and  this  gave  every  faithful  Friend  a  share  of 
the  burden.  I  travelled  with  George  Fox  fi-om  place  to  place  iu 
the  several  provinces." 

George  Fox,  after  narrating  the  many  efforts  made  in  different 
places  during  this  visit  to  arrest  and  imprison  him,  says,  "  Yet  the 
Lord  disappointed  all  their  counsels,  defeated  all  their  designs 
against  me,  and  by  his  good  hand  of  Providence  preserved  me  out 
of  all  their  snares,  and  gave  me  many  sweet  and  blessed  opportuni- 
ties to  visit  Friends,  and  spread  trutli  through  that  nation.  For 
meetings  were  very  large,  Friends  coming  to  them  far  and  near,  and 
•other  people  flocking  iu.  The  powerful  presence  of  the  Lord  was 
preciously  felt  with  and  amongst  us,  whereby  many  of  the  world 
were  reached,  convinced,  gathered  to  the  truth,  and  the  Lord's  flock 
was  increased,  and  Friends  were  greatly  refreshed  and  comforted 
in  feeling  the  love  of  God." 

Again,  "  A  good,  weighty  and  true  people  there  is  in  that  nation, 
sensible  of  the  power  of  the  Lord  God,  tender  of  his  truth  ;  and 
very  good  order  they  have  in  their  meetings ;  for  they  stand  up  for 
righteousness  and  holiness,  which  dams  up  the  way  of  wickedness. 
A  precious  visitation  they  had,  and  there  is  an  excellent  spirit  in 
them,  wortliy  to  be  visited."   [1669.] 

It  was  in  Ireland  that  William  Penn,  who  joined  the  Society  of 
Friends  iu  1666,  first  formed  acquaintance  with  some  of  its  members. 
He  was  the  son  of  William  Penn,  who,  trained  to  nautical  life,  had 
by  his  genius  and  courage,  risen  rapidly  in  the  navy,  until  at  the 
age  of  twenty-nine  he  became  "Vice-Admiral  of  the  Straits." 
From  the  account  of  his  life  and  public  career,  given  by  Granville 
Penn  a  descendant,  he  appears  to  have  been  a  man  who  made  self- 
interest  a  leading  principle  of  conduct,  but  who  while  eagerly 
coveting  wealth  and  honor,  wa-s  never  accused  of  bsing  corrupt  as 
a  public  servant.  His  sou  William  was  born  in  1644,  and  resided 
with  his  mother  at  Wanstead,  in  Essex,  while  his  father  was  absent 
with  the  fleet  over  which  he  had  conunand. 

Owing   to  information  received  by  Cromwell   through  some  of 


390  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

the  sj/u-.s  kept  by  him  iu  utteiuhiiiee  upon  the  exiled  Charles  and 
his  Court,  that,  notwithstanding-  he  had  sanctioned  the  promotion  of 
Admiral  Peun  and  largely  rewarded  him  by  an  estate  in  Ireland, 
tor  some  losses  he  had  sustained  there,  he  was  secretly  making  over- 
tures to  bring  the  squadron  he  commanded  into  the  service  of  the 
Royalists,  he  lost  favor  with  the  Protector.  On  his  return  from  an 
unsuccessful  expedition  against  the  S])anish  West  India  Islands,  he 
was  deprived  of  his  command  and  thrown  into  prison,  whence  Crom- 
well generously  liberated  him  at  his  own  humble  petition.  He  then 
took  his  family  over  to  Ireland,  where  he  continued  to  rcsiile  for 
some  years,  on  the  estate  which  Cromwell  had  had  bestowed  upon 
him,  and  which  was  near  Cork. 

In  a  manuscript  written  by  Thomas  Harvey,  reciting  an  account 
given  to  him  by  William  Penu,  of  some  of  the  circumstances  of  his 
early  life,  and  which  was  first  published  in  "  The  Penns  and  Pening- 
tons,"  by  M.  Webb,  it  is  stated,  "  That  while  he  was  but  a  child 
living  at  Cork  with  his  father,  Thomas  Loe  came  thither.  When 
it  was  rumored  a  Quaker  was  come  from  England,  his  father  pro- 
posed to  some  others  to  be  like  the  noble  Bereans,  and  hear  him  be- 
fore they  judged  him.  He  accordingly  sent  to  T.  Loe  to  come  to 
his  house  ;  where  he  had  a  meeting  in  the  family.  Though  William 
was  very  young,  he  observed  what  effect  T.  Loe's  preaching  had  on 
the  hearers.  A  black  servant  of  his  father's  could  not  restrain  him- 
self from  weeping  aloud ;  and  little  William  looking  on  his  father, 
saw  the  tears  running  down  his  cheeks  also.  He  then  thought  with- 
in himself,  '  What  if  they  would  all  be  Quakers  I '  This  opportunity 
he  never  quite  forgot;  the  remembrance  of  it  still  recurring  at 
times."  William  Peun  was  then  about  eleven  years  of  age,  and 
was  being  educated  by  a  private  tutor. 

On  the  retirement  of  Richard  Cromwell  from  the  position  for 
which  he  had  been  appointed  by  his  father.  Admiral  Peun  declared 
for  Charles  Stuart,  and  lost  no  time  for  going  over  to  the  continent 
to  pay  court  to  him  whom  he  had  no  doubt  would  soon  be  recalled 
to  the  throne.  Charles  employed  him  in  secret  service,  and  re- 
warded him  by  the  honors  of  knighthood,  and  by  becoming  his 
debtor  for  one  hundred  pounds. 

When  a  little  over  fifteen  years  of  age,  William  Peun  entered 
as  "  a  gentleman  comuioner,"  at  Oxford,  where  he  remained  three 
years ;  distinguishing  himself  as  a  hard  and  successful  student. 
After  the  Restoration,  the  Court  set  to  work  to  remodel  the 
University,  by  displacing  those  who  held  Puritanical  oi^inions,  or 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  39 1 

who  had  found  tavor  during  the  Commonwealth,  and  installing 
others,  friendly  to  the  re-establi.<hed  church,  and  the  lax  moral 
principles  then  prevailing.  Dr.  Owen,  conspieuoas  as  a  scholar 
and  a  strict  religionist,  was  ejected  to  make  room  for  a  royalist 
partisan,  and  the  students  became  divided  into  parties,  applauding 
or  denouncing  the  changes  made. 

There  is  reason  to  believe,  from  observations  made  by  W.  Penn 
himself,  that  throughout  his  youth  he  was  repeatedly  visited  by  the 
Day-Spring  from  on  high,  convicting  him  of  that  which  was  evil  iu 
his  ways,  and  bringing  him  into  serious  thought  fulness.  While  at 
college  his  associates  appear  to  have  been  those  of  a  religious  cast 
of  character  like  himself,  and  who  with  him  were  greatly  influ- 
enced by  the  teaching  and  advice  of  Dr.  Owen.  It  so  happened 
that  while  much  controversy  was  going  on  among  the  scholars  rel- 
ative to  religious  opinions  and  practices,  Thomas  Loe  came  to  Ox- 
ford, and  held  several  meetings.  To  these  meetings  W.  Penn  and 
his  associates  went,  and  a  deep  impression  was  made  upon  their 
minds  by  the  powerful  preaching  of  this  devoted  servant  of  Christ. 
They  declined  being  present  at  what  were  now  the  regular  "ser- 
vices" of  the  college,  and  did  not  refrain  from  speaking  deprecia- 
tingly of  what  they  designated  as  the  "  popish  doctrines  and  usages" 
leintroduced  among  them.  For  this  they  were  lectured  and  fined. 
With  the  ardor  and  indiscretion  of  youth,  this  supposed  indignity 
was  highly  resented  by  them.  They  not  only  held  private  meetings 
for  worship  and  religious  exhortation  and  prayer,  but  some  of  them 
refused  to  wear  the  student's  gown  and  cap,  and  in  some  instances 
tore  them  off  of  those  they  met.  How  for  William  Penn  was  im- 
plicated in  the  latter  wrong-doing  is  not  known  ;  but  his  positive 
refusal  to  wear  the  usual  garb,  his  bold  denunciation  of  the  doc- 
trine and  practices  he  believed  to  be  wrong,  and  his  courageous 
defence  of  the  gospel  truths  he  had  heard  from  Thomas  Loe, 
brought  upon  him  the  enmity  of  the  Masters  iu  power,  and  he  was 
expelled  the  University. 

Admiral  Penn,  who  had  set  his  heart  upon  pi-eparing  his  son  for 
realizing  to  the  full,  the  ambitious  hopes  and  aims  entertained  by 
himself  for  his  family,  appears  to  have  been  little  qualified  to 
understand  his  sou's  character,  or  to  rightly  estimate  tlie  principles 
that  actuated  him.  His  pride  was  mortified,  and,  as  he  thought, 
his  promising  schemes  were  blasted.  He  received  William  with 
anger,  and  for  a  time  would  hardly  deign  to  speak  to  him.  Accus- 
tomed to  command,  and  to  be  obeyed  without  (piestion,  he  ordered 


392  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

liini  to  give  up  his  newly  fonneLl  views  of  reliti;ious  duty,  and  to 
hold  no  further  intercourse  with  those  who  had  shared  in  his  rebel- 
lious opinions  and  course.  Enraged  on  finding  that  his  authority, 
though  seconded  by  the  filial  affection  of  his  child,  was  powerless 
for  ren\oving  his  religious  convictions,  he  resorted  to  the  use  of  his 
cane ;  followed  by  solitary  confinement  in  his  room,  and  then  ban- 
ishnient  from  the  family. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  his  good  sense  convinced  him 
that  the  object  he  had  in  view  was  not  to  be  obtained  by  severity. 
He  resolved  to  change  his  mode  of  attack,  and  try  if  what  could 
not  be  gained  by  force,  might' not  be  brought  about  by  the  seduc- 
tions of  a  life  of  gaiety  and  pleasure.  Learning  that  a  number  of 
young  men,  sons  of  persons  considered  to  be  of  high  families,  were 
about  to  go  on  to  the  continent  and  spend  some  time  in  study  and 
travelling,  he  decided  to  send  William  with  them.  Accordingly, 
furnished  with  letters  that  would  introduce  him  into  what  the  world 
considered  the  best  society,  he  went  to  Paris ;  and  fascinated  by  the 
courtly  and  gay  scenes  of  the  company  into  which  he  found  himself 
welcomed,  as  an  admired  guest,  he  soon  caught  the  worldly  spirit 
that  presided  over  their  festivities,  and  his  serious,  Quaker-like  im- 
pressions appeared  to  pass  away,  like  the  morning  dew  before  the 
burning  rays  of  the  sun.  He  did  not,  however,  allow  pleasure  to 
wean  him  from  study.  He  went  to  Saumur,  and  placing  himself 
under  the  tuition  of  the  learned  Moses  Amyrault,  applied  himself 
to  the  study  of  the  language  and  literature  of  the  country,  embracing 
the  philosophic  basis  of  divinity.  Travelling  into  Italy  he  made 
himself  acquainted  with  its  language,  and  gratified  his  taste  for  the 
works  of  the  Masters  in  art. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  with  the  Dutch,  tke  Admiral 
culled  his  sou  William  home,  where  he  arrived  after  an  absence 
of  two  years.  All  trace  of  the  religious  seriousness  and  con- 
scientious restraint  that  had  marked  his  conduct  and  manner  when 
lie  left,  was  gone,  and  his  father  was  delighted  to  find  his  son  wear- 
ing the  carriage,  and  displaying  the  accomplishments  of  a  self- 
possessed  man  of  the  world.  He  was  at  once  introduced  at  Court, 
and  had  the  opportunity  to  become  actiuainted  with  many  who 
stood  high  in  the  brilliant  but  profligate  society  that  filled  the 
saloons  of  Whitehall. 

William  Penn  now  entered  Lincoln's  Inn  as  a  student  of  law,  and 
in  1665,  w^ien  twenty-one  years  of  age,  there  seemed  every  proba- 
bility of  his  making  an  accomplished  courtier,  and  a  successful  com- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTUEY.  393 

petitor  for  the  houors  of  this  world.  F'ew  could  enter  life  with 
more  flattering,  and  apparently  better  grounded  prospects  of  attain- 
ing to  all  that  would  gratify  a  mind  with  strong  intellectual  powers, 
and  naturally  ambitious  of  preferment.  His  manly  form,  blooming 
with  health,  betokened  physical  strength  and  endurance.  His  dis- 
position, though  lively  and  active,  was  marked  by  docility  and 
sweetness.  He  possessed  ready  wit,  and  his  good  mental  abilities 
had  been  well  developed  and  trained  by  careful  culture,  and 
sti'engthened  by  extensive  and  profound  literary  attainments.  Men 
high  in  })ower  and  place  smiled  upon  him;  his  father  enjoyed  close 
intimacy  with  the  Duke  of  York,  heir  presumptive  to  the  crown, 
and  eagerly  sought  to  secure  for  his  son  the  glory  and  riches  of  the 
world  which  courted  his  acceptance. 

The  Admiral  having  been  appointed  by  the  Duke  of  York,  to 
accompany  him  in  command  of  the  fleet,  took  William  as  one  of  his 
staff";  but  after  a  short  absence  the  latter  was  sent  home  with  a  dis- 
patch to  the  King.  The  Plague  was  now  spreading  in  London,  and 
soon  the  whole  aspect  of  the  city  was  sadly  changed.  The  awful 
scenes  of  de;ith  that  were  daily  occurring  and  struck  the  stoutest 
hearts  with  dismay,  brought  to  the  sensitive  mind  of  the  gay  young 
man,  conviction  of  the  uncertainty  of  life,  and  warning  of  the  neces- 
sity to  prepare  for  its  sudden  termination.  The  Holy  Spirit  again 
broke  up  his  false  rest,  showed  him  the  emptiness  of  all  worldly 
grandeur,  and  wooed  him  to  follow  Christ  Jesus  in  the  regeneration. 

After  a  cruise  of  about  two  months  his  father  returned,  flushed 
with  success  in  the  sanguinary  contest  in  which  he  had  been  engaged. 
He  found  William  again  serious,  and  indisposed  to  continue  the 
course  upon  which,  but  a  short  time  before,  he  had  exultantly- 
entered.  Tiie  increased  honors  and  emoluments  heaped  on  the  vic- 
torious sailor  by  the  royal  brothers,  made  him  still  more  fearful 
lest  the  foolish  whimsies  —  as  he  thought  them  —  of  his  son,  would 
yet  disappoint  his  hopes  of  the  hereditary  honors  that  might  be  set- 
tled upon  him.  Large  accession  to  his  Irish  estate,  derived  from 
royal  bounty  as  a  reward  for  the  service  rendered,  made  it  neces- 
sary that  some  one  should  look  after  his  interest  there ;  and  having 
experienced  the  good  efi'ect — as  he  considered  it— of  placing  his  son 
within  the  dazzling  circle  of  gay  and  fashionable  life,  he  hurried 
him  across  the  channel,  with  letters  of  introduction  to  the  Duke  of 
Ormund,  then  Lord  Deputy  of  Ii'eland. 

William  found  the  viceregal  Court  comparatively  free  from  the 
dissipation  and  loose  morals  of  that  which  surrounded  Charles  11., 


394  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

and  he  soon  seemed  to  enter  licartily  into  the  enjoyment  it  afforded. 
He  joincMl  an  expedition,  sent  under  the  command  of  Lord  Arran, 
to  quell  an  insurrection  that  broke  out  among  the  garrison  at  Car- 
rifkfergus,  and  for  a  while  was  so  excited  by  the  spirit  and  enter- 
prise attending  active  military  life,  that  he  became  anxious  to  adopt 
it  as  a  profession.  But  his  father,  when  consulted  on  the  subject, 
decidedly  objected,  and  it  was  given  up. 

But  He  who  watches  over  the  workmanship  of  his  hand,  and 
seeks  to  save  that  which  is  lost,  was  not  leaving  William  Penn  to 
wander  in  the  paths  of  folly,  without  the  reproofs  of  instruction,  and 
in  mercy,  by  his  witness  in  the  heart,  inclining  him  to  acce})t  those 
reproofs  as  the  way  to  life;  and  it  was  not  long  before  he  was  brought 
to  a  stand,  and  made  to  feel  that  he  must  then  make  his  election 
between  the  life  of  a  votary  of  this  world,  and  that  of  a  self-denying 
disciple  of  a  crucified  Saviour. 

Shangarry  Castle,  the  newly  acquired  estate  of  the  Admiral,  was 
near  to  Cork,  and  when  not  employed  in  bringing  the  place  and  the 
affairs  connected  with  it  into  order,  William  was  often  in  the  town, 
where  he  had  been  well  acquainted  when  a  boy.  Having  one  day, 
while  there,  gone  into  the  shop  of  a  woman  Friend  whom  he  had 
formerly  known,  to  make  a  purchase,  and  finding  she  did  not  recog- 
nize him,  he  introduced  himself,  and  entered  into  conversation  with 
her;  recalling  to  her  recollection  the  meeting  held  by  Thomas  Loe 
at  his  father's  house.  Upon  her  expressing  surprise  at  his  memory 
of  the  events,  he  replied,  he  thought  he  would  never  forget  them, 
and  that  if  he  knew  where  that  Friend  was,  he  would  go  to  hear  him 
again,  though  it  was  an  hundred  miles  off.  She  told  him  he  need 
not  go  so  far,  for  that  Friend  was  now  in  Cork,  and  was  to  have  a 
meeting  the  next  day.  Curious  again  to  hear  one  whojiad  arrested 
his  attention  when  a  boy,  and  seriously  impressed  him  by  his  min- 
istry, when  at  Oxford,  he  went  to  the  meeting;  and  after  a  time 
Thomas  Loe  stood  up  with  the  expression,  "  There  is  a  faith  that 
overcomes  the  world,  and  there  is  a  faith  that  is  overcome  by  the 
world."  It  struck  deep  into  the  heart  of  William  Penn,  who  was 
then  made  to  feel  keenly  that  he  had  been  long  striving  against  or 
slighting  his  known  duty  to  his  Maker,  and  allowing  the  world  to 
overcome  the  drawing  of  his  heavenly  Father's  love,  to  bring  him 
out  from  the  thraldrom  of  sin  ;  and  as  the  preacher,  with  fervid  elo- 
quence, dwelt  on  the  fruits  of  such  faith,  he  was  thoroughly  broken 
down,  and  wept  much.  After  the  meeting  he  went  with  T,  Loe  to 
a  Friend's  house,  where  they  had  a  free  conversation,  and  from  that 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CENTURY.  395 

time  lit^  became  a  regular  attender  of  the  meetings  of  Friends.  As 
tlie  Light  of  Christ  shone -\vith  more  and  more  clearness  upon  his 
soul,  he  saw  how  grievously  he  had  departed  from  the  right  way  of 
the  Lord,  and  was  brought  under  deep  repentance  therefor.  Con- 
vinced of  the  truth  of  the  doctrines  held  by  Friends,  he  heartily 
embraced  them,  and  firmly  resolved  to  live  and  die  by  them,  what- 
ever sacrifices  it  might  cost  him. 

Bc'ing  at  a  meeting  in  Cork  in  1667,  he,  with  others,  was  arrested 
by  officers  who  came  to  break  the  meeting  up,  and  was  sent  to 
prison  ;  tliough  the  Magistrate,  who  recognized  him  as  the  son  of 
the  lord  of  Shangarry  Castle,  offered  to  set  him  at  liberty  if  he 
would  give  his  word  "  to  keep  the  peace,"  which  he  refused.  From 
the  prison  he  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Earl  of  Ossory,  giving  an 
account  of  the  arrest  and  imprisonment  of  himself  and  friends, 
showing  their  innocence,  and  pleading  the  liberty  of  conscience  de- 
manded by  the  precepts  of  the  gospel.  An  order  was  immediately 
despatched  by  the  Earl  for  his  release;  and  as.it  was  soon  noised 
abroad  that  Admiral  Penn's  son  had  turned  Quaker,  the  Earl  wrote 
to  his  father,  communicating  the  information.  Startled  and  annoyed 
by  the  intelligence,  the  Admiral  ordered  William  to  come  home 
immediately,  which  he  did.  Josiah  Cole,  of  whom  mention  has 
been  made  before,  met  him  at  Bristol,  accompanied  him  to  London, 
and  being  deeply  interested  for  his  stability  and  preservation,  went 
with  him  to  his  father's  house.  Fully  as  William  had  adopted  the 
principles  of  Friends,  and  many  as  were  the  baptisms  he  had  already 
passed  through,  he  had  not  yet  adopted  the  plain  dress  that  dis- 
tinguished them  from  others ;  and  his  father  observing  this,  and 
that  his  rapier  still  hung  by  his  side,  hoped  that  his  friend  the  Earl 
had  been  Vrongjy  informed ;  and  he  treated  him  and  his  friend 
during  the  evening  with  ordinary  courtesy,  Avithout  alluding  to  the 
report  that  had  reached  him. 

Observing,  on  the  next  day,  that  William  did  not  uncover  his 
head  when  he  came  into  his  presence  —  in  those  days  men  generally 
wore  their  hats  in  the  house  —  and  that  he  used  thee  and  thou  when 
addressing  him,  he  demanded  an  explanation.  William  frankly 
told  him,  that  having  been  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  religion  of 
the  Quakers,  he  was  conscientiously  scrupulous  against  taking  off 
his  hat  as  a  token  of  respect,  using  the  plural  language,  or  compli- 
ments. An  angry  altercation  on  the  part  of  the  father,  and  deeply 
distressing  on  the  part  of  the  son  succeeded,  and  was  more  than 
once  repeated.     Finally,  the  former,  finding  that  neither  argument 


396  Fit  1  ENDS    IN    THE 

uor  tlireaU  could  sluikc  the  latter's  iinn  conviction  that  to  comply 
with  his  father's  wishcsi,  would  be  to  violate  his  duty  to  his  Lord  and 
Master,  told  him  he  might  thee  and  thou  whom  he  j)leased,  and 
keep  on  his  hat,  except  in  the  presence  of  the  King,  the  Duke  of 
York,aiul  himself;  but  to  or  before  these  he  should  not  thee  nor  thou, 
nor  stand  covered ;  and  the  son,  moved  by  his  father's  distress  and  his 
own  filial  affection,  asked  time  for  consideration  before  giving  a 
decisive  re})ly.  This  was  reluctantly  granted,  though  he  was  for- 
bidden to  see  any  Friend,  and  William  retired,  to  pour  out  his  soul 
in  prayer  for  right  direction  and  strength  to  follow  it.  At  their 
next  interview  William  told  his  father  that  he  could  not  comply 
with  his  wishes  without  violating  his  duty  to  his  God,  and  must 
therefore  decline.  Irritated  at  what  he  considered  his  son's  obsti- 
nacy, and  foolish  determination  to  sacrifice  the  worldly  honors  solicit- 
ing his  acceptance,  for  a  mere  whim,  the  Admiral  upbraided  him  in  no 
measured  terms,  and  when  convinced  that  he  would  not  be  ciianged, 
turned  him  out  of  doors,  with  the  threat  that  he  would  disinherit 
him.  Before  leaving  his  home  an,d  family,  William  assured  his 
father  how  deeply  he  was  grieved  ;  not  so  much  because  of  his  being 
driven  fr  'm  his  paternal  roof  and  brought  to  poverty,  as  because 
he  incurred  his  displeasure,  and  was  thought  by  him  to  be  an  un- 
dutiful  child  :  he  then  left  the  house,  resigned  to  make  the  sacrifice 
required,  and  "  Choosing  rather  to  suffer  affliction  with  the  people 
of  God,  than  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  ^a  season  ;  esteeming 
the  reproach  of  Christ  greater  riches  than  the  treasures  of  Egypt ; 
for  he  had  respect  unto  the  recompense  of  reward."  Friends  who 
knew  the  circumstances  under  which  Wm.  Penn  was  placed,  received 
him  gladly;  and  his  mother,  who  yearned  over  the  son  of  her  love, 
and  greatly  mourned  the  course  pursued  towards  him,  took  means 
to  have  him  supplied  with  money  sufficient  to  obtain  food  and  rai- 
ment, and  so  managed  as  to  have  an  occasional  interview  with  him. 
It  was  not  long  after,  that  laying  aside  his  rapier  and  all  ornamen- 
tation of  dress,  he  appeared  in  the  plain  garb  of  a  Quaker. 

Some  years  after,  when  writing  respecting  the  trials  that  befell 
him  about  this  time,  he  speaks  of"  The  bitter  raockiugs  and  scorn- 
ings  that  fell  upon  me,  the  displeasure  of  my  parents,  the  cruelty 
and  invective  of  the  priests,  the  strangeness  of  all  my  companions 
and  what  a  sign  and  wonder  they  made  of  me ;  but  above  all,  that 
great  cro.-^s  of  resisting  and  watching  against  my  own  vain  affections 
and  thoughts." 

As  he  was  given  up  to  endure  the  baptisms  necessary  for  his 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  397 

purification  and  refinement,  his  Divine  Master  brought  him  up  out 
of  the  horrible  pit,  set  his  feet  upon  Himself,  the  Rock  of  ages,  and 
made  him  a  partaker  of  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come ;  and  hav- 
ing thus  prepared  him  for  the  work,  bestowed  on  him  a  gift  in  the 
ministry  of  the  gospel  of  life  and  salvation  He  first  came  forth  in 
this  service  in  1668,  about  two  years  after  his  conviucemeut  under 
the  ministry  of  T.  Loe,  and  in  the  twenty-fourth  year  of  his  age. 
His  uniformly  consistent  conduct,  and  careful  maintenance  of  affec- 
tionate filial  respect  toward  his  exasperated  parent,  finally  won  upon 
him  so  far  that  he  permitted  him  to  take  up  his  abode  in  his  house ; 
though  it  was  long  after  he  had  been  so  living,  before  he  would  have 
much  intercourse  with  him.  But  when,  sharing  in  the  persecution 
which  Friends  were  then  suffering,  his  son  was  cast  into  prison,  it 
was  said  he  secretly  used  his  influence  to  obtain  his  liberty. 

In  1667,  Richard  Famsworth,  who  has  been  mentioned  as  one  of 
the  band  of  ministers  which,  shortly  after  the  great  convincement 
that  attended  the  early  preaching  of  George  Fox,  was  sent  forth, 
and  earnestly  engaged  in  promulgating  the  truth,  first  throughout 
the  Northern  Shires  of  England,  and  then  in  various  parts  of  Great 
Britain,  deceased  in  London,  whither  he  had  come  in  gospel  love. 
He  was  a  faithful  laborer  in  the  Lord's  cause,  and  willingly  took 
his  share  of  the  suff*ering  so  generally  inflicted  on  Friends  on  account 
of  their  adherence  to  what  they  believed  to  be  the  faith  once  deliv- 
ered to  the  saints.  Daniel  Roberts  in  his  account  of  his  father,  John 
Roberts,  relates,  that  two  women  Friends  who  were  at  the  house  of 
the  latter,  having  recommended  him  to  go  to  R.  Farnsworth  —  who 
was  then  in  Banbury  jail  for  the  testimony  of  Truth — to  obtain 
more  information  respecting  the  principles  of  Friends,  he  went ;  and 
finding  the  two  women  Friends  there,  whom  the  jailer  would  not 
admit,  he  requested  they  might  be  allowed  to  accompany  him  to 
the  prisoner,  and  it  was  granted.  They  were  "  conducted  through 
several  rooms  to  a  dungeon,  where  Richard  Farnsworth  was  preach- 
ing through  the  grating  to  the  people  in  the  street.  Soon  after  they 
came  in  he  desisted ;  and  after  a  little  time  of  silence,  turning  to 
them,  spoke  to  this  purpose.  That  Zaccheus  being  a  man  of  low 
stature,  and  having  a  mind  to  see  Christ,  ran  before  and  climbed 
up  into  a  sycamore  tree ;  and  our  Saviour  knowing  his  good  de- 
sires, called  to  him,  '  Zaccheus,  come  down,  for  this  day  is  salvation 
come  to  thy  house.'  Thus,  Zaccheus  was  like  some  in  our  day  who 
are  climbing  up  into  the  tree  of  knowledge,  thinking  to  find  Christ 
there.     But  the  word  now  is,  Zaccheus  come!  comedown  !  for  that 


398  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

which  is  known  of  Goil  is  manifested  within.  This,  with  more  to 
the  stiine  })urpose,  was  spoken  with  such  autliority,  that  when  my 
father  came  home,  he  tohl  my  mother  he  liad  seen  Richard  Farns- 
worth,  who  had  spoken  to  his  condition  as  if  he  had  known  him 
from  his  youtli.     From  that  time  he  patiently  bore  the  cross." 

A  siiort  time  before  his  death,  being  sensible  that  his  end  was 
near  at  hand,  Richard  addressed  those  about  him  iu  the  following 
words:  "  Friends,  God  hath  been  mightily  with  me,  and  supported 
me  at  this  time,  and  his  presence  and  power  have  encompassed  me 
all  along  :  God  hath  appeared  for  the  owning  of  my  testimony.  I 
am  filled  with  his  love  more  than  I  am  able  to  express.  God  hath 
really  appeared  for  us.  Therefore  I  beseech  you.  Friends,  here  of 
the  City  of  London,  be  you  faithful  to  the  testimony  which  God 
hath  committed  to  you." 

Severe  persecution  was  going  on  in  many  parts  of  England,  and 
one  William  Armorer,  in  Berkshire,  so  distinguished  himself  by  his 
persevering  oppression  of  Friends  in  that  Shire,  and  his  implacable 
cruelty  towards  those  he  brought  within  his  power,  that  an  account 
of  his  acts  and  the  suffering  Friends  had  to  emlure  from  him,  was 
published,  giving  the  particular  cases,  time  and  places.  They  were 
much  the  same  as  many  of  those  which  have  been  already  narrated, 
though  some  evinced  peculiar  malignity  of  feeling  on  the  part  of 
this  persecutor,  who  was  bent  upon  robbing  and  imprisoning  all  who 
openly  professed  the  principles  of  Friends,  and  were  within  the  reach 
of  his  authority.  Tliere  were,  however,  political  causes  at  work, 
which,  by  unsettling  the  depository  of  power,  and  causing  commo- 
tion among  those  who  were  desirous  to  control  the  government,  took 
attention,  in  part  off  from  enforcing  conformity  to  the  "  established 
Church,"  by  constant  persecution  of  Dissenters.  The  vices  of  the 
Court  kept  the  King  constantly  poor,  and  having  to  go  again  and 
again  to  the  House  of  Commons  for  the  means  to  continue  his  fol- 
lies, the  latter  began  again  to  encroach  on  the  prerogatives  and 
functions  of  the  executive  branch  of  the  government,  and  to  aug- 
ment its  own  power,  by  a  crafty  use  of  its  command  over  the 
purse.  They  became  dissatisfied  with  Clarendon,  Chancellor  of 
England,  and  the  head  of  the  administration,  and  boldly  called 
liim  to  account.  He  was  hated  by  one  party  of  royalists,  anxious 
to  be  made  rich  by  confiscating  the  property  of  the  Puritans,  be- 
cause he  inflexibly  insisted  on  the  strict  observance  of  the  "  In- 
demnity Act,"  and  was  equally  disliked  by  another  party  at  Court, 
on  account  of  his  circumspect  morals,  and  his  felt  rebuke  of  their 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  399 

own  licentiousness;  while,  as  the  author  of  the  penal  laws,  and  the 
principal  promoter  of  other  severe  measures  I'csortcd  to,  to  crush 
the  Dissenters,  he  was  looked  upon  by  them  as  a  bigot,  and  devoid  of 
the  common  feelings  of  humanity.  His  proud  and  arrogant  man- 
ner, especially  towards  those  whom  he  thought  were  aiming  to  ac- 
quire power,  disgusted  many  in  the  Parliament ;  while  the  common 
])eo|)le,  who  blindly  attributed  to  him  most  of  the  great  evils  that 
had  befallen  the  nation,  failed  not  to  give  him  ample  proof  of  how 
unpopular  he  was  with  them.  The  King  having  taken  the  great 
Seal  from  him,  and  the  Commons  impeached  him  for  high  crimes 
and  misdemeanors,  he  became  so  alarmed  at  the  probable  result, 
tliat  he  fled  the  country,  and  Parliament  passed  an  act  sentencing 
him  to  perpetual  exile  ;  thus  meting  to  him  in  full  measure,  for  his 
crimes,  that  punishment  wdiich  he  had  been  the  cause  of  meting  to 
so  many  much  better  men  than  himself,  for  adhering  to  their  reli- 
gious principles. 

Those  who  succeeded  Clarendon  in  place  and  power,  probably 
impressed  by  his  fate  with  the  fickleness  of  popular  favor,  and  the 
distracted  condition  of  the  country,  appeared  desirous  to  remove  the 
great  discontent  of  the  Dissenters,  by  letting  the  execution  of  the 
laws  against  them  sleep,  and  conniving  at  their  meeting  together 
for  public  worship.  Consequently,  for  a  short  time.  Friends  were 
not  so  universally  and  persistently  harassed  and  imprisoned. 

In  1668  Josiah  Cole  was  gathered  from  works  to  rewards.  He 
joined  the  Society  in  1G54,  and  became  a  fiiithful  laborer  in  tho 
Lord's  vineyard,  as  has  been  noticed  in  the  account  of  his  service.^ 
and  sufferings  when  in  America.  AVilliam  Penn,  in  his  testimony 
concerning  him,  says,  "His  declarations  to  the  ungodly  world  wero 
like  an  axe  or  a  sword,  sharp  and  piercing,  being  mostly  attended 
with  an  eminent  appearance  of  the  dreadful  power  of  the  Lord  ;  but 
to  the  faithful  and  diligent,  O !  the  soft  and  pleasant  streams  of  life 
immortal  that  have  run  through  him,  to  the  refreshing  of  the  Lord's 
heritage." 

As  he  felt  the  chill  of  death  creeping  over  him  —  George  Fox  and 
Stephen  Crisp  being  with  him — he  uttered  many  weighty  expres- 
sions ;  among  the  last  of  which  were,  "  For  my  part  I  have  walked 
in  faithi'ulness  to  the  Lord,  and  I  have  thus  fiir  finished  my  testi- 
mony, and  have  peace  with  the  Lord.  His  majesty  is  with  me,  and 
his  crown  of  life  is  upon  me.  So  mind  my  love  to  all  Friends." 
Then  addressing  S.  Crisp,  he  said,  "  Dear  heart !  keep  low  in  the 
holy  Seed  of  God,  and  that  will  be  thy  crown  forever.     A  minister 


400  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

of  Christ  must  walk  as  He  walked."     He  died  in  the  arms  of  the 
two  Frieuds  above  named. 

It  was  also  in  this  year  (1668,)  that  Francis  Howgil  died  in  jail, 
as  has  been  mentioned  in  the  account  of  his  trial  and  imprisonment. 
Thomas  Loe,  another  eminent  servant  and  minister  of  Christ,  who, 
in  the  course  of  his  service  in  the  Church,  had  been  instrumental  in 
turning  many  to  righteousness,  was  called  away  from  the  church 
militant  to  enter  upon  his  reward  in  the  church  triumphant.  When 
on  his  death-bed,  he  said  to  William  Fenn,  who,  with  other  Friends, 
was  waiting  on  him,  "  Bear  thy  cross  and  stand  faithful  to  God ; 
then  He  will  give  thee  an  everlasting  crown  of  glory,  that  shall  not 
be  taken  from  thee.  There  is  no  other  way  which  shall  prosper 
than  that  which  the  holy  men  of  old  walked  in.  God  hath  brought 
immortality  to  light,  and  life  immortal  is  felt.  Glory  !  glory !  to 
Him,  for  He  is  wortliy  of  it.  His  love  overcomes  my  heart ;  nay, 
my  cup  runs  over,  glory  be  to  his  Name  forever."  To  George 
Whitehead  he  remarked,  "  The  Lord  is  good  to  me ;  this  day  He 
hath  covered  me  with  glory,"  and  as  life  was  leaving  his  body  he 
sano-,  "  glory,  glory  to  Thee  forever !"  and  so  sank  to  sleep  in  Jesus. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


Dispute  of  G.  Wliitehead  niul  W.  Penn  with  Thos.  Vincent—"  Sandy  Founda- 
tion Shaken"—  Imprisonment  of  Wm.  Penn— No  Cross,  no  Crown—"  Inno- 
cency  with  iier  Open  Face  "  —  Unjust  Suspicion  of  W.  Penn's  Soundness  in 
Christian  Faith— W.  P.  released  from  the  Tower  —  Address  of  Marg.  Fell  to 
King  Charles  II.— Her  Release  from  Prison —Marriage  of  Q. Fox  and  M. 
Fell  —  Epistle  of  G.  F.— Visit  of  .J.  Burnyeat  to  America  —  Defection  of  T. 
Thurston  —  Perrot's  Principles  in  America —  Numerous  Friends  engaged  in 
Religious  visits  to  W.  Indies  and  America  —G.  Fox  in  America—  W.  Ed- 
raundson  in  America- Friends  in  N.  and  S.  Carolina  — Friends  ohtain  con- 
trol of  New  Jersey  —  Emigration  to  N.  J.—  Settlement  of  Meetings  in  N.  J. 

'I'^HE  Baptists  and  Presbyterians  were  now  holding  their  meetings 
J-  for  worship  publicly,  and  as  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  some 
among  their  congregations  to  leave  them  and  join  with  Friends, 
many  of  their  ministers,  chagrined  at  the  loss  of  members  of  their 
flock,  resorted  to  the  common  usage  of  misrepresenting  the  doctrines 
held  by  the  "  Quakers."  Among  others,  one  Thomas  Vincent,  a 
Presbyterian  clergyman,  having  lost  some  of  his  congregation,  who 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  401 

were  convinced  of  Friends'  principles,  indulged*iu  such  gross  de- 
nunciation of,  and  calumnies  respecting  the  Society,  that  George 
Whitehead  and  William  Penn  deemed  it  their  duty  to  call  him  to 
account,  and  demand  of  him  a  public  examination  of  the  charges  he 
so  boldly  made,  that  Friends  held  damnable  doctrines. 

1668.  Accordingly,  a  meeting  was  assembled  in  the  Presbyterian 
place  of  worship,  composed  principally  of  Vincent's  congregation  ; 
and  he,  with  several  of  his  clerical  brethren  to  assist  him  in  the  dispute, 
accused  Friends  of  holding  the  damnable  heresy  of  denying  there 
being  three  distinct  and  se[)arate  persons  in  the  Godhead.  The  dis- 
putation was  altogether  unsatisfactory.  Vincent  and  his  abettors 
failed  to  prove  their  charge,  which  they  attempted  to  do  by  syllo- 
gisms, because  they  could  not  show  the  truth  of  the  second  or  minor 
jn-oposition  ;  and  the  two  Friends  failed  to  obtain  opportunity  to 
explain  what  Friends'  doctrine  really  was.  When  Vincent  had  got 
through  with  what  he  desired  to  say,  he  fell  upon  his  knees  and 
began  to  repeat  over  a  j^rayer,  after  finishing  which,  he  and  his 
assistants  left  the  house,  desiring  the  people  to  do  so  likewise.  But 
as  Friends  desired  them  to  remain  and  listen  to  their  declaration  of 
what  they  did  believe,  and  many  of  them  were  disposed  to  do  so, 
the  lights  were  put  out,  and  to  prevent  an  uproar.  Friends  left  and 
the  assembly  dispersed.  Vincent  promised  to  give  another  oppor- 
tunity for  continuing  the  debate,  but  could  never  be  brought  to 
comply  with  his  promise  ;  though  George  Whitehead  and  William 
Penn  went  to  his  meeting-house  and,  waiting  until  he  had  got 
through  with  his  "service,"  requested  him  to  give  them  the  oppor- 
tunity to  examine  and  refute  the  charges  he  had  made  against 
Friends,  but  he  pleaded  not  having  time,  and  went  directly  away. 

As  this  attempt  at  a  public  debate  on  controverted  points  of  belief 
had  excited  great  interest,  and  was  a  subject  of  much  conversation 
throughout  the  city,  William  Penn  wrote  and  had  published  a 
tract,  which  he  entitled  "  The  Sandy  Foundation  Shaken  ;"  in  which 
he  controverted  the  three  positions  taken,  or  propositions  advocated 
by  Thomas  Vincent,  viz. :  One  God  subsisting  in  three  distinct  and 
separate  ji^rsons.  The  impossibility  of  God  pardoning  sinners,  with- 
out a  plenary  satisfaction.  The  justification  of  impure  persons  by 
an  imputative  righteousness.     [1668.] 

Zealous  to  refute  the  error  of  there  being  ihvQO.  persons  in  the  God- 
head ;  and  to  prove  the  unscriptural  character  of  the  assertions  that 
God  could  not  pardon  sin  "  upon  repentance,  without  Christ  paying 
his  justice,  by  suffering  infinite  vengeance  and  eternal  death  for  sins 
26 


402  FUIEXDS    IN    THE 

past,  present  and  |o  conic,"  and  that  tlie  righteousness  of  Christ  was 
imputed  to  impure  persons  and  they  thereby  justified,  William  Penn 
was  not  so  guarded  in  the  language  he  used  in  treating  on  these 
mysteries,  but  that  he  was  misunderstood  by  many,  and  supposed  to 
be  unsound  on  tht-  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  proper  divinity,  and 
meritorious  death  and  atonement  of  Christ. 

The  tract  attracted  general  attention,  and  gave  deep  offence  to 
some  of  the  Prelates  ;  who,  either  thought  it  beneath  their  dignity  to 
enter  into  argument  with  a  polemic  so  young,  and  as  they  might 
think,  so  unskilled  in  divinity  ;  or,  as  being  more  in  accordance  with 
their  practice  and  the  spirit  of  the  times,  and  more  likely  to  silence 
their  opponent,  they  applied  to  the  Secretary  of  State  and  induced 
liim  to  issue  a  warrant  for  his  arrest ;  which  Wm.  Penn  heai'ing  of, 
went  and  voluntarily  gave  himself  up,  and  was  committed  to  the 
Tower.  It  was  evident  that  Wra.  Penn  had  some  bitter  enemies, 
for  a  letter  was  picked  up  near  where  he  liad  been  standing  when 
he  surrendered  himself,  which  contained  matter  of  so  treasonable  a 
character,  that  Lord  Arlington,  the  Secretary  of  State,  on  receiving 
and  reading  it,  went  immediately  to  the  Tower  and  had  an  interview 
with  him,  in  which  he  soon  satisfied  himself  that  Wm.  Penn  kn*w 
nothing  of  the  note,  and  was  innocent  of  any  conspiracy. 

Thex-e  had  been  no  indictment,  no  trial,  conviction,  nor  sentence 
passed  upon  the  prisoner,  and  yet  he  was  kept  in  solitary  confine- 
ment for  about  eight  months  ;  during  which  time  most  of  his  family 
and  friends  were  forbidden  access  to  him,  and  the  "Bishop  of  Lon- 
don "  sent  him  word  he  should  either  make  a  public  recantation  or 
die  in  prison.  But  though  thus  closely  immured  as  to  his  body, 
his  spirit  was  free,  and  the  word  of  the  Lord  was  not  bound.  He 
prepared  himself  to  weary  out  the  malice  of  his  enemies  by  patience 
and  meekness,  and  to  be  resigned  to  lay  down  his  life  within  the 
walls  of  the  Tower,  if  the  sacrifice  was  called  for,  rather  than 
violate  his  conscience. 

To  occupy  his  time  profitably,  and,  so  far  as  he  had  ability,  pro- 
mote the  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness,  he  employed  his  pen ; 
and  his  thoughts,  probably  taking  their  direction  and  coloring  from 
the  afflictive  circumstances  under  which  he,  and  many  other  mem- 
bers of  the  Society  to  which  he  was  joined,  were  then  placed, 
he  wrote  the  work,  since  become  so  celebrated,  "  No  Cross,  No 
Crown."  This  treatise  is  admitted  to  be  of  extraordinary  merit ; 
not  only  in  a  literary  point  of  view,  considering  the  short  time,  and 
the  ciui'cumstauces  under  which  it  was  produced,  but  in  the  clear  and 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  403 

cogent  manner  in  which  it  presents  the  sinful  indulgences  of  the 
great  body  of  the  professors  of  cliristianity,  and  enforces  the  self- 
denying  requisitions  of  the  religion  of  Christ. 

Finding  that  some  parts  of  his  "  Sandy  Foundation  Shaken,"  had 
been  misunderstood  or  misrepresented,  so  as  to  give  currency  to  the 
charge  of  his  being  unsound  in  relation  to  the  divinity  and  atone- 
ment of  Christ,  William  Penn  at  once  wrote  an  exphiuation  of  what 
had  been  misrepresented,  and  in  exposition  of  his  views  on  these 
cardinal  points  of  Christian  faith.  [1668.]  This  was  entitled, 
"  Innocency  with  her  Open  Face."  In  this  work  he  says,  "  Let  all 
know,  that  I  pretend  to  know  no  other  name  by  which  remission, 
atonement,  and  salvation  can  be  obtained,  but  Jesus  Christ  the 
Saviour,  wlio  is  the  power  and  wisdom  of  God."  Asserting  his  full 
belief  in  the  divinity  of  Christ,  he  observes,  "  He  that  is  the  ever- 
lasting Wisdom,  the  divine  Power,  the  true  Light,  the  only  Saviour, 
the  creating  Word  of  all  things,  whether  visible  or  invisible,  and 
their  Upholder  by  his  own  power,  is  without  contradiction,  God ; 
but  all  these  qualifications  and  divine  properties  are,  by  the  concur- 
rent testimony  of  Scripture,  ascribed  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
therefore,  without  scruple,  I  call  and  believe  him  really  to  be  the 
mighty  God." 

In  replying  to  Dr.  John  Colleuges,  some  years  after  the  publication 
of  "  The  Sandy  Foundation  Shaken,"  who  had  at  that  time  broup^ht 
forward  exceptions  to  its  doctrines,  William  Penn  again  explicitly 
asserts  his  full  belief  in  the  proper  divinity  of,  and  atonement  made 
by,  Christ;  and  in  the  doctrine  of  Justification  as  held  by  Friends 
at  that  time  and  ever  since.  "  I  do  Jteartihj  believe  that  Jesus  Christ 
is  the  only  true  and  everlasting  God,  by  whom  all  things  were  made 
that  are  made,  in  the  heavens  above  or  the  earth  beneath,  or  the 
waters  under  the  earth  :  that  He  is  as  omnipotent,  so,  omniscient  and 
omnipresent,  therefore  God."  And  in  regard  to  the  atonement  and 
justification,  he  thus  writes,  "He  that  would  not  have  me  mistaken, 
on  purpose  to  render  his  charge  against  me  just,  whether  it  be  so  or 
no,  may  see  in  7ny  apology  for  '  The  Sandy  Foundation  Shaken,'  that 
I  otherwise  meant  than  I  am  charactered.  In  short,  I  say,  both  as 
to  this  and  the  other  point  of  justification,  that  Jesus  Christ  was  a 
sacrifice  for  sin,  that  He  was  set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation  for  the  sitis 
of  the  whole  world;  to  declare  God's  righteousness, /«?•  the  remission 
of  sins  that  are  passed,  &c. ;  to  all  that  repented  and  had  faith  in 
his  Son.  Therein  the  love  of  God  appeared,  that  He  declared  his 
good-will  thereby  to  be  reconciled  ;    Christ  bearing  away  the  sins 


404  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

that  arc  passed,  as  the  scape-goat  (li<l  of  old  ;  not  excluding  inward 
work;  for  till  that  is  begun,  none  can  be  benefited ;  though  it  is  not 
the  work,  but  God's  free  love  that  remits  and  blots  out ;  of  which 
the  doatli  of  Christ,  and  his  sacrificing  himself  was  a  most  certain 
declaration  and  confirmation.  In  short,  that  declared  remission  to 
all  who  believe  and  obey,  for  the  sins  that  are  past ;  which  is  the 
first  part  of  Christ's  work  (as  it  is  a  King's  to  pardon  a  traitor  before 
he  advanceth  him,)  and  hitherto  the  acquittance  imputes  a  right- 
eousness— inasmuch  as  men,  on  true  repentance  are  imputed  as  clean 
of  guilt  as  if  they  had  never  sinned — and  thus  far  are  justified — but 
the  completion  of  this  by  the  working  out  of  sin  inherent,  must  be 
by  the  Power  and  Spirit  of  Christ  in  the  heart,  destroying  the  old 
man  and  his  deeds,  and  bringing  in  the  new,  and  everlasting  right- 
eousness. So  that  which  I  wrote  against,  is  such  doctrine  as  ex- 
tended Christ's  death  and  obedience,  ?wi  to  fAeyi?'sf,but  to  this  second 
part  of  justification  ;  not  the  pacifying  of  conscience  as  to  past  sin; 
but  to  complete  salvation  without  cleansing  and  purging  from  all 
filthiness  of  flesh  and  spirit,  by  the  internal  operation  of  his  holy 
power  and  Spirit." 

Notwithstanding  William  Penn  is  thus  clear  and  explicit  in  cor- 
recting the  misunderstanding  of  his  Christian  faith,  to  which  some 
of  his  expressions  in  "  The  Sandy  Foundation  Shaken  "  had  given 
.  rise,  and  in  his  full  avowal  of  his  belief  in  the  Deity  of  Christ,  and 
the  atonement  made  by  Him  for  the  sins  of  mankind;  as  also  in  the 
doctrine  of  justification  by  fiiith  in  Him  ;  yet  those  who  are  anxious 
to  represent  Friends  as  Sociuians,  or  as  denying  the  atonement  of 
Christ,  are  still  so  unjust  to  his  unequivocal  and  widely  published 
opinions  on  these  points,  and  so  ungenerous  to  his  character  and 
memory,  as  well  as  untruthful  in  their  representation  of  Friends, 
as  to  claim  him  as  authority  for  their  disbelief  in  these  fundamental 
doctrines. 

Though  he  had  addressed  a  communication  to  Lord  Arlington, 
Secretary  of  State;  on  whose  warrant  he  was  committed  to  the 
Tower— in  which  he  denied  the  charges  brought  against  him,  so  ftir 
as  he  had  been  able  to  ascertain  them  ;  declaring  they  were  the  re- 
sult of  ignorance  and  malice,  and  requesting  that  he  might  have  an 
audience  with  the  King,  in  order  to  hear  the  accusation  of  his  enen^ies, 
and  have  an  opportunity  to  defend  himself;  or  if  he  could  not  have 
access  to  the  King,  then  to  be  brought,  with  his  accusers  face  to 
face,  before  him,  the  Secretary  of  State;  it  was  disregarded,  nor  was 
the  rigor  of  his  confinement  abated.     "  Innocency  with  her  Open 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  405 

Face,"  had,  however,  produced  a  change  of  public  feeling  towards 
him;  and  his  father,  who  could  not  but  respect  the  consistent  firm- 
ness and  Christian  endurance  of  his  son,  and  who  had  himself  been 
passing  through  a  severe  ordeal  from  the  machinations  of  his  enemies 
in  the  House  of  Commons,  visited  hira  in  his  dungeon,  and  began  to 
use  the  influence  he  continued  to  hold  with  the  Duke  of  York  and 
the  King,  on  his  behalf.  Whether  at  his  instance  or  not  is  not 
known,  but  Arlington,  though  declining  to  give  audience  to  William 
Penu  himself,  sent  the  King's  Chaplain,  Stillingfleet,  to  have  an 
interview  with  hira,  and  ascertain  what  concessions  he  would  be 
willing  to  make  to  the  offended  hierarchy.  Their  conversation  ap- 
pears to  have  been  conducted  in  a  friendly  spirit  and  manner;  the 
Chaplain  holding  up  the  brilliant  future  that  would  be  realized  by 
Penn,  if  he  would  recant  some  of  his  opinions;  and  dwelling  on  the 
favorable  disposition  of  the  Duke  of  York  and  the  King,  towards 
him.  William  told  him,  "  The  Tower  is  the  worst  argument  in  the 
world,"  and  that  nothing  could  induce  him  to  violate  his  conscien- 
tious convictions;  so  there  seemed  nothing  gained.  But  suddenly 
and  unexpectedly  an  order  came  from  the  King  for  his  release,  and 
he  left  the  gloomy  confines  of  his  prison-house  without  making  any 
concession,  or  accepting  a  ^jardon.  The  di^jcharge  was  believed  to 
have  been  the  work  of  the  Duke  of  York,  and  William  ever  cher- 
ished a  grateful  feeling  towards  him  for  this  generous  act.  [1669.] 
Although  the  trials  of  Margaret  Fell  and  of  George  Fox  had 
taken  place  at  the  same  time,  in  the  same  court,  and  both  had  been 
premunired  and  sent  to  prison,  yet  George  was  liberated  more  than 
a  year  before  Margaret  was  suffered  to  return  to  her  home  and  chil- 
dren. She  was  set  free  by  the  King's  order  in  1668,  having  been 
incarcerated  four  years  and  six  months.  During  her  confinement, 
she  wrote  several  dissertations,  which  were  published,  and  kept  up 
correspondence  with  most  of  the  Friends  of  eminence  in  the  Society. 
In  1666,  she  had  addressed  the  King  from  her  prison  —  Lancaster 
Castle  —  in  mild  but  plain  and  pointed  language.  She  reminded 
him  of  the  course  that  had  been  pursued  by  the  government  for 
six  years;  bringing  hundreds  of  the  servants  of  Christ  to  untimely 
graves,  and  the  oppression  and  bondage  it  had  inflicted,  and  was 
still  inflicting,  on  an  innocent,  harmless  and  peaceable  people,  and 
recited  a  promise  the  King  had  made  to  her,  in  one  of  her  interviews 
with  him,  that  "7/"  they  [Friends]  were  peaceable,  they  nhail  be  jjro- 
tected."  She  pointed  out  how  the  Bishops  had  rel'used  to  give 
Friends  an  opportunity  to  declare  and  explain   to  tli(;in   tlu-ir  doc- 


406  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

trines,  principles  and  practices ;  and  that  she  had  warned  him  to 
beware  of  their  counsel,  or  it  would  prove  his  ruin ;  touching  on 
several  other  points.  "  And  now,"  she  says,  "  I  ask  thee,  for  which 
of  these  things  hast  thou  kept  nie  in  prison  three  long  winters,  in  a 
place  not  fit  for  human  beings  to  live?  A  place  where  storm,  wind 
and  rain  enter,  and  which  is  sometimes  filled  with  smoke ;  so  that  it 
is  much  wonder  I  am  alive ;  and  this  only  because  the  power 
and  goodness  of  God  have  been  with  me."  Then  after  referring  to 
the  warnings  which  had  been  given  by  Friends,  to  those  who  were 
in  power  before  him,  to  which  they  would  not  give  heed,  she  con- 
tinues, "Now  after  all  miy  sufferings,  in  the  same  feeling  of  love  that 
I  visited  thee  in  the  beginning,  I  once  more  beseech  thee  to  fear  the 
Lord  God,  by  whom  Kings  rule,  and  princes  decree  justice  ;  who  sets 
up  one  and  pulls  down  another  at  his  pleasure.  And  let  not  the  guilt 
of  the  breach  of  that  word  that  passed  from  thee  at  Breda,  lie  any 
longer  on  thy  conscience  ;  but  perform  as  thou  promised  in  thy  dis- 
tress." But  Charles  II.  was  too  deeply  immersed  in  the  folly  and 
licentiousness  of  his  Court,  to  care  about  the  weal  or  woe  of  a  virtuous, 
Christian  woman,  shut  up  in  prison  a  hundred  miles  off;  and  so  no 
notice  was  taken  of  the  letter.  Friends,  however,  did  not  cease  to 
use  all  the  influence  they  could  command,  to  obtain  the  liberty  of 
their  suffering  brethren  and  sisters  ;  but  as  Margaret  Fell  was  a  per- 
son whose  character  and  presence  commanded  respect,  some  about 
the  Court  feared  her,  and  it  was  not  until  1668,  as  before  stated,  that 
an  order  was  granted  by  the  King  and  Council  for  her  discharge. 

After  the  marriage  of  her  daughter  Mary  to  Thomas  Lower, 
which  took  place  about  two  months  after  her  return  to  Swarthmoor, 
and  placing  her  youngest  daughter  Rachel  at  the  school  established 
for  Friends'  children  at  Shacklewell,  M.  Fell  felt  herself  called  to 
visit  the  different  prisons  throughout  the  country,  where  any  Friend 
or  Friends  were  confined.  She  appears  to  have  been  engaged  in 
this  service  about  a  year,  during  which  time  she  was  doubtless  in- 
strumental in  administering  help  and  consolation  to  many,  suffer- 
ing similar  affliction  for  the  Truth,  as  that  of  which  she  had  been  so 
large  a  partaker. 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  service,  she  tarried  for  some  time  at  her 
daughter  Isabel  Yeomans,  then  residing  in  Bristol,  where  she  was 
joined  by  George  Fox,  not  long  after  his  return  from  Ireland.  He 
gives  the  following  account  of  their  marriage : 

1669.  "After  this  meeting  in  Gloucestershire,  we  travelled  till 
we  came  to  Bristol ;  where  I  met  with  Margaret  Fell,  who  was  come 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTUKY.  407 

to  visit  her  daugliter  Yeomans,  I  had  seen  Itoiii  the  Lord  a  consid- 
erabk;  time  before,  that  Ishouhl  take  Margaret  Fell  to  be  my  wife; 
and  when  I  first  mentioned  it  to  her,  she  felt  the  answer  of  Life  from 
God  tliereunto.  But  tliough  the  Lord  had  opened  this  thing  to  me, 
yet  I  had  not  received  a  command  from  Him  for  the  accomplishing 
of  it  then.  Wherefore  I  let  the  thing  rest,  and  went  on  in  the  work 
and  service  of  the  Lord,  according  as  He  led  me  ;  travelling  in  this 
nation,  and  through  Ireland.  But  now  being  at  Bristol,  and  finding 
Margaret  Fell  there,  it  opened  in  me  from  the  Lord  that  the  thing 
should  be  accomplished.  After  we  had  discoursed  the  matter  to- 
gether, I  told  her,  'If  she  also  was  satisfied  with  the  accomplishing 
of  it  now,  she  should  first  send  for  her  children : '  which  she  did. 
When  the  rest  of  her  daughters  were  come,  I  asked  both  them  and 
her  sons-in-law,  '  If  they  had  anything  against  it,  or  for  it  ?  '  and  they 
all  severally  expressed  their  satisfaction  therewith.  Then  I  asked 
Margaret,  '  If  she  had  fulfilled  her  husband's  will  to  her  children?' 
She  replied,  '  The  children  knew  she  had.'  Whereupon  I  asked 
them,  '  Whether,  if  their  mother  married,  they  should  not  lose  by 
it?'  I  asked  Margaret,  'Whether  she  had  done  anything  in  lieu 
of  it,  which  might  answer  it  to  the  children?'  The  children  sfcid, 
*  She  had  answered  it  to  them,  and  d(^sired  me  to  speak  no  more  of 
it.'  I  told  them,  'I  was  plain,  and  would  have  all  things  done 
.  plainly:  for  I  sought  not  any  outward  advantage  to  myself.'  So 
our  intention  of  marriage  was  laid  before  Friends  both  privately 
and  publicly,  to  their  full  satisfaction,  many  of  whom  gave  testi- 
mony that  it  was  of  God.  Afterwards,  a  meeting  being  appointed 
on  purpose  for  the  accomplishing  thereof;  in  the  public  meeting- 
house at  Broad  Mead  in  Bristol,  we  took  each  other  in  marriage ; 
the  Lord  joining  us  together  in  the  honorable  marriage,  in  the  ever- 
lasting covenant  and  immortal  Seed  of  life.  In  the  sense  whereof, 
living  and  weighty  testimonies  were  borne  thereunto,  by  Friends  in 
the  movings  of  the  heavenly  power,  which  united  us  together.  Then 
was  a  certificate,  relating  both  to  the  proceedings  and  the  marriage, 
openly  read,  and  signed  by  the  relations,  and  by  most  of  the  ancient 
Friends  of  that  city;  besides  many  others  from  divers  parts  of 
the  nation."  The  Certificate  is  dated  the  18th  of  Eighth  month, 
1669  ;  he  was  in  his  forty-sixth  year,  and  she  ten  years  older. 

After  spending  a  week  in  Bristol  they  travelled  North,  but  the 
Lord's  work  w^as  not  allowed  to  be  neglected,  and  in  a  little  while 
they  took  leave  of  each  other ;  Margaret  going  towards  her  old 
home  at  Swarthmoor,  now  become  the  pro})erty  of  her  daughters  by 


408  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

the  tonus  of  their  father's  will,  and  George  Fox  travelling  through 
different  Shires  to  London, 

The  following  epistle,  addressed  by  George  Fox  to  the  scvenil 
Quarterly  Meetings,  is  given  to  show  the  benevolent  cure  which 
rested  on  his  mind  for  the  welfare  of  all  classes  in  the  Society,  and 
as  indicating  the  watchful  oversight  and  assistance  given  by  the  dif- 
ferent branches  of  the  cliurch,  in  order  to  preserve  all  the  members 
within  its  immediate  influence  and  control,  and  to  jjromote  their 
present  and  future  well-being. 

"  My  dear  Friends  :  — Let  every  Quarterly  Meeting  make  inquiry 
through  all  the  Monthly  and  other  Meetings,  to  know  all  Friends 
that  are  widows,  or  others  that  have  children  to  put  out  to  appren- 
ticeships, so  that  once  a  quarter  you  may  set  forth  an  apprentice 
from  your  Quarterly  Meetings;  so  that  you  may  set  four  in  a  year 
in  each  county,  or  more  if  there  be  occasion.  This  apprentice, 
when  out  of  his  time,  may  help  his  father  or  mother,  and  support 
the  family  that  is  decayed ;  and  in  so  doing,  all  may  come  to  live 
comfortably.  This  being  done  in  your  Quarterly  Meetings,  ye  will 
have  knowledge  through  the  county,  in  the  INIonthly  and  Particu- 
laii? Meetings,  of  mastei-s  fit  for  them,  and  of  such  trades  as  their 
parents  or  you  desire,  or  the  children  are  most  inclined  to.  Thus 
being  placed  out  to  Friends,  they  may  be  trained  up  in  the  Truth, 
and  by  this  means,  in  the  wisdom  of  God,  you  may  preserve  Friends' 
children  in  the  Truth,  and  enable  them  to  be  a  strength  and  help  to 
their  families,  and  nursers  and  preservers  of  their  relations  in  their 
ancient  days.  Thus  also,  things  being  ordered  in  the  wisdom  of 
God,  you  will  take  off  a  continual  maintenance,  and  free  yourselves 
from  much  cumber.  For  in  the  country,  ye  know,  ye  may  set  forth 
an  apprentice  for  a  little  to  several  trades,  as  bricklayers,  masons, 
carjieuters,  wheelwrights,  ploughwrights,  tailors,  tanners,  curriers, 
blacksmiths,  shoemakers,  nailers,  butchers,  weavers  of  linen  and 
woollen,  stuffs  and  serges,  &c.  And  you  may  do  well  to  have  a 
stock  in  your  Quarterly  Meetings  for  that  i)urpose.  All  that  is 
given  by  any  Friends  at  their  decease,  except  it  be  given  to  some 
particular  use,  person,  or  meeting,  may  be  brought  to  the  pul)lic 
stock  for  that  purpose.  This  will  be  a  way  for  preserving  of  many 
that  are  poor  among  you  ;  and  it  will  be  a  way  of  making  up  i)()or 
families.  In  several  counties  it  is  practised  already.  Some  (Quar- 
terly Meetings  set  forth  two  apprentices  ;  and  sometimes  the  children 
of  others  that  are  laid  on  the  parish.  You  nuiy  bind  them  for  fewer 
or    more   years,  according    to  their  capacities.     In  all  things  the 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  409 

wisdom  of  God  will  teach  you  ;  by  which  ye  may  help  the  children 
of  poor  Friend.--,  that  they  may  come  to  support  their  families,  and 
preserve  them  in  the  fear  of  God.  So  no  more,  but  my  love  in  the 
everlasting  Seed,  by  which  ye  will  have  wisdom  to  order  all  things 
to  the  glory  of  God.  G.  F." 

"London,  the  first  of  the  11th  mouth,  16G9." 

George  Fox  was  likewise  much  concerned  that  schools  should  be 
established,  where  the  children  of  Friends  could  obtain  liberal  edu- 
cation ;  and  Friends,  under  his  advice,  had  iustituted  two  boarding- 
schools,  the  one  at  Shacklewell  being  for  girls  only,  and  that  for 
boys  at  Waltham.  The  subject  of  education  engaged  the  attention 
of  Friends  almost  so  soon  as  meetings  were  settled,  and  efforts  were 
early  made  to  secure  the  means  for  Conferring  ujion  the  children  of 
both  rich  and  poor,  such  learning  as  would  fit  them  for  conducting 
lousiness,  and  engaging  in  the  duties  of  social  and  civil  life.  Meet- 
ings, both  smaller  and  larger,  had  this  important  matter  frequently 
before  them  ;  and  the  members  were  often  reminded  of  the  duty  rest- 
ing upon  them,  to  see  that  their  offspring  had  opportunity  afforded 
to  acquire  learning  "  in  whatsoever  things  were  civil  and  useful  in 
the  creation  ;  "  and  above  all  things  that  they  should  be  kept  under 
religious  restraint  and  trainiug,  so  as  to  grow  up  in  the  nurture  and 
admonition  of  the  Lord.  Before  the  end  of  the  century  there  were 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  seminaries  opened. 

Friends  by  no  means  ignored  the  use  of  human  reason  in  the 
knowledge  and  work  of  religion.  But  they  rejected  the  idea  that 
reason,  however  developed  by  culture,  and  aided  by  the  study  of  the 
sacred  truths  recorded  in  the  Scriptures,  is  a  light  or  a  power  suf- 
ficient of  itself  to  guide  or  to  enable  man  to  walk  in  the  way  of  sal- 
vation. Christ  is  the  alone  Author  and  Finisher  of  the  saints'  faith, 
and  his  Light  communicated  to  the  soul  by  the  measure  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  purchased  for  every  human  being,  must  make  manifest  the 
things  that  belong  to  the  soul's  peace  ;  guide,  guard  and  strengthen 
man  in  the  exercise  of  his  intellectual  faculties,  as  he  enters  and 
takes  step  after  step  in  the  strait  and  narrow  way  that  leads  to  life 
eternal.  "The  natural  man  receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit 
of  God,  for  they  are  foolishness  unto  him  ;  neither  can  he  know 
them,  because  they  are  spiritually  discerned." 

In  1()04,  John  Dv.  rnycat,  whom  (jrciorgc  Fox  calls  "  a  pillar  in  the 
house  of  God,"  aCl'-i  visiting  Irehuid,  set  sail  for  the  plantations  in 
America,  sto|)ping  on  tiie  way  at  Barbadoes,  and  visiting  the  Friends 


410  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

ill  that  Inland.  Qmie  n  consideralile  nuinhor  of  professors  with 
Friends  were  settled  in  tliat  place,  and  several  meetings  regularly 
held.  There  were  several  valuable  Friends  residing  on  the  Island, 
and  J.  Burnyeat  was  constantly  engaged  in  religious  service  among 
them  for  more  than  three  months. 

Besse,  in  his  Collection  of  the  Sufferings  of  Friends,  states  that 
the  gospel  testimonies,  in  the  faithful  support  of  which  Friends  in 
Barbadoes  suffered  most,  were,  to  the  peaceable  principles  of  the 
religion  of  Christ,  and  their  consequent  refusal  to  bear  arms  ;  to  the 
obligation  imposed  by  the  injunction  of  Christ,  Swear  not  at  all, 
and  their  declining  to  take  an  oath  ;  and  to  the  headship  of  Christ 
in  the  church,  and  his  command  to  those  whom  He  ordains  for  the 
ministry,  Freely  ye  have  received,  freely  give,  their  unwillingness 
therefore  to  pay  tithes  or  church  rates.  Beside  these,  they  were 
exposed  to  imprisonment  for  assembling  for  the  purpose  of  Divine 
worship.  There  were  thirty-six  in  the  common  jail  at  one  time  for 
this ;  how  long  they  were  detained  is  not  stated.  The  equivalent 
of  the  value  of  any  article  in  the  island  was  in  pounds  of  sugar,  and 
fines  were  levied  and  rated  by  that  standard.  Besse  gives  a  large 
number  of  cases  of  suffering  reported  to  the  Governor  and  Council, 
in  an  Address  presented  to  them  by  Friends ;  showing  that  between 
1664  and  1669  there  had  been  taken  property  equal  in  value  to 
111,1241  pounds  of  sugar. 

The  same  course  was  pursued  by  the  Governor  and  Council  for 
sevei-al  years ;  increasing  the  fines,  however,  so  that  the  next  report 
of  the  amount  of  goods  of  different  kinds,  taken  between  1669  and 
1673,  was  valued  at  about  350,000  pounds  of  sugar.  A  law  was 
also  enacted  to  prevent  the  Quakers  having  slaves  attending  their 
meetings  for  worship,  and  heavy  fines  were  levied  on  them  therefor; 
also  where  it  w-as  shown  that  Friends  had  had  them  collected  for 
tlie  purpose  of  instructing  them  in  the  contents  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures. 

The  same  persecuting  course  was  pursued  towards  Friends  in  the 
Islands  of  Jamaica,  Nevis,  Antigua  and  the  Bermudas  ;  where  many 
Friends  suffered  severely  at  different  times. 

John  Perrot,  when  he  found  he  had  lost  credit  and  standing  in 
England,  had  gone  over  to  the  West  Indies  and  America,  and  in 
both  places  promulgated  his  peculiar  views.  Here  he  took  a  step 
further  than  in  England,  and  beside  objecting  to  taking  off  the  hat  in 
time  of  prayer,  as  being  a  mere  form,  he  declared  it  wrong  to  have 
regular  times  appointed  for  offering  public  worship  to  the  Almighty, 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  411 

and  that  it  was  not  right  for  a  Friend  to  attend  at  meetings  for 
worship,  unless  feeling  a  special  call  thereto. 

John  Burnyeat,  speaking  of  his  labors  in  Barbadoes  [1064-5], 
says,  "There  I  also  met  with  many  who  had  been  hurt  by  John 
Perrot,  and  carried  away  with  his  imaginations."  He  then  speaks 
of  the  "  high  notions  and  vain  conceits  of  this  apostate,"  and  ob- 
serves, "  Such  as  were  taken  with  his  notions,  were  led  out  of  true 
order  into  looseness  and  such  a  liberty,  that  the  cross  in  most  things 
was  laid  down  by  them,  and  their  own  wills  followed,  and  Truth's 
testimony  let  fall.  But  he  run  out  of  the  Truth  so  fiir  at  last,  that 
many  began  to  see  him  and  what  his  spirit  led  to;  and  so  came  to  see 
their  own  loss,  and  returned  back  to  their  first  love ;  and  the  power 
of  the  Lord  went  over  that  dark  Spirit,  with  all  the  vain  imagina- 
tions they  had  been  led  into  thereby,  and  so  Friends  were  gathered 
into  their  former  unity." 

Leaving  the  Island,  J.  Burnyeat  sailed  for  Maryland,  where  he 
lauded  in  the  Second  month  of  1665.  Friends  must  have  increased 
largely  in  that  Province,  for  he  says,  "  I  travelled  and  labored  in 
the  work  of  the  gospel  in  that  Province  that  summer,  and  we  had 
large  meetings;  and  the  Lord's  power  was  with  us,  and  Friends  were 
greatly  comforted,  and  several  were  convinced."  But  he  states 
that  Thomas  Thurston — who  has  been  spoken  of  as  a  fellow  laborer 
with  Josiah  Cole  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  several  of  the 
Colonies,  and  who  had  been  imprisoned  in  Maryland  for  a  year  — 
had  fallen  into  the  errors  of  J.  Perrot,  and  drawn  a  party  after  him, 
opposed  to  Friends  and  their  good  order.  "  Great  was  the  exercise 
and  the  travail  —  says  this  devoted  servant  of  Christ  —  which  was 
upon  my  spirit  day  and  night,  both  upon  the  truth's  account,  which 
suffered  by  him,  and  also  for  the  people,  who  were  betrayed  by  him 
to  their  hurt,  and  were  under  a  great  mistake."  Another  instance 
of  the  fallibility  of  all,  even  those  who  "  Have  tasted  tlie  good  word 
of  God  and  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come,"  and  their  liability  to 
fall  from  grace  unless  obeying  the  injunction  of  the  Saviour,  "  What 
I  say  unto  you  I  say  unto  all,  watch !  watch  and  pray,  lest  ye  enter 
into  temptation." 

1665-6,  The  "  labor  and  travail  in  the  Lord's  wisdom  and 
power,"  of  J.  Burnyeat  and  other  faithful  Friends,  were  effectual 
in  searching  out  the  wrong  spirit;  the  delusion  and  evil  doings  of 
T.  Thurston  were  exposed,  and  "Most  of  the  people  came  to  see 
through  him,  and,  in  the  love  of  God,  to  be  restored  into  the  unity 
of  the  Trutii  again."     But  such  was  not  the  case  with  him  who  had 


412  FUIEXDS    IN    THE 

been  the  means  of  jicrverting  and  misguiding  tlicin.  Pie,  says  J. 
B.,  **  was  lost  to  truth,  and  became  a  vagabond  and  fugitive,  as  to 
his  spiritual  condition,  and  little  otherwise  as  to  tlie  outward." 

The  unsound  notions  of  J.  Perrot  had  been  industriously  dissem- 
inated by  him  among  Friends  in  Virginia,  while  he  was  visiting 
there  ;  and  many  of  them  having  been  but  recently  convinced  of  the 
truth  as  held  by  Friends,  and  with  but  little  experience,  they  too 
were  caught  with  their  apparent  greater  spirituality,  and  many  of 
them  imbibed  them.  Once  brought  under  the  controlling  influence 
of  a  spirit  which  prompted  to  self-exaltation,  and  to  set  at  naught 
the  judgment  of  the  church,  as  come  to  under  the  guidance  of  hea- 
venly wisdom,  one  step  out  of  right  order  opened  the  way  for 
another,  and  it  was  not  very  long  before  they  who  had  formerly 
stood  so  firm,  and  suffered  so  much  for  the  cause  of  Truth,  were 
carried  captive  by  the  spirit  of  the  world,  and  gave  up  the  attend- 
ance of  the  meetings  for  Divine  worship.  "Thus  —  J.  Burnyeat 
writes  —  by  which  he  [J.  Perrot]  judged  Friends'  practices  and 
testimony  in  and  for  the  Truth,  to  be  but  forms  ;  and  so  pretending 
to  live  above  such  things,  he  drew  Friends  from  their  /A'al  for  the 
Trutli,  and  their  testimony  therein  so  far  that  they  avoided  every 
thing  that  might  occasion  suffering.  Thus  they  being  seduced  or 
bewitched,  as  the  Galatians  were,  into  a  fleshly  liberty,  the  offence 
of  the  cross  ceased,  and  the  power  was  lost;  and  when  I  came  there 
it  was  hard  to  get  a  meeting  among  them."  Through  much  effort 
he  at  length  succeeded  in  having  a  meeting  held,  to  which  many  of 
them  came,  and  "  The  Lord's  power  was  with  us  and  among  us,  and 
several  were  revived  and  refreshed,  and  tluougli  the  Lord's  good- 
ness and  his  renewed  visitations,  [were]  raised  up  into  a  service  of 
life,  and  in  time  came  to  see  over  the  wiles  of  the  enemy." 

As  to  John  Perrot  himself,  after  having  wrought  so  much  mis- 
chief in  the  Society,  he  finally  settled  in  Jamaica ;  where  he  threw 
off"  the  plain  appearance  of  a  Friend,  and  became  not  only  irre- 
ligious, but  indulged  in  habits  of  gross  licentiousness,  and  at  last 
died  greatly  in  debt. 

1670.  On  a  second  visit  to  America  by  J.  Burnyeat,  he  found 
things  much  improved  among  Friends  iuVirginia  and  ^Maryland.  "  I 
found  a  freshness  among  them  —  he  observes  —  and  many  of  them, 
were  restored  and  grown  up  to  a  degree  of  their  former  zeal  and 
tenderness ;  and  I  found  a  great  openness  in  the  country,  and  had 
several  blessed  meetings."  This  was  in  1672;  during  which  year 
a  large  number  of  eminent  ministers  among  Friends  were  travelling 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  413 

throiigli  the  provinces  in  America  ;  among  whom  were  George  Fox, 
William  Ednnindson,  Thomas  Briggs,  J(jhii  Rouse,  Robert  Wid, 
ders,  &c. 

All  these  Friends,  with  Elizabeth  Hooten,  had  embarked  in  1671, 
in  the  same  ship  at  London,  for  religions  service  in  the  AVest  Indies 
and  America;  and  after  spending  some  time  on  the  Islands,  where, 
according  to  the  accounts  contained  in  the  Journals  of  G.  F.  and  W. 
E.,  their  labors  were  much  blessed,  most  of  them  crossed  over  to 
Maryland.  Elizabeth  Hooten,  however,  died  at  an  advanced  age, 
in  great  peace  and  joy,  while  they  were  in  Jamaica. 

In  consequence  of  the  juany  shmders  circulated  respecting  the 
doctrines  held  by  Friends,  their  enemies  endeavoring  thereby  to 
persuade  the  people  that  they  were  unsound  in  the  fundamental' 
doctrines  of  the  Christian  religion,  George  Fox,  while  in  Barbadoes, 
as  he  says  in  his  Journal,  "  With  some  other  Friends,  drew  up  a 
paper  to  go  forth  in  the  name  of  the  people  called  Quakers,  for  the 
clearing  truth  and  Friends  from  those  false  reports,"  and  had  it 
presented  to  the  Governor,  Council  and  other  principal  men  in  au- 
thority. From  that  clear  and  emphatic  declaration  of  doctrine, 
the  following  is  taken  : 

"  Whereas  many  scandalous  lies  and  slanders  have  been  cast  upon 
us,  to  render  us  odious ;  as  that  '  We  deny  God,  Christ  Jesus,  and 
the  Scriptures  of  truth,'  e^c.  This  is  to  inform  you.  That  all  our 
books  and  declarations,  which  for  these  many  years  have  been  pub- 
lished to  the  world,  clearly  testify  the  contrary.  Yet,  for  your 
satisfaction,  we  now  jolainly  and  sincerely  declare,  That  we  own  and 
believe  in  the  only  Wise,  Omnipotent,  and  Everlasting  God,  the 
Creator  of  all  things  in  heaven  and  earth,  and  the  Preserver  of  all 
that  He  hath  made;  who  is  God  overall,  blessed  forever;  to  whom 
be  all  honor,  glory,  dominion,  praise  and  thanksgiving,  both  now 
and  for  evermore !  And  we  own  and  believe  in  Jesus  Christ,  his 
beloved  and  only  begotten  Son,  in  whom  He  is  well  pleased;  who 
was  conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost  and  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary  ; 
in  whom  we  have  redemption  through  his  blood,  even  the  forgive- 
ness of  sins  ;  who  is  the  express  image  of  the  Invisible  God,  the  first- 
born of  every  creature,  by  whom  were  all  things  created  that  are 
in  heaven  and  in  earth,  visible  and  invisible,  whether  they  be  thrones, 
dominions,  principalities,  or  povyers ;  all  things  were  created  by 
Him.  And  we  own  and  believe  that  He  was  made  a  sacrifice  for 
sin,  who  knew  no  sin,  neither  was  guile  Ibund  in  his  mouth;  that 
He  was  crucified  for  us  in  the  flesh,  without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem  ; 


414  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

and  that  He  was  buried,  and  ro*e  again  the  third  (hiy  by  the  power 
of  his  Father,  for  our  justification  ;  and  that  He  ascended  up  into 
heaven,  and  now  sitteth  at  tlie  riglit  hand  of  God.  This  Jesus,  who 
was  the  foundation  of  the  holy  prophets  and  apostles,  is  our  foun- 
dation ;  and  we  believe  there  is  no  other  foundation  to  l)e  lai<l  but  that 
which  is  laid,  even  Christ  Jesus:  who  tasted  death  for  every  man, 
slieil  his  blood  fur  all  men,  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins,  and  not 
for  ours  only,  but  also  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world  :  according  as 
John  the  Baptist  testified  of  Him,  when  he  said,  'Behold  the  Lamb 
of  God,  that  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world.'  Jolin  i.  29.  We 
believe  that  He  alone  is  our  Redeemer  and  Saviour,  the  Captain  of 
our  salvation,  who  saves  us  from  sin,  as  well  as  from  hell  and  the 
wrath  to  come,  and  destroys  the  devil  and  his  works  ;  He  is  the  Seed 
of  the  woman  that  bruises  the  serpent's  head,  to  wit,  Christ  Jesus,  the 
Alpha  and  Omega,  the  First  and  the  Last.  He  is  (as  the  Scrip- 
tures of  truth  say  of  him)  our  wisdom,  righteousness,  justification, 
and  redemption  ;  neither  is  there  salvation  in  any  other,  for  there  is 
no  other  name  under  heaven  given  among  men,  whereby  we  may 
be  saved.  He  alone  is  the  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  our  souls:  He 
is  our  Prophet,  whom  Moses  long  since  testified  of,  saying,  '  A  pro- 
phet shall  the  Lord  your  God  raise  up  unto  you  of  your  brethren 
like  unto  me ;  him  shall  ye  hear  in  all  things,  whatsoever  he  shall 
say  unto  you  :  and  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  every  soul  that  will 
not  hear  that  prophet  shall  be  destroyed  from  among  the  people.' 
Acts  ii.  22,  23.  He  is  now  come  in  Spirit,  '  and  hath  given  us  an 
understanding,  that  we  know  Him  that  is  true.'  He  rules  in  our 
hearts  by  his  law  of  love  and  life,  and  makes  us  free  from  the  law 
of  sin  and  death.  We  have  no  life,  but  by  him ;  for  He  is  the 
.quickening  Spirit,  the  second  Adam,  the  Lord  from  heaven,  by 
whose  blood  we  are  cleansed,  and  our  consciences  sprinkled  from 
dead  works,  to  serve  the  living  God.  He  is  our  Mediator,  who  makes 
peace  and  reconciliation  between  God  offended  and  us  offending ; 
He  being  the  Oath  of  God,  the  new  covenant  of  light,  life,  grace, 
and  peace,  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith.  This  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  the  heavenly  man,  the  Emanuel,  God  with  us,  we  all  own 
and  believe  in  ;  He  ivhoiii  the  high-priest  raged  against,  and  said,  he 
had  sj)oken  blasphemy ;  ivhom  the  jyriests  and  elders  of  the  Jews  took 
counsel  together  against,  and  put  to  death ;  the  same  whom  Judas  be- 
trayed for  thirty  pieces  of  silver,  which  the  jyriest  gave  him  as  a  re- 
ward for  his  treason;  who  also  gave  large  money  to  the  soldiers  to 
broach  an  horrible  lie,  namely,  '  That  his  disciples  came  and  stole 


SEVENTEEXTH    CEXTUEY.  415 

him  away  by  night  wliilst  tliey  slept.'  After  He  was  risen  from  the 
dead,  the  lii.story  of  the  Acts  of  the  apostles  sets  forth  how  the  chief 
priest  and  elders  persecuted  the  disciples  of  this  Jesus,  for  preach- 
ing Christ  and  his  resurrection.  This,  we  say,  is  that  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  rvhom  ice  own  to  be  our  life  and  salvation. 

"Concerning  the  Holy  Scriptures,  we  believe  they  were  given 
forth  by  the  holy  Spirit  of  God,  through  the  holy  men  of  God,  who 
(as  the  Scripture  itself  declares,  2  Pet.  i.  21,)  'spoke  as  they  were 
moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost.'  We  believe  they  are  to  be  read,  be- 
lieved, and  fulfilled  (He  that  fulfils  them  is  Christ) ;  and  they  are 
'  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruction  in 
righteousness,  that  the  man  of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  fur- 
nished unto  all  good  works,'  2  Tim.  iii.  17,  and  are  able  to 
'  make  wise  unto  salvation,  through  faith  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus.' 
We  believe  the  Holy  Scriptures  are  the  words  of  God  ;  for  it  is  said 
in  Exodus  xx.  1,  'God  spake  all  these  u'orc/.s,  saying,'  &c.,  meaning 
the  ten  commandments  given  forth  upon  Mount  Sinai.  And  in 
Kev.  xxii.  18,  saith  John,  '  I  testify  to  every  man  that  heareth  the 
u'ords  of  the  prophecy  of  this  book,  if  any  man  addeth  unto  these, 
and  if  any  man  shall  tak*  away  from  the  ivords  of  the  book  of  this 
prophecy  '  (not  the  Word),  &c.  So  in  Luke  i.  20,  '  Because  thou 
believest  not  my  ivords.'  And  in  John  v.  47,  xv.  7,  xiv.  23,  xii. 
47.  So  that  we  call  the  Holy  Scriptures,  as  Christ,  the  apostles, 
and  holy  men  of  God  called  them,  viz.,  the  words  of  God." 

After  a  tempestuous  voyage  of  over  six  weeks,  they  arrived  in 
Chesapeake  Bay,  in  the  Second  month  of  1672 ;  and  landing  near 
the  mouth  of  Patuxent  River,  they  learned  that  John  Burnyeat  had 
appointed  a  meeting  at  West  River,  for  all  the  Friends  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  Maryland.  To  that  meeting  these  Friends  at  once  went,  and 
George  Fox  says  of  it,  "  A  very  large  meeting  this  was,  and  held 
four  days ;  to  which,  besides  Friends,  came  many  other  people, 
divers  of  whom  were  of  considerable  quality  in  the  world's  account, 
.  .  .  who  seemed  well  satisfied  with  the  meeting."  In  the  meeting 
for  business,  "for  establishing  the  blessed  order  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ  Jesus,"  J.  Burnyeat  observes,  "  George  Fox  did  wonderfully 
open  the  service  thereof  to  Friends,  and  they  with  gladness  of  heart 
received  advice  in  such  necessary  things  as  were  then  opened  to 
them,  and  all  were  comforted  and  edified." 

There  was  great  eagerness  among  the  inhabitants  of  Maryland 
and  Virginia  to  hear  George  Fox,  when  it  became  known  that  he 
was  in  the  country.     There  were  veiy  few  professed  ministers  of  the 


416  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

gospel,  connected  with  oilier  religious  Societies,  to  be  found  in  those 
Provinces ;  though  much  care  had  been  taken  to  make  known  the  want 
of  the  people  in  this  respect,  and  to  hold  out  such  pecuniary  induce- 
ments as  their  circumstances  would  allow  them  to  oifer.  Consequent- 
ly, as  the  presence  and  services  of  a  minister  were  deemed  necessary 
by  them  for  holding  a  meeting  for  worship,  comparatively  few  were 
held,  and  it  was  a  rarity  to  hear  a  sermon  delivered.  When  there- 
fore it  was  noised  abroad  that  the  "  great  founder  of  the  Quakers," 
was  come  among  them  to  preach  the  gospel,  the  people  crowded  to 
his  meetings.  OfBcers  of  the  highest  rank,  both  civil  and  military, 
followed  him  from  place  to  place,  and  several  were  convinced. 

1672.  Ileferring  to  a  General  Meeting,  held  at  Treadhaven,  G. 
Fox  says,  "  This  meeting  held  five  days.    The  first  three  we  had  meet- 
ings for  public  worship,  to  which  people  of  all  sorts  came  ;  the  other 
two  were  spent  in  the  men's  and  women's  meetings.     To  those  pub- 
lic meetings  came  many  Protestants  of  divers  sorts,  and  some  Papists ; 
amongst  whom  were  several  Magistrates  and  their  wives,  with  other 
persons  of  chief  account  in  the  country.     Of  the  common  people,  it 
was  thought  there  were  sometimes  a  thousand  at  one  of  those  meetings; 
so  that  though  they  had  enlarged  their  meeting-place,  and  made  it  as 
bio-  again  as  it  was  before,  it  could  not  contain  the  people.     I  went 
by  boat  every  day  four  or  five  miles  to  the  meeting,  and  there  were 
so  many  boats  at  that  time  passing  upon  the  river,  that  it  was  almost 
like  the  Thames.    The  people  said,  '  There  were  never  so  many  boats 
seen  there  together  before  ; '  and  one  of  the  Justices  said,  '  He  never 
saw  so  many  people  together  in  that  country.'     It  was  a  very  heav- 
enly meeting,  wherein    the   presence  of  the  Lord  was   gloriously 
manifested.  Friends  were  sweetly  refreshed,  the  people  generally 
satisfied  and  many  convinced ;  for  the  blessed  power  of  the  Lord 
was  over  all :  everlasting  praises  to  his  holy  name  forever !     After 
the  public  meetings  were  over,  the  men's  and  women's  began,  and 
were  held  the  other  two  days  :  for  I  had  something  to  impart  to 
them,  which  concerned  the  glory  of  God,  the  order  of  the  gospel,  and 
the  government  of  Christ  Jesus.     When  these  meetings  were  over, 
we  took  our  leave  of  Friends  in  those  parts,  whom  we  left  well 
established  in  the  truth." 

Though  Friends  increased  largely  in  Maryland  and  Virginia, 
they  continued  to  suffer  much  in  support  of  their  testimony  against 
oaths,  and  bearing  arms.  They  were  despoiled  not  only  by  heavy 
fines  levied  upon  them,  but  by  being  debarred  from  collecting  debts 
due  from  persons  disposed  to  cheat ;  from  being  prevented  servmg 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CEXTURV.  417 

as  executors,  and  from  occupying  other  offices  wliicb  would  have 
enabled  tlieiu  to  protect  themselves,  and  render  essential  service  to 
the  community. 

1671.  William  Edmundsou  appears  to  have  baen  the  first  minister- 
ing Friend  who  travelled  into  Carolina,  and  he  encountered  great 
hardships  in  his  journey.     Two  Friends  from  Virginia  agreed  to 
accompany  him,  and  they  set  out  on  horseback,  having  nothing  to 
guide  them  through  the  wilderness  but  an  occasional  marked  tree. 
Becoming  entangled  in  swamps  and  rivers,  and  he  who  was  to  be 
guide,  becoming  uncertain  what  course  to  take,  Wm.  Edmundson 
says,  "  I,  perceiving    he  was  at  a    loss,  turned    my  mind    to    the 
Lord,  and  as  He  Jed  me,  I  led  the  way.     So  we  travelled  in  many 
difficulties  until  about  sunset;  then  they  told  me  they  could  travel 
no  further,  for  they  both  fainted,  bein:;:  weak-spirited  men.     I  bid 
them  stay  there  and  kindle  a  fire,  and  I  would  ride  a  little  farther; 
ior  I  saw  a  bright  horizon  appear  through  the  woods,  which  travel- 
lers take  for  a  mark  of  some  plantation.     I  rode  on  to  it  and  found 
it  was  only  tall  timber  trees  without  under-wood.     But  I  perceived 
a  small  path  which  I  followed  until  it  was  dark,  and  rained  vio- 
lently :  then  I  alighted  and  set  my  back  to  a  tree,  until  it  abated. 
It  being  dark  and  the  wood  thick  I  walked  all  night  between  two 
trees,  and  though  very  weary  I  durst  not  lie  down  on  the  ground, 
for  my  clothes  were  wet  to  my  skin.     I  had  eaten  little  or  nothing 
that  day,  neither  had  I  anything  to  refresh  me,  but  the  Lord.     In 
the  morning  I  returned  to  seek  my  two  companions,  and   found 
them  lying  by  a  great  fire  of  wood."     William  continuing  to  lead 
the  way,  they  arrived  at  the  place  they  wished  to  reach  ;  which  was 
the  house  of  a  Friend  named  Henry  Phillips,  who  had  joined  the 
Society  in  Xew  England,  and  moved  into  Xorth  Canjlina.     The 
family  hud  not  seen  a  Friend  for  seven  years,  and  wept  for  joy,  on 
meeting  their  visitors.     The  people,  sparsely  scattered  through  the 
country,  rejoiced  to  hear  the  sound  of  the  gospel.     William  had 
meetings  in  several  places,  and  though  he  says   they  "  seemed  to 
have  little  or  no  religion,  and  sat  down  in  the  meetings  smoking 
their  pi[)es,"  yet,  he  adds,  "The  Lord's  testimony  arose  in  the  au- 
thority of  his  power,  and  their  hearts  being  reached  by  it,  several 
of  them  were  tendered,  and  received  the  testimony." 

1672.  Not  long  after  William  Edmundson  had  returned  out  of 
North  Carolina,  it  was  visited  by  George  Fox,  Robert  Widders, 
and  two  other  Friends.  The  Friends  were  courteously  received 
and  entertained  by  the  Governor,  and  George  Fox  represents,  "  The 


418  y  n  r  K  X  D  s   i  x  the 

people  were  tender,  iiiul  iiiucli  desired  after  meetings."  Wliile  at 
the  Governor's  house,  a  doctor  present  denied  the  doctrine  of  Uni- 
versal Saving  Light,  which  Friends  preached  ;  saying  it  was  not  in 
the  Indians.  George  Fox  states,  "  Wliereupon  I  called  an  Indian 
to  us,  and  asked  hiui,  '  Whether  or  no,  when  he  did  lie,  or  do  wrong 
to  any  one,  there  was  not  something  in  him  that  did  reprove  hira 
for  it?  He  said  there  was  such  a  thing  in  him  that  tlid  so  reprove 
him  ;  and  he  w'as  ashamed  when  he  had  done  wrong,  or  spoken 
Avrong.'  So  we  shamed  the  doctor  before  the  Governor  and  ])eople ; 
insomuch  that  the  poor  man  ran  out  so  far,  that  at  length  he  would 
not  own  the  Scriptures."  There  was  a  rapid  increase  in  the  Society 
in  North  Carolina,  and  it  was  not  long  before  meetings  for  dis- 
cipline were  established  among  them. 

It  should  be  stated  to  the  credit  of  those  who  held  and  exercised 
authority  in  the  governments  of  North  and  South  Carolina,  that  no 
attempt  was  ever  made  by  them  to  abridge  or  trespass  upon  the 
rights  of  conscience.  Friends  enjoyed  unlimited  freedom  in  the 
promulgation  and  practice  of  their  religious  principles,  and  repeat- 
edly occupied  the  more  responsible  posts  in  the  government. 

While  in  North  Carolina  as  in  Virginia,  George  Fox  was  drawn 
in  Christian  feeling  towards  the  aborigines  of  the  country,  and  he 
repeatedly  obtained  opportunities  to  proclaim  the  truths  of  the 
gospel  to  them,  and  to  invite  tliem  to  partake  of  the  unsearchable 
riches  of  Christ.  After  a  meeting  in  North  Carolina,  at  which  the 
Governor  and  his  Secretary  were  present,  he  says :  "  I  went  from 
this  place  among  the  Indians,  and  spoke  to  them  by  an  interpreter, 
showing  them,  '  That  God  made  all  things  in  six  days,  and  made 
but  one  woman  for  one  man  ;  and  that  God  did  drown  the  old  world 
because  of  their  wickedness.  Afterwards  I  spoke  to  them  concern- 
ing Christ,  showing  them  that  He  died  for  all  men,  for  their  sins, 
as  well  as  for  others;  and  had  enlightened  them  as  well  as  others  ; 
and  that  if  they  did  that  which  was  evil  He  would  burn  them  ;  but 
if  they  did  well  they  should  not  be  burned.'  There  was  among 
them  their  young  king  and  others  of  their  chief  men,  who  seemed 
to  receive  kindly  what  I  said  to  them." 

The  account  given  by  George  Fox  of  his  perilous  journey  in 
returning  out  of  Virginia  into  Maryland,  and  to  the  place  of -em- 
barkation for  England,  gives  a  vivid  picture  of  the  wilderness  con- 
dition of  the  country,  and  the  difficulties  and  dangers  the  travellers 
had  to  encounter.  He  and  his  companions  appear  to  have  crossed 
Chesapeake  Uv.j  in  an  open  boat,  and  pursued  their  course  in  the 


SEVENTEENTH     CENTURY.  419 

same  kind  of  conveyance  on  different  rivers;  occasionally  landing, 
lioldiug  meetings,  and  crossing  sections  of  the  country  on  horse- 
back. Day  and  night  they  were  exposed  to  the  severe  cold  of  an 
inclement  winter,  amid  heavy  snows,  and'  often  without  the  means 
to  obtain  warmth  or  other  refreshment.  But  he  seemed  never  to 
grow  weary  in  the  service  of  his  Lord  and  Master;  having  learned 
in  whatsoever  condition  that  service  brought  him,  therein  to  be  con- 
tent. He  says,  "  Having  travelled  through  most  parts  of  that  cuon- 
try  [the  different  colonies],  and  visited  most  of  the  plantations,  hav- 
ing alarmed  people  of  all  sorts  where  we  came,  and  proclaimed  the 
day  of  God's  salvation  amongst  them,  our  spirits  began  to  be  clear 
of  those  parts  of  the  world,  and  draw  towards  old  England  again." 
He  embarked  for  home  on  the  21st  day  of  the  Third  month,  1673. 

Attracted  by  the  mildness  of  the  climate,  the  good  condition  of 
the  soil,  and  above  all,  the  accorded  right  to  partake  of  all  the 
benefits  of  citizenshij),  without  their  religious  faith  and  testimonies 
being  interfered  with,  some  Friends  had  settled  in  different  parts  of 
South  Carolina, — probably  prior  to  G.  Fox's  visit  in  North  Carolina, 
— and  though  there  is  no  account  of  any  of  the  ministers  who  came 
over  from  England  in  the  early  establishment  of  the  Society  in  other 
colonies,  visiting  them,  they  must  have  soon  increased  in  number 
and  exercised  much  influence.  In  an  epistle  from  G.  Fox  to  Friends 
in  Charleston,  dated  Twelfth  month,  1683,  after  expressing  his  satis- 
faction at  having  received  a  letter  from  them,  giving  an  account 
of  their  meeting  in  that  town,  he  says,  "  My  desire  is  that  you  may 
prize  your  liberty,  both  natural  and  spiritual,  and  the  favor  that 
the  Lord  hath  given  you  ;  that  your  yea  is  taken  instead  of  an 
oath;  as  that  you  do  serve  both  in  assemblies,  juries  and  other 
offices  without  swearing,  according  to  the  doctrine  of  Christ ;  which 
is  a  great  thing,  worth  prizing.  And  take  heed  of  abusing  that 
liberty,  or  losing  the  savor  of  the  heavenly  salt,  which  seasons  your 
lives  and  conversation  with  truth,  holiness  and  righteousness :  for 
you  know  when  the  salt  hath  lost  its  savoi',  it  is  good  for  nothing 
but  to  be  trodden  under  foot  of  men." 

Some  time  about  the  year  1684,  John  Archdale,  a  member  among 
Friends,  was  chosen  to  be  Governor  of  South  Carolina,  and  while  in 
the  office,  corresponded  with  George  Fox;  giving  him  some  account 
of  the  state  of  the  country,  of  the  condition  of  Friends,  and  some 
circumstances  connected  with  the  conduct  of  the  Indians. 

During  the  time  of  severe  suffering  through  which  Friends  were 


420  FRIEXDS    Ii\    THE 

passiiiff  in  Great  Britain  after  tlio  Restoration  [16G1]  as  was  natu- 
ral, on  finding;  that  redress  or  abatement  of  their  grievances  were 
ahnost  beyond  hope,  they  seriously  entertained  a  project  for  finding 
homes  somewhere  beyond  the  reach  of  their  fellow-men,  who  seemed 
bent  on  extirpating  them  by  the  slow  process  of  the  cruel  punish- 
ments inflicted  for  their  religions  faith.  George  Fox,  in  common 
with  several  other  prominent  members,  seriously  contemplated  the 
purchase  of  a  tract  of  land  from  the  Indians  in  North  America; 
where  not  the  whole  l)ody  of  Friends  in  Great  Britain,  but  such  as 
felt  themselves  free  to  leave  their  native  laud,  might  emigrate  and 
enjoy  the  right  of  worshipping  the  Almighty  according  to  the  dic- 
t-i\tes  of  their  consciences. 

Josiah  Cole  while  engaged  in  religious  service  in  America  [1661] 
was  commissioned  to  look  out,  and  enter  into  treaty  for  such  a  rest- 
ing place  ;  and  at  one  time  he  had  several  interviews  with  the  chiefs 
of  the  Susquehanna  Indians,  in  order  to  treat  with  them  for  a  part 
of  their  territory.  Owing  to  a  war  coming  on  between  that  tribe 
and  another,  the  proposed  purchase  fell  through.  But  when  New 
Jersey  was  finally  brought  under  the  government  of  Charles  II.  by 
the  treaty  between  the  English  and  Dutch  in  1674,  and  Berkeley  — 
who  with  Carteret  was  Proprietary  of  the  Colony  —  was  disposed  to 
sell  his  share  in  it,  it  was  bought  by  Edward  Billinge  and  John 
Fen  wick,  two  F'riends,  for  £1,000  [1675] ;  it  being  understood  that 
the  purchase  was  made  for  the  benefit  of  such  members  of  the 
Society  as  chose  to  avail  themselves  of  it. 

Friends  from  New  York  and  New  England  had  occasionally  set- 
tled on  the  eastern  side  of  New  Jersey,  and  as  early  as  1670  there 
was  a  meeting  for  worship  regularly  held  at  Shrewsbury,  and  an- 
other at  Amboy.  A  Monthly  Meeting  was  shortly  after  established 
at  Shrewsbury.  George  Fox,  when  on  his  way  from  New  England 
to  Maryland  and  Virginia  [1672],  passed  through  Shrewsbury,  and 
says,  "  On  First-day  we  had  a  precious  meeting  there,  to  which 
Friends  and  other  people  came  from  far,  and  the  blessed  presence  of 
the  Lord  was  with  us."  ..."  They  are  building  a  meeting-house 
in  the  midst  of  them,  and  there  is  a  Monthly  and  a  General  Meet- 
ing set  up,  which  will  be  of  great  service  in  those  parts,  for  keeping 
up  the  gospel  order  and  government  of  Christ  Jesus." 

A  disagreement  arising  between  the  two  Friends  who  were  pur- 
chasers froni  Berkley,  it  was  a  considerable  time  before  it  was  ad- 
justed ;  William  Penn  as  Arbitrator  finally  bringing  it  to  a  settle- 
ment.    Billinge  having  become  embarrassed  in  his  circumstances, 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  421 

made  over  all  his  right  ami  title  to  four  Friends — of  whom  William 
Penn  was  oue  —  for  the  benefit  of  his  creditors.  [1676.]  Feiiwiek 
being  desirous  to' go  over  to  New  Jersey,  borrowed  a  sum  of  money, 
for  which  he  gave  a  mortgage  on  such  part  of  the  territory  as  per- 
tained to  him,  with  liberty  to  the  mortgagee.s  to  sell  the  land,  until 
their  claim  was  sati-sfied.  He,  however,  on  arriving  in  the  Delaware, 
settled  at  a  spot  on  the  side  of  a  creek  that  emptied  into  the  river, 
gave  his  intended  village  the  name  of  Salem,  and  began  at  once  to 
make  grants  of  land  to  settlers. 

The  four  Friends  acting  for  the  creditors  of  Billinge  [of  whom 
William  Penn  was  the  most  active],  took  steps  to  have  a  line  run 
between  that  part  of  New  Jersey  still  reuuiining  in  possession  of 
Carteret,  one  of  the  original  proprietors,  and  that  which  had  now 
come  into  their  possession.  It  extended  from  Little  Eggliarl)in-  to 
where  the  41  °  of  North  latitude  crosses  the  Delaware  river,  and  the 
two  portions  afterwards  were  called  East  and  West  Jersey.  A  form 
of  government  w-as  agreed  on  for  West  Jei'sey,  and  a  declaration  of 
fundamental  principles  to  be  incorporated  in  it,  con.sented  to;  among 
which  was  the  stipulation,  "  No  person  to  be  called  in  quastiou  or 
molested  for  his  conscience,  or  for  woi-shipping  according  to  his 
conscience." 

These  fundamental  laws  were  adopted  in  1676,  an<l  a  description 
of  the  Province  was  published  in  England.  At  once  so  many  began 
to  make  preparation  to  become  settlers  therein,  that  the  four  Friends, 
fearful  that  some  of  their  brethren  might  be  hurried  into  so  impor- 
tant a  step  unadvisedly,  issued  an  address,  in  which  they  extend  a 
caution,  "  Lest  any  of  them,  as  is  feared  by  some,  should  go  out  of  a 
curioas  and  unsettled  mind,  and  others  to  shun  the  blessed  ci'oss  of 
Jesus  ;  of  which  several  weighty  Friends  have  a  godly  jealousy  upon 
their  spirits ;  lest  any  unwarrantable  forwardness  should  act  or  hurry 
any  beside  or  beyond  the  wisdom  and  counsel  of  the  Lord,  or  the 
freedom  of  his  Light  and  Spirit  in  their  own  hearts,  and  not  upon 
good  and  weighty  grounds." 

Many  Friends  of  good  estates,  and  highly  esteemed  for  their  reli- 
gious standing  and  experience,  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  this  land  of 
liberty,  and  between  1676  and  16(^1  about  fourteen  hundred  had 
arrived  and  settled,  principally  in  the  country  bordering  the  eastern 
shore  of  the  Delaware.  These  immigrants  suffered  the  pi-ivations 
and  hardships  incident  to  beginning  civilized  life  in  an  unbroken 
wilderness,  surrounded  by  savages,  who  were  dependent  in  great 
measure  upon  the  uncertain  su])pli(vs  of  the  chase  for  their  Dwn  sus- 


422  FRIENDS     IN    THE 

tcimnco,  and  wlio  rarely  laid  up  nmcli  in  store  for  future  wants. 
]}Ut  1)V  uniform  upriulitncss  in  all  their  dcalin^-.s  with  these  children 
of  the  forest,  and  their  Christian  kindness  toward??  them,  tliey  soon 
gained  their  good  will,  and  in  times  of  scarcity,  excited  their  syra- 
])athy  ;  so  that  often  they  were  relieved  by  voluntary  offerings  of 
corn  and  meat  from  these  untutored  red  men,  when  it  seemed  as 
tli()u<:h  otherwise  they  must  have  suffered  for  food. 

Proud,  in  the  preface  to  his  History  of  Pennsylvania,  gives  in  a 
note  ail  account  of  these  trials,  drawn  up  by  one  of  the  Friends  who 
settled  in  New  Jersey,  containing  the  following  passages: 

"A  providential  hand  was  very  visible  and  remarkable  in  many 
instances  that  might  be  mentioned,  and  the  Indians  were  even  ren- 
dered our  benefactors  and  protectors.  Without  any  carnal  weapon, 
we  entered  the  laud  and  inhabited  therein,  as  safe  as  if  there  had 
been  thousands  of  garrisons ;  for  the  Most  High  preserved  us  from 
harm  both  of  man  and  beast."  "The  aforesaid  people  [Friends] 
were  zealous  in  performing  their  religious  services  ;  for  having  at 
first  no  meeting-house  to  keep  a  public  meeting  in,  they  made  a 
tent  or  covert  of  sail-cloth  to  meet  under  ;  and  after  they  got  some 
little  houses  to  dwell  in,  then  they  kept  their  meetings  in  one  of 
them  till  they  could  build  a  meeting-house." 

Being  thus  impressed  with  a  just  sense  of  religious  duty,  meetings 
were  soon  established  in  ditierent  places,  and  in  the  early  part  of 
1678,  a  Monthly  Meeting  was  regularly  constituted  at  Burlington  ; 
which  being  emlmrrassed  by  persons  coming  within  its  limits  and 
professing  to  be  Friends,  but  bringing  no  certificates,  addressed  an 
e|)istle  to  London  Yearly  Meeting  in  1680,  iu  reference  thereto, 
which  is  believed  to  be  the  first  communication  of  the  kind  received 
by  that  meeting  from  a  meeting  of  Friends  in  America. 

The  settlements  of  Friends  on  the  part  of  New  Jersey  bordering 
on  the  Delaware  River  increasing,  meetings  were  settled  at  Wood- 
bury Creek,  Cooper's  Creek,  Rancocas,  and  other  places,  as  the  land 
was  taken  up.  Salem  was  the  first  meeting  of  Friends  held  in  West 
Jersey,  and  in  the  course  of  comparatively  short  time,  a  Quarterly 
Meeting  was  held  there,  composed  of  the  members  of  Salem  and 
Newtown  Monthly  fleeting.  A  Quarterly  Meeting  appears  to  have 
been  estal)li>hed  at  Burlington  about  the  year  1680,  which  extended 
its  jurisdiction  over  the  Monthly  Meeting  at  Shi'ewsbury, 

General  notice  having  been  spread  among  Friends  throughout 
the  Colony,  a  General  Meeting  was  held  at  Burlington  in  the  Sixth 
month  of  1681.     It  held  four  days,  and  the  times  and  places  for 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  423 

holding  meetings  for  worship  and  disciplir.e  were  decided  on.  It 
was  also  agreed  to  hold  a  Yearly  Meeting  for  worship  at  Salem,  in 
the  Second  month  of  each  year,  and  that  the  Yearly  Meeting  for 
discipline  should  assemble  at  Burlington  in  the  Seventh  month  of 
every  year. 

In  1679,  George  Carteret,  the  proprietor  of  East  Jersey,  died,  and 
by  his  will  directed  the  whole  of  his  portion  of  the  Province  to  be 
sold  to  pay  his  debts.  It  was  bought  by  twelve  persons,  nearly  all 
of  whom  were  Friends,  William  Penn  and  Ambrose  Rigge  being 
;;mong  them.  These  associated  twelve  more  with  them  as  pro- 
prietors, and  in  1683,  they  chose  Robert  Barclay,  of  Ury,  to  be  Gov- 
ernor of  the  Province  for  life,  who  exercised  the  functions  of  his 
office  by  deputy  for  two  years.  A  large  number  of  Presbyterians, 
driven  from  their  homes  in  Scotland  by' the  inhuman  treatment  of 
the  government  incited  by  the  prelates  and  clergy,  during  the  at- 
tempt of  the  latter  to  fasten  the  Episcopal  Church  polity  upon  the 
people  of  that  portion  of  Great  Britain,  came  over  and  settled  in 
East  Jersey,  where  they  increased  and  became  a  leading  portion  of 
the  Christian  Church.  Friends  multiplied  about  Shrewsbury,  Am- 
boy.  Railway,  and  a  few  other  settlements,  but  they  were  never  so 
numerous  in  East  as  in  West  Jersey. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Purchase  of  Pennsylvania  by  W.  Penn— Form  of  Government  established  by 
W.  Penn  —  Rapid  Settlement  by  Friends — Meetings  set  np — Indian  Treaty 
—  Yearly  Meeting — Friends  in  New  York  and  New  England — Visits  of  J. 
Bnrnyeat,  G.  Fox  and  W.  Edmnndson  —  Dispute  with  Roger  Williams  — 
Further  Check  to  Persecution  in  N.  England  —  Spirit  of  Persecution  still 
alive — ^Vm.  Edmnndson  again  in  America — At  Hartford. 

IN  the  course  of  the  business  which  necessarily  claimed  his  at- 
tention as  a  trustee  or  a  proprietor  of  the  province  of  New 
Jersey,  William  Penn  naturally  had  his  thoughts  frequently  directed 
towards  the  settlements  of  his  countrymen  on  the  far  distant  shores 
of  America ;  and  having  been  disappointed  in  the  part  he  took  in 
English  politics,  in  an  unsuccessful  effort  to  procure  the  election 
of  his  friend  Algernon  Sidney  to  Parliament,  his  interest  in  that 
section  of  the  world  increased,  and  his  mind  became  occupied  with 


424  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

tlie  idoa  of  settling  a  free  Colony  in  the  pathless  wilderness  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Atlantic ;  where  men  should  live  under  an  elective 
goverunient,  enact  the  laws  by  which  they  were  to  be  controlled, 
admit  of  no  master,  but  all  share  in  equal  rights,  and  rest  in  the 
enjoyment  of  civil  and  religious  liberty.  Witnessing  the  success 
that  attended  the  removal  of  Friends  to  New  Jersey,  Avhere  they 
were  freed  from  the  cruel  persecution  they  had  endured  while  iu 
Great  Britain,  under  which  their  brethren  at  home  were  still  suffer- 
ing grievously,  he  became  desii'ous  to  obtain  the  control  of  such  por- 
tion of  the  yet  unappropriated  territory  over  which  the  King  of  Eng- 
land claimed  the  sovereignty,  as  would  enable  him  to  found  a  Colony, 
and  "make  a  holy  experiment"' — as  he  called  it  —  of  opening  an 
asylum  for  the  oppressed  of  every  land  ;  where  there  should  be  se- 
cured equality  of  political  and  civil  rights,  universal  liberty  of  con- 
science, personal  freedom,  and  a  just  regard  for  the  rights  of  property. 

Admiral  Penn  at  different  times  had  loaned  money  to  the  British 
government,  and  to  the  Duke  of  York  ;  which  the  costly  profligacy 
of  the  Court  had  pi'evented  being  repaid,  and  with  the  interest  ac- 
cruing, it  amounted  at  that  time  to  between  sixteen  and  seventeen 
thousand  pounds  sterling.  In  1680,  AVilliam  Penn  petitioned  the 
King,  that  in  order  to  cancel  the  debt,  he  should  grant  him  the 
tract  of  country  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Delaware  River,  and 
on  the  south  by  Lord  Baltimore's  Province  of  Maryland  ;  while  tho 
western  and  northern  limits  were  undefined  ;  though  the  latter  was 
not  to  interfere  with  the  Province  of  New  York.  But  William 
Penn  w^as  by  no  means  popular  at  the  Court.  The  courtiers  de- 
spised him  for  his  strict  conscientiousness:  the  clerical  party  hated 
him  for  his  Quakerism,  and  open  opposition  to  their  assumed  place 
and  power;  while  the  active  interest  he  had  taken  in  ])romoting 
the  return  of  Sidney  —  a  known  Republican  —  to  Parliament,  had 
given  offence  to  the  King  and  Duke.  Private  interest-^  and  jeal- 
ousies were  also  enlisted  against  him,  and  the  agents  of  Lord  Balti- 
more and  Sir  John  Werden,  deputy  for  the  Duke  of  York,  were 
assiduous  in  their  efforts  to  thwart  him,  and  defeat  his  application. 

But  he  was  a  man  not  easily  turned  aside  from  pursuing  that 
which  he  thought  right  to  attain.  The  Earl  of  Sutherland  was  his 
firm  friend  in  the  Privy  Council,  and  there  were  several  other  per- 
sons of  note  who  took  warm  interest  in  the  success  of  his  colonial 
project.  Penn  sought  and  obtained  an  interview  with  the  Duke  of 
York,  and  succeeded  in  changing  his  feelings  towards  himself,  and 
lis  views  relative  to  the  policy  of  the  grant.     But,  perhaps,  the 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  425 

most  cogent  argument  with  the  King  and  Council  was,  the  persist- 
ent presentation  by  one  of  the  latter,  that  if  the  grant  was  withheld, 
the  money  due  must  be  forthcoming.  There  were  many  vexatious 
delays  and  disappointments ;  but  finally  the  boundaries  of  the 
Province  being  adjusted,  as  was  then  thought  clearly  and  definitely, 
and  such  clauses  introduced  into  the  terms  of  the  patent  or  charter, 
as  were  deemed  necessary  to  secure  the  paramount  authority  of  the 
King,  Charles  affixed  his  signature  to  it  on  the  4th  of  the  Third 
month,  1681.  Wm.  Penn  proposed  to  call  his  Province,  New  Wales  ; 
but  the  Secretary,  who  was  a  Welshman,  would  not  consent  to  it. 
He  then  suggested  Sylvania,  to  which  the  King  prefixed  Penn,  out 
of  respect  to  the  late  Admiral ;  and  though  William  objected  to  it, 
as  savoring  of  vanity  in  him,  it  was  determined  to  adhere  to  that 
name. 

This  IS  not  the  place  to  enter  into  an  account  of  the  pi'ovisions  of 
the  Charter,  but  it  may  be  stated,  that  AVilliam  Penn  was  made  sole 
and  al)S()lute  proprietary  of  the  Province;  with  power,  with  the 
assent  of  the  freemen  residing  therein,  to  make  all  necessary  laws, 
provided  they  were  not  inconsistent  with  the  laws  of  England  ;  to 
grant  pardons  or  reprieves,  except  in  cases  of  wilful  murder  or 
treason,  and  to  enjoy  all  such  duties  on  imports  or  exports,  as  the 
representatives  of  the  people  might  assess.  There  was  a  clause  in 
the  Charter — inserted  at  the  solicitation  of  the  Bishop  of  London  — ■ 
that  whenever  twenty  of  the  inhabitants  should  petition  the  said 
Bishop  for  a  preacher,  he  should  be  jierniitted  to  reside  in  the  Prov- 
ince. 

Being  now  feudal  sovereign  of  so  exte-ivsive  a  territory,  so  far  as 
the  act  of  the  King  and  Council  could  make  him,  Wm.  Penn  pub- 
lished a  description  of  the  natural  ivatures  and  resources  of  the 
country,  and  invited  those  who  were  disposed  to  change  their  place 
of  abode,  and  prepared  to  emigrate,  to  resort  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
under  its  Christian  government  and  special  privileges,  secure  the 
blessings  of  freedom  and  political  equality.  He  did  not  disappoint 
his  friends  in  their  expectation  of  the  benign  form  of  government  he 
afterwards  instituted.  It  was  democratic  in  its  spirit,  and  its  pro- 
visions were  lil)era],  and  fitted  to  meet  the  dejuauds  of  the  broad 
principles  of  popular  rights,  as  they  were  from  time  to  time  devel- 
oped. Tlie  article  in  i-clntion  to  lihc!rly  of  conscience  deserves  to 
be  noticed,  us  the  public  dcclaralion  of  the  principles  of  Friends 
on  tiiat  point,  where  tiiey  had  tlie  power  of  government  in  their 
c  wn  iiands. 


426  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

"  Alnii:;-iily  God  bL'iiijj;  only  Jjord  of  ('onscience,  Fallicr  of  liiilits 
and  si)ii-its,  and  the  author  as  w  -11  as  object  of  all  Divine  knowl- 
edge, faith  and  worship;  who  only  ean  enlighten  the  mind,  and 
persuade  and  convince  the  understanding  of  people,  in  due  rev- 
erence to  his  authority  over  the  souls  of  nuiukind  :  It  is  enacted 
by  the  authority  aforesaid,  [General  Assembly  met  at  Chester,  12th 
month,  4th,  1G82,]  that  no  person  now,  or  at  any  time  hereafter 
living  in  this  Province,  who  shall  confess  and  acknowledge  one 
Almighty  God,  to  be  the  Creator,  upholder  and  ruler  of  the  world, 
and  that  professeth  him  or  herself  obliged  iu  conscience  to  live 
peaceably  and  justly  under  the  civil  government,  shall  in  any  wise 
be  molested  or  prejudiced  for  his  or  her  conscientious  i)ersuasion  or 
practice;  nor  shall  he  or  she  at  any  time  be  compelled  to  frequent 
or  maintain  any  religious  worship,  place  or  ministry  whatever,  con- 
trary to  his  or  her  mind  ;  but  shall  freely  and  fully  enjoy  his  or  her 
Christian  liberty  in  that  respect,  without  any  interrui)lion  or  reflec- 
tion. And  if  any  person  shall  abuse  or  deride  any  other,  for  his 
or  her  different  persuasion  and  practice  in  matter  of  religion,  such 
shall  be  looked  upon  as  a  disturber  of  the  peace,  and  be  punislied 
accordingly." 

There  were  no  oaths  exacted,  and  no  provision  made  for  military 
defence.  He  exempted  from  the  penalty  of  death  two  hundred 
crimes  for  which  that  punishment  was  inflicted  in  England,  though 
life  was  to  be  forfeited  for  wilful  murder.  With  a  view  of  connect- 
ing reformation  with  punishment  by  imprisonment,  prisoners  were 
to  be  kept  at  work,  and  subjected  to  moral  discii)line.  And  it  was 
enacted  "  That  as  a  careless  and  corrupt  administration  of  justice 
draws  the  wrath  of  God  njion  Magistrates,  so  the  wildness  and  loose- 
ness of  the  people  provoke  the  indignation  of  God  against  a  country  ; 
therefore,  that  all  such  oflences  against  God,  as  swearing,  cui-sing, 
lying,  profane  talking,  drunkenness,  drinking  of  healths,  obscene 
words,  and  several  other  scandalous  acts  particularly  named,  trea- 
sons, misprisions,  duels,  murders,  felony,  sedition,  maims,  forcible 
entries,  and  other  violences  to  the  persons  and  estates  of  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  Province ;  all  j^rizes,  stage-plays,  cards,  dice,  may- 
games,  gamesters,  masques,  revels,  bull  baiting,  cock-fightings,  bear- 
baitings,  and  the  like,  which  excite  the  people  to  rudeness,  cruelty 
and  irreligion,  shall  be  respectively  discouraged  and  severely  pun- 
ished, according  to  the  appointment  of  the  Governor  and  freemen 
in  provincial  council  and  general  assembly."' 

George  Fox  had  repeatedly  expressed  his  Christian  solicitude  for 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CENTURY.  427 

t 

the  colored  people  held  as  slaves,  at  that  time,  by  Friends.  Pie 
had  strongly  urged  upon  all  who  held  thein,  to  see  to  their  instruc- 
tion, especially  in  the  truths  of  the  gospel  as  recorded  in  the  Scrip- 
tures ;  that  after  serving  for  a  certain  time  they  should  be  freed,  and 
that  provision  shonld  be  made  for  their  comfortable  enjoyment  of 
old  age.  William  Penn,  in  the  charter  he  granted  to  "  The  Free 
Society  of  Traders,"  inserted  the  following  article,  showing  how 
fully  he  sympathized  in  this  feeling  of  G.  Fox's,  and  his  desire  to 
promote  manumission  after  a  term  of  service.  "  Black  servants  to 
be  free,  at  fourteen  years,  and,  on  giving  to  the  Society  two-thirds 
of  what  they  can  produce  on  land  allotted  to  them  by  the  Society, 
■with  stock  and  tools.  If  they  agree  not  to  this,  to  be  servants  until 
they  do." 

There  were  about  two  thousand  inhabitants — exclusive  of  Indians 
— ^mostly  English,  Swedes  and  Dutch,  when  William  Penn  took 
possession  of  his  Province.  The  well  known  character  of  the  Pro- 
prietor, the  strong  inducements  offered  by  the  system  of  government 
proposed,  and  the  natural  advantages  from  soil  and  climate  of  the 
newly  opened  domain,  all  acted  as  powerful  incentives  to  emigrate; 
not  only  to  men  who  were  struggling  hardly  and  uncertainly  at 
their  native  home  for  the  means  of  subsistence,  but  to  others,  who, 
though  with  sufficient  to  live  comfortably  where  they  were,  were 
anxious  to  escape  from  the  intolerant  oppression  of  a  Court  and 
hierarchy  bent  on  enforcing  the  alternatives  of  conformity  to  cer- 
tain prescribed  dogmas  of  their  own  construction,  or  suffering,  if 
not  ruin,  by  imprisonment  or  deprivation  of  estate. 

William  Penn  arrived  in  Pennsylvania  in  1682,  and  in  that  year 
and  the  two  following,  fifty  vessels  came  into  the  Delaware  river, 
bringing  several  thousand  emigrants;  the  most  of  them  from  Great 
Britain,  and  some  from  Germany.  Nearly  all  of  them  were  pro- 
fessors with  Friends,  and  many,  substantial  consistent  members,  who 
came  under  a  sense  of  religious  duty,  and  made  the  practice  of  the 
religion  they  had  embraced,  the  primary  object  of  life.  Some  had 
the  benefit  of  a  liberal  education,  while  the  great  body,  farmers, 
mechanics  or  tradesmen,  had  acquired  but  the  rudiments  of  English 
school  learning.  Many  possessed  considerable  property,  paying  cash 
for  the  laud  they  took  up ;  and,  generally,  the  others  soon  found 
means  to  make  themselves  independent. 

Those  who  came  first,  as  was  to  be  expected,  had  to  encounter  the 
difficulties  and  privations  usually  attending  pioneers  in  an  uncul- 
tivated forest.     Some  who  brought  the  frames  of  small  houses  with 


428  FRIEXDH    TX    THE 

tlioin,  wore  not  long  in  obtaining  a  conifbrtalile  sliclter;  but  very 
many  were  obligor!  to  content  thenii^elves  with  liastily  ooni^trnoted 
shanties,  under  the  over-arching  ])ranches  of  trees ;  while  some  dug 
caves  in  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  made  out  to  obtain  in  tliem  some  of 
the  comforts  of  a  homo.  This  was  before  William  Penn  came  out,  but 
Richard  Townseud,  who  came  in  the  same  ship  with  him,  thus  speaks 
of  his  experience.  "  At  our  arrival  we  found  it  a  wilderness ;  the  chief 
iidiabitants  were  In«lians :  there  were  some  Swedes,  who  received  us 
in  a  friendly  manner  ;  and  although  there  was  a  great  number  of  us, 
the  good  hand  of  Providence  was  seen  in  a  particular  manner,  in 
that  ])rovisions  were  found  for  us  by  the  Swedes  and  Indians,  at 
very  reasonable  rates  ;  as  well  as  brought  from  divers  other  parts, 
that  wore  inhabited  before.  Our  fii-st  concern  was  to  keep  up  and 
maintain  our  religious  worship,  and  in  order  thereto,  we  had  several 
meetings  in  the  houses  of  the  inhabitants;  and  one  boarded  meet- 
ing-house was  set  up,  whore  the  city  was  to  be,  (near  the  Delaware  ;) 
and  as  we  had  nothing  but  love  and  good  will  in  our  hearts  one  to 
another,  we  had  very  comfortable  meetings  from  time  to  time,  and 
aftej-  our  meeting  was  over,  we  assisted  each  other  in  buihling 
little  houses  for  our  shelter." 

The  high  motives  that  prompted  them  to  exile  themselves  from 
their  native  land,  and  the  fervent  religious  concern  to  be  engaged 
in  promoting  the  spread  of  the  Kedeemer's  Kingdom,  which 
wanned  their  hearts,  enabled  them  to  bear  all  they  had  to  endure 
with  cheerfulness.  One  of  them  thus  expresses  himself:  "  Our 
business  in  this  new  land,  is  not  so  much  to  build  houses,  and  es- 
tablish factories,  and  promote  trady  and  manufactures,  that  may 
enrich  ourselves  (though  all  these  things,  in  their  due  place,  are 
not  to  be  neglected),  as  to  erect  temples  of  holiness  and  righteous- 
ness, which  God  may  delight  in  ;  to  lay  such  lasting  frames  and 
foundations  of  temperance  and  virtue,  as  may  support  the  future 
superstructures  of  our  happiness,  both  in  this  and  the  other  world." 

Prior  to  the  purchase  of  Pennsylvania  by  William  Penn,  some 
Friends  had  crossed  out  of  Jersey,  and  settled  on  and  near  the  west 
l)ank  of  the  Delaware.  [1677.]  As  usual,  they  had  begun  holding 
meetings  for  Divine  worship  as  soon  as  they  were  fixed  in  homes,  and 
these  meetings  were  kept  up  ;  being  attached  to  the  Monthly  Meeting 
held  in  Burlington.  With  the  increase  of  colonists  was  a  corre- 
sponding increase  of  meetings  ;  so  that  in  the  First  month  of  1683, 
Friends  informed  their  brethren  in  England,  "In  Pennsylvania  there 
is  one  [a  meeting]  at  Falls,  one  at  the  Governor's  house  [Pennsbury], 


SEVENTEEXTH    CEXTUEY.  429 

one  at  Colcliester  river,  all  in  the  county  of  Bucks;  one  at  Tacony, 
one  at  Philadelphia,  both  in  that  county  ;  one  at  Darby,  at  J.  Blun- 
ston's,  one  at  Chester,  one  at  Ridley,  and  one  at  Wm.  Ruse's  at 
Chichester.  There  be  three  Monthly  Meetings  of  men  and  women, 
for  Truth's  service  ;  —  in  the  county  of  Chester  one  ;  in  the  county 
of  Philadelphia  one,  and  in  the  county  of  Bucki,  another.  And 
[we]  intend  a  Yearly  Meeting  in  the  Third  month  next.  Here  our 
care  is,  as  it  was  in  our  native  land,  that  we  may  serve  the  Lord's 
truth  and  people. 

.  .  .  .  Dear  Friends  and  brethren,  w^e  have  no  cause  to 
murmur ;  our  lot  is  fallen  every  way  in  a  goodly  place,  and  the  love 
of  God  is,  and  is  growing  among  us,  and  we  are  a  family  of  peace 
within  ourselves,  and  truly  great  is  our  joy  therefor." 

The  following  is  the  Introductory  Minute  entered  on  the  Minute 
Book  of  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  established  in  Philadelphia. 

"  The  first  meeting  of  Friends  to  treat  of  business  occurring  among 
themselves,  was  at  Philadeli^hia  y*  ninth  day  of  y*  11th  month,  being 
y"  third  day  of  y"  week  in  y^  year  1682 ;  the  proceedings  whereof 
were  as  followeth,  viz. : 

"  The  friends  of  God  belonging  to  the  meeting  in  Philadelphia,  in 
ye  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  being  met  in  y"  fear  and  power  of  y* 
Lord,  at  y^  present  meeting-place,  in  y*  said  city,  y*"  ninth  day  of 
y*  11th  month,  being  y''  third  of  y^  week,  in  y*  year  1682.  They 
did  take  into  consideration  y"  settlement  of  meetings  therein,  for  y" 
affairs  and  service  of  Truth  ;  according  to  that  Godly  and  comely 
practice  and  example  which  they  had  received  and  enjoyed  with 
true  satisfaction  amongst  their  friends  and  bretliren  in  y^  land  of 
their  nativity ;  and  did  then  and  there  agree,  that  y"  first  third-day 
of  y"  week  in  every  month  shall  hereafter  be  y""  Monthly  Meeting 
day  for  y^  men's  and  women's  meetings,  for  y*  affairs  and  service 
of  Truth,  in  this  city  and  county,  and  every  third  meeting  shall  be 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  y''  same." 

In  taking  possession,  and  in  the  settlement  of  Pennsylvania,  it 
had  been  a  subject  of  much  solicitude  and  cai-e  with  William  Penn, 
that  the  whole  conduct  of  the  settlers  in  their  intercourse  with  the 
aborigines,  should  be  so  marked  with  kindness,  and  with  considera- 
tion for  their  rights  and  national  customs,  as  to  secure  their  good 
will  and  influence  them  to  live  in  peace  and  harmony  with  the  new 
comers  upon  their  soil.  Before  coming  over  himself  he  had  ap- 
pointed three  Commissioners  to  see  to  the  necessary  arrangements 
for  the  reception  and  settlement  of  the  colonists,  to  lay  out  the  site 


430  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

for  a  town,  and  to  treat  with  the  Indians.  By  these  he  sent  an 
address  to  the  hitter,  in  which  be  tells  them  it  is  his  desire  to  enjoy 
the  country  over  which  he  had  been  made  Governor,  "  With  their 
love  and  consent,  that  we  may  always  live  together  as  neighbors  and 
friends;"  and  as  he  had  heard  that  in  some  places  impositions  had 
been  practised  upon  them  which  had  produced  animosity  and 
revenge,  it  w^as  his  sincere  desire,  and  should  be  his  joractice,  and 
the  practice  of  those  he  should  send,  to  treat  with  them  justly  for 
their  lands,  and  to  make  and  preserve  a  firm  treaty  of  peace.  [1681.] 

When,  after  his  arrival  on  the  shores  of  the  Delaware,  he  had  met 
the  Colonial  Assembly  elected  by  the  inhabitants, and  the  necessary 
]aw.s  wei*e  enacted,  and  had  transacted  some  other  business  immedi- 
ately pressing  upon  him,  lie  gave  the  necessary  attention  to  select 
the  location  of  the  future  city,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Phila- 
delphia. Afterwards  he  went  on  to  New  York,  and  visited  Friends 
there  and  on  Long  Island  and  in  New  Jersey.  On  his  return  from 
this  journey,  he  took  the  necessary  measures  to  have  the  chiefs  of 
the  ti'ibes  of  Indians  occupying  that  portion  of  the  Province  which 
was  likely  to  be  soon  required  by  the  settlers,  to  meet  him  in  coun- 
cil. The  place  of  meeting  was  in  Shackamaxon,  a  little  north  of 
the  city,  and  on  the  Delaware  river.  There,  under  the  wide-spread 
branches  of  a  noble  elm  ti-ee,  was  held  the  treaty  of  friendship  and 
perpetual  peace  between  the  natives,  the  Governor,  and  the  immi- 
grant Friends,  which  has  become  world  renowned  as  the  Great  In- 
dian Treaty.  Made  in  good  faith  and  honesty,  by  both  parties,  this 
treaty  was  defaced  by  no  oaths,  and  remained  unbroken  so  long  as 
Friends  held  the  reins  of  power  in  the  government.  Under  its  pro- 
visions, there  sprung  up  a  confiding  intimacy  between  the  red  men 
and  the  white;  and  so  long  as  the  Christian  policy  inaugurated  by 
AVilliam  Penn  and  his  brethren  in  religious  profession,  was  adhered 
to,  there  was  no  case  of  wrong  or  misunderstanding  occurred,  which 
was  not  speedily  settled  and  removed  by  resort  to  the  peaceable  and 
just  means  provided  for  in  its  stipulations. 

Thus  the  benign  and  peaceable  principles  of  the  gospel,  as  laid 
down  by  Christ  and  his  Apostles  and  ado})ted  by  Friends,  were 
closely  adhered  to  and  fully  tested  in  the  settlement  of  Pennsylva- 
nia ;  and  the  experience  of  seventy  years  of  uninterrupted  peace 
and  prosperity,  while  the  Province  was  under  the  control  of  Friends, 
conclusively  proves  how  far  they  exceed  all  other  rules  and  motives 
of  conduct,  however  devised  by  the  wisdom  of  man  or  enforced  by 
military  power.     The  enlightened  and  liberal  policy  of  the  settlers, 


SEVEXTEENTH    CENTURY.  431 

together  with  the  simplicity  of  iiuuiners  and  refinement,  evinced  iu 
their  domestic  and  social  economy  and  general  intercourse,  contrib- 
uted to  the  powerful  attraction  exerted  by  the  Colony  on.  all  who 
were  disposed  to  escape  from  the  tyrannous  exactions  and  almost  con- 
tinuous commotions  agitating  and  embittering  civil  society,  in  Europe. 

The  just  and  loving  manner  in  which  William  Penn  treated  the 
Indians  from  the  beginning  of  his  intercourse  with  them,  and  the 
peaceable  principles,  not  only  professed,  but  continually  acted  on 
by  the  settlers,  beside  gaining  the  confidence  of  the  tribe  immedi- 
ately surrounding  them,  spread  tlieir  fame  to  others  more  distant ; 
so  that  during  the  stay  of  the  Proprietor,  when  on  his  first  visit  to 
his  Province,  he  made  treaties  of  friendship  and  amity  with  nearly 
twenty  different  tribes.  Nor  were  the  expenditures  for  the  land 
purchased,  a  mere  nominal  sum,  palmed  upon  the  ignorant  natives, 
easily  caught  with  showy  goods,  and  unaccustomed  to  estimate 
things  at  their  real  value.  From  the  accounts  preserved  of  these 
bargains  and  sales,  it  appears,  that  during  his  lifetime,  the  Proprie- 
tor expended  over  twenty  thousand  pounds  in  the  purchase  of  that 
portion  of  the  soil  which  was  ceded  to  him  by  the  aborigines ;  and 
yet  they  were  not  required  to  abstain  from  hunting  or  fishing  within 
its  boundaries,  and  the  laws  were  so  framed  as  to  give  them  the 
protection  of  citizens. 

The  influx  of  settlers  was  unprecedented ;  the  forest  began  to  be 
cleared,  and  dwellings  were  put  up  rapidly.  The  soil  yielded  abun- 
dantly, and  no  calamity  occurred  for  years  to  check  the  rapid  in- 
crease of  inhabitants,  or  create  doubts  and  dissatisfaction  as  to  the 
course  they  had  taken,  in  removing  from  their  native  country.  New 
meetings  for  worship  were  established,  as  the  new-comers  took  up 
lands  in  the  counties  contiguous  to  the  city;  so  that  in  1684,  Wm. 
Penn  wrote,  there  were  eighteen  in  all,  and  all  were  brought  within  , 
the  order  of  church  government,  as  laid  down  in  the  discijiline  then 
adopted. 

The  Friends  from  this  Province  attended  the  Yearly  Meeting 
held  in  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  in  the  Seventh  month  of  1683. 
The  holding  a  General  Meeting  of  Friends  in  the  middle  and 
southern  Provinces  having  claimed  the  consideration  of  that  meet- 
ing, the  following  minute  was  made  thereto : 

"  Whereas  this  meeting  judged  it  requisite  for  the  benefit  and 
advantage  of  Truth,  and  mutual  comfort  of  Friends,  that  a  General 
Yearly  Meeting  might  be  established  for  the  Provinces  in  these 
parts,  northward  as  far  as  New  England,  and  southward  as  far  as 


432  FRIENDS    TX    THE 

Caroliua,  tliat  by  tlie  coming  of  Friends  togetlier  from  the  several 
l)arts  where  the  Truth  is  professed,  the  affairs  thereof  may  be  better 
known  and  understood;  and  to  the  end  the  same  may  be  assented 
to  by  Friends  in  those  parts  and  places,  as  above  nuMitioned,  it  is 
agreed  thttt  AVilliam  Penn,  Christoplier  Taylor,  Samuel  Jennings, 
James  Harrison,  Thomas  Olive  and  Mahlon  Stacy  do  take  sure 
methods,  by  writing  to  Friends  or  speaking,  as  may  ])est  fall  out 
for  their  conveniency,  in  order  to  have  the  same  established." 

In  168B,  a  few  weeks  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing held  at  Burlington,  a  General  Meeting  was  held  in  Philadel- 
phia, but  if  minutes  of  its  proceedings  Avere  made  they  were  not  pre- 
served. Yearly  Meetings  were  again  held  in  1684,  in  both  Burlington 
and  Philadelphia.  By  the  latter  an  epistle  was  sent  to  Friends  in 
London,  in  which  is  the  following:  "At  the  two  aforementioned 
General  Meetings,  Ave  had  such  a  blessed  harmony  together,  that  we 
may  say  we  know  not  that  there  was  a  jarring  string  among  us. 
Glorious  was  God  in  his  power  amongst  us.  A  great  multitude  came 
of  many  hundreds,  and  the  gospel  bell  made  a  most  blessed  sound. 
There  was  the  men's  and  women's  meetings  at  both  places,  in  their 
precious  services,  to  inspect  into  Truth's  matters,  in  what  related  to 
them  ;  and  God  gave  them  wisdom  to  do  it,  and  all  was  unanimous." 

It  appears  fi-ora  this,  that  at  that  early  day,  women  Friends  held 
a  Yearly  Meeting  in  those  two  Provinces,  and  there  is  evidence  that 
one  or  both  of  them  also  addressed  an  epistle  to  their  sisters  in 
England. 

In  1685  there  were  present  at  the  General  Yearly  Meeting  held 
in  Philadelphia,  Friends  who  had  been  appointed  to  attend  from 
Rhode  Island,  and  from  the  Quarterly  Meetings  of  Choptank  and 
Herring  Creek,  in  Maryland;  and  after  solid  deliberation  it  was 
concluded  to  establish  one  General  Yearly  Meeting  for  Friends  of 
Pennsylvania  and  west  New  Jersey  and  adjacent  Provinces;  to  be 
held  alternately  at  Burlington  and  Philadelphia,  beginning  at  Bur- 
lington iu  1686.  A  General  Meeting  continued  to  be  held  at  Salem, 
New  Jersey,  and  from  accounts  given  in  Journals  of  Friends  who 
attended  it  at  different  times,  it  would  appear  that  it  exercised  some 
control  over  the  meetings  iu  its  neighborhood. 

Having  brought  the  account  of  the  settlement  of  New  Jersey  and 
Pennsylvania  by  Friends  up  to  the  above  date,  it  is  now  time  to  re- 
turn to  the  condition  of  the  Society  in  other  Colonies,  where  Friends 
had  long  had  meetings  established. 

The  persecution  of  Friends  in  the  Colony  of  New  Amsterdam 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  433 

[New  York],  had  been  stopped  by  the  Duteh  Government,  as  has 
been  already  stated  ;  but  wliile  the  Province  remained  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  Dutch,  and  for  some  time  after  it  came  into  possession  of 
the  English,  there  were  no  Friends  settled  in  the  town.  On  Long 
Island,  there  had  been  many  convinced  of  the  truths  of  the  gospel 
as  held  by  Friends ;  and  the  Society  continued  to  increase  there ; 
several  meetings  being  settled  in  different  neighborhoods. 

While  on  his  religious  visit  to  America  in  1666,  John  Burnyeat 
visited  the  meetings  in  New  York  and  Long  Island,  and  again  when 
on  a  similar  errand  in  1671-2,  he  had  much  religious  service  among 
Friends  in  those  places.  Being  at  the  Half- Year's  Meeting,  which 
Avas  held  at  Oyster  Bay,  on  Long  Island,  he  found  that  the  defec- 
tion started  by  J.  Perrot,  had  spread  among  some  making  profes- 
sion with  Friends  in  those  parts.  He  states,  that  in  this  meeting 
for  transacting  the  affairs  of  the  Church,  "  Several  rose  up  in  a 
wrong  spirit,  against  the  blessed  order  of  the  Truth."  They  had 
written  a  book,  principally  against  G.  Fox  and  some  epistles  of 
advice  written  by  him,  in  reference  to  the  right  ordering  of  the 
Meetings  for  Discipline.  This  book,  which  was  in  manuscript  — 
some  of  the  ringleaders  insistcl  upon  reading  before  the  meeting, 
and  Friends  sat  still  until  they  had  gone  through  it.  J.  Burnyeat 
then  took  it  up,  part  by  part,  and  "  Cleared  George  Fox  and  Friends 
in  our  godly  care  and  intent,  and  opened  the  service  and  benefit 
of  such  things  as  they  cavilled  at."  He  also  "Reprehended  them 
for  their  falsehoods  and  slanders,  with  which  they  had  hurt  the 
minds  of  several  young  and  newly  convinced  Friends."  This  service 
was  blessed,  and  many  were  thus  rescued  from  the  snare  into  which 
they  had  fallen.  "  The  Lord's  power  broke  in  upon  the  meeting,  and 
Friends'  hearts  were  broken,  and  great  meltings  in  the  power  were 
among  us,  and  in  the  same  we  blessed  the  Lord  and  praised  Him, 
and  prayed  unto  Him,  and  tliey  w^ere  bowed  and  went  away." 

[1672.]  At  the  next  Half- Year's  Meeting,  George  Fox  was  in 
attendance.  It  was  a  large  assemblage.  Friends  coming  to  it  from 
all  the  settlements  on  the  Island.  George  Fox  mentions  in  his 
Journal,  "  On  Third-day  were  the  men's  and  women's  meetings, 
wherein  the  affiiirs  of  the  Church  w'ere  taken  care  of  Here  we  ' 
met  with  some  bad  spirits,  who  were  run  out  from  truth  into  prej- 
udice, contention  and  opposition  to  the  order  of  truth,  and  to 
Friends  tlierein.  These  had  been  very  troublesome  to  Friends  in 
their  meetings  there  and  thereabouts,  formerly,  and  it  is  like  would 
have  been  so  now ;  but  I  would  not  suffer  the  service  of  our  men's 
28 


434  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

and  women's  meetings  to  be  interrupted  and  hindered  by  their 
cavils.  I  let  them  know,  '  If  they  had  anything  to  object  against 
the  order  of  truth  which  we  were  in,  we  would  give  them  a  meet- 
ing another  day  on  purpose.'  And  indeed  I  labored  the  more,  and 
travelled  the  harder  to  get  to  this  meeting,  where  it  was  expected 
many  of  these  contentious  people  would  be ;  because  I  understood 
they  had  reflected  much  upon  me  when  I  was  far  from  them.  The 
men's  and  women's  meetings  being  over,  on  the  Fourth-day  Ave  had 
a  meeting  with  those  discontented  people;  to  which  as  many  of 
them  as  would  did  come,  and  as  many  Friends  as  had  a  desire 
were  present  also ;  and  the  Lord's  power  broke  forth  gloriously,  to 
the  confounding  of  the  gainsayers.  Then  some,  that  had  been  chief 
in  the  mischievous  work  of  contention  and  opposition  against  the 
truth,  began  to  fawn  upon  me,  and  cast  the  blame  upon  others ;  but 
the  deceitful  spirit  was  judged  down  and  condemned,  and  the  glo- 
rious truth  of  God  was  exalted  and  set  over  all  ;  and  they  were  all 
brought  down  and  bowed  under.  Which  was  of  great  service  to 
truth,  and  great  satisfaction  and  comfort  to  Friends ;  glory  to  the 
Lord  for  ever  !  " 

William  Edmundson  also  visited  New  York  in  1672,  and  held  a 
meeting  in  the  town,  at  the  Inn  where  he  lodged.  He  remarks, 
"  It  was  a  good  meeting,  some  of  the  chief  officers.  Magistrates  and 
leading  men  of  the  town  being  at  it,  who  were  very  attentive,  the 
Lord's  power  being  over  them  all,"  He  then  went  to  Long  Island 
and  attended  the  meetings  of  Friends  there  ;  after  which  he  went  to 
Shelter  Island  where  he  met  G.  Fox,  James  Lancaster,  Christopher 
Holder  and  others  ;  and  at  the  hospitable  home  of  Nathaniel  Sil- 
vester, they  embraced  the  opportunity  of  recounting  their  several 
travels  and  exercises  during  their  sojourn  in  America,  and  to  en- 
courage each  other  to  faithfulness  in  the  work  assigned  them. 

Shelter  Island  received  that  name,  it  is  probable,  from  its  having 
been  a  place  of  shelter  for  many  who  had  been  driven  from  the 
main  land  by  those  in  authority :  who  persecuted  Friends  wherever 
they  had  them  in  their  power.  It  was  near  the  eastern  point  of  Long 
Island,  and  was  under  the  exclusive  control  of  N.  Silvester,  the  sole 
proprietor  ;  who  pui'chased  it  either  when  he  first  became  a  Friend,  or 
he  was  convinced  of  the  principles  of  Friends,  soon  after  he  obtained 
possession  of  it.  Here  the  weary  exiles,  on  account  of  religion,  always 
found  a  home  and  a  heart  to  receive,  to  succor  and  refresh  them ; 
so  that  the  kindness  and  liberality  of  N.  Silvester  were  widely  known 
and  highly  appreciated  by  Friends  in  America  and  Great  Britain. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  430 

Among  other  religious  services  on  the  Island,  George  Fox  says, 
"  The  day  after,  being  First-day,  we  had  a  meeting  there.  In  the 
same  week,  I  had  a  meeting  among  the  Indians,  a-t  which  were  their 
king,  with  his  council,  and  about  an  hundred  Indians  more.  They 
sat  down  like  Friends,  and  heard  very  attentively,  while  I  spoke  to 
them  by  an  interpreter,  an  Indian  that  could  speak  English  Avell. 
After  the  meetings  they  appeared  very  loving,  and  confessed  what 
was  said  to  them  was  truth." 

George  Fox  appears  to  have  visited  the  meetings  on  Long  Island 
very  generally,  and  to  have  labored  to  get  Friends  into  the  right 
order  of  the  discipline  as  established  and  carried  out  in  other  parts 
of  the  Society.  After  accomplishing  this,  accompanied  by  other 
ministers  from  England,  he  went  on  to  Rhode  Island  to  be  at  the 
Yearly  Meeting  for  New  England,  which  W'as  held  at  Newport,  in  the 
Fourth  month  of  1672.  This  Colony  had  maintained  its  enlightened 
policy  of  toleration  of  all  Christian  professors,  and  consequently  it 
afforded  a  safe  and  inviting  home  for  Friends.  G.  Bishop,  in  his 
"  New  England  Judged."  states  that  a  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends 
was  held  there,  as  early  as  1661,— several  years  before  the  London 
Yearly  Meeting  was  established, —  from  which  time  it  had  been 
regularly  held;  extending  its  jurisdiction  over  all  the  meetings  in 
New  England,  New  York,  and  it  is  probable  further  South. 

George  Fox  thus  alludes  to  his  attendance  of  the  meeting :  "  As 
soon  as  the  wind  served  we  set  sail,  and  arrived  in  Rhode  Island, 
the  thirtieth  of  the  Third  month ;  [1672]  where  we  were  gladly 
received  by  Friends.  We  went  to  Nicholas  Easton's,  who  was 
Governor  of  the  Island  ;  where  we  lay,  being  weary  with  travelling. 
On  First-day  following,  we  had  a  large  meeting ;  to  which  the 
Deputy  Governor  and  several  Justices  came,  and  were  mightily  af- 
fected with  the  truth.  The  week  following,  the  Yearly  Meeting  for 
Friends  of  New  England,  and  other  Colonies  adjacent,  w'as  held  in 
this  Island  ;  to  which,  besides  many  Friends  who  lived  in  those  parts, 
came  John  Stubbs  from  Barbadoes,  and  James  Lancaster  and  John 
Cartwright  from  another  way.  This  meeting  lasted  six  days.  The 
first  four  were  spent  in  general  public  meetings  for  worship ;  to  wdiich 
abundance  of  other  people  came.  For  having  no  priests  in  the  Isl- 
and, and  no  restriction  to  any  particular  way  of  worship,  and  the 
Governor  and  Deputy  Governor,  with  several  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
daily  frequenting  meetings,  it  so  encouraged  the  peopk',  that  they 
flocked  in  from  all  parts  of  the  Island.  These  public  meetings  over, 
the  men's  meeting  began,  which  was  large,  precious,  and  weighty. 


436  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

Tlip  'lav  following  was  the  women's  meeting,  wliicli  was  also  large 
and  verv  solemn.  These  two  meetings  being  for  ordering  the  affairs 
of  the  church,  many  weighty  things  were  opened,  and  communicated 
to  them  by  way  of  advice,  information,  and  instruction  in  the  ser- 
vices relating  thereunto ;  that  all  might  be  kept  clean,  sweet,  and 
savory  amongst  them.  In  these,  several  men's  and  women's  meet- 
ings for  other  parts  were  agreed  and  settled,  to  take  care  of  the 
poor,  and  other  affliirs  of  the  church,  and  to  see  that  all  who  profess 
truth,  walk  according  to  the  glorious  gospel  of  God." 

From  the  number  of  places  where  there  were  meetings  of  Friends, 
mentioned  by  William  Edmundson,  John  Burnyeat  and  George 
Fox,  it  is  evident  that  the  Society  had  largely  increased  in  Rhode 
Island,  and  that  its  members  exercised  much  influence  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  affairs  of  the  Colony.  On  more  than  one  occasion, 
a  Friend  was  elected  Governor  of  the  Province.  Although  Roger 
Williams  had  uniformly  maintained  the  right  to  liberty  of  con- 
science in  religion,  within  the  Colony  of  Rhode  Island,  yet  he  W'as 
strongly  prejudiced  against  Friends,  and  strenuously  opposed  the 
spread  of  their  doctrines.  There  were  other  causes  besides  differ- 
ences of  religious  opinions,  Avhich  had  embittered  his  feelings  against 
them.  Many  years  before  the  period  now  spoken  of,  there  had  been 
a  sharp  rivalry  between  him  and  William  Coddington  for  the  gov- 
ernorship of  the  Colony,— the  latter  having  embraced  the  principles 
of  Friends, —  and  William  had  been  appointed  to  the  station  of 
Governor  by  the  home  Government.  Roger  went  over  to  England 
on  that  account,  and  after  much  labor,  succeeded  in  having  his  rival 
displaced.  Two  years  after  his  return  he  was  chosen  Governor; 
but  some  time  prior  to  tlie  visit  of  William  Edmundson  to  the 
Colony,  the  people  had  elected  Friends  to  ftll  the  offices  of  Governor, 
Deputy  Governor,  and  Magistrates.  In  addition  to  these  supposed 
"i-ievances,  many  of  his  own  flock  —  Baptists  —  had  joined  in  mem- 
bership with  Friends. 

1672.  While  William  E<lniundsou  was  in  that  part  of  the  country, 
R.  Williams  put  fortlT  fourteen  propositions,  designed  to  invalidate 
tlie  scriptural  soundness  of  the  doctrines  Friends  promulgated,  and 
challenged  them  to  a  public  dispute  upon  the  points  of  faith  des- 
ignated ;  appointing  Newport  as  the  place  for  discussing  seven  of 
tliem,  and  Providence  the  other  seven.  William  Edmundson  joined 
with  other  Friends  in  answering  this  challenge,  and  he  says,  that 
"  a  great  concourse  of  people  of  all  sorts  gathered  "  in  Friends'  pxeet- 
ing-house  at  Newport.     Wm.  Edmundson  remarks,  "  When  those 


SEVENTEEXTH    CENTURY.  437 

propositions,  as  be  called  them,  came  to  be  discoursed  of,  tbey  were 
all  mere  slanders  and  accusations  against  the  Quakers ;  the  bitter 
old  man  could  make  nothing  out ;  but  on  the  contrary,  they  were 
turned  back  upon  himself."  "  The  testimony  of  Truth  in  the  power 
of  God,  was  set  over  all  his  false  charges,  to  the  great  satisfaction 
of  the  people."     This  dispute  lasted  three  days. 

At  Providence,  where  there  was  a  gr^at  gathering  of  Presby- 
terians, Baptists,  and  Ranters,  William  Edmundson  told  R.  Wil- 
liams, that  as  they  had  spent  so  much  time  at  the  meeting  at  New- 
port, and  that  he  [R.  W.]  had  made  nothing  out,  and  he  [W.  E.] 
had  other  religious  service  to  perform,  he  could  not  now  give  more 
than  one  day  to  answering  his  "false  accusations.''  "We  answered 
all  his  charges  against  Friends,  and  disproved  them."  "  We  had  a 
seasonable  opportunity  to  open  many  things  to  the  people,  apper- 
taining to  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  way  of  eternal  life  and  salva- 
tion. The  meeting  concluded  with  prayer  to  Almighty  God,  and 
the  people  went  away  satisfied  and  loving." 

1666.  The  unchristian  intolerance  of  the  Presbyterians  in  Massa- 
chusetts and  Connecticut,  had  received  a  further  check  from  the 
Court  in  England,  by  its  injunction,  that  as  they  were  "  indulged 
with  the  liberty  of  being  of  what  profession  of  religion  they  pleased," 
they  should  permit  "  all  persons  of  civil  lives,  to  enjoy  the  same 
liberty  of  conscience,  and  to  worship  in  the  way  they  thought  best," 
— an  expression  of  Christian  principle  which  the  Government  issuing 
it,  was  itself  far  from  practising.  But  though  this,  in  measure,  re- 
strained the  rigid  professors  in  New  England  from  exercising  the 
cruelty  tliey  had  practised  when  they  had  their  own  way,  yet  some, 
especially  those  who  held  the  offices  of  Magistrates  and  ministers, 
showed  that  the  persecuting  spirit  still  ruled  iu  their  hearts,  by 
occasionally,  where  the  people  manifested  a  strong  disposition  to 
desert  their  common  places  of  worship,  and  attend  the  meetings  of 
Friends,  resorting  to  the  cat-o'-nine-tails,  as  the  most  powerful  argu- 
ment they  could  command,  for  convincing  Friends  of  what  they  de- 
nounced the  unsound  doctrines  they  preached-. 

In  the  year  1666,  John  Burnyeat  travelled  through  a  large  [)art 
of  Massachusetts,  and  speaks  of  no  obstructions  being  thrown  in  his 
way.  He  says,  "  About  the  latter  end  of  tlie  Sixth  month  I  took 
my  journey  towards  Sandwich  ;  and  when  I  was  clear  there,  I  took 
my  journey  by  Plymouth  to  Tewkesbury,  and  so  to  Marshfield  and 
Scituate,  and  to  Boston,  and  I  visited  Friends  and  had  meetings. 
From  Boston  I  went  to  Sulem,  and  so  on  lo  Piscata(pKi.     When  I 


438  FRIENDS   IX  thp: 

wa.-;  clear  there,  I  retiiriieil  hack  through  the  ineetings,and  came  to 
Hampton,  Sah'm,  Boston,  Scitiiate,  Marslifield,  and  so  by  Tewkes- 
burv  and  Plymouth  to  Sandwich;  and  from  tlience,  through  the 
woods  to  Ponygauset ;  and  from  thence  over  unto  Rhode  Ishiud." 

When,  during  his  secoud  visit  to  the  Colonies  in  1672,  the  same 
minister  was  at  Scituate,  he  encountered  some  "Elders  of  their 
church,"  who  charged  him  with  being  a  heretic.  In  the  dispute  which 
took  place,  upon  their  declaring  that  the  Scriptures  were  their  rule, 
he  replied,  then  they  must  abide  by  the  rule  laid  down  by  Christ, 
"  By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them  ;"  and  so,  he  says,  "  I  went  on  to 
reckon  up  the  fruits  of  their  Church  ;  which  were,  to  fine  and  take 
away  goods  for  not  coming  to  their  worship  ;  to  imprison  ;  to  whip 
with  cruelty  ;  to  cut  off  ears  ;  to  burn  in  the  hand  ;  to  banish  u])on 
pain  of  death  ;  to  hang  ;  for  they  had  hanged  four  of  our  Friends.  If 
they  could  prove  by  Scripture  that  those  were  the  fruits  of  a  Chris- 
tian churcli,  I  would  yield."  The  elders  could  not  deny  nor  get  over 
this  kind  of  reasoning,  and  J.  B.  remarks,  "They  were  confounded, 
some  of  themselves  having  been  actors  in  persecution."  When  at 
Boston,  John  Stubbs  and  James  Lancaster,  Avho  just  before  had 
been  travelling  with  J.  Burnyeat,  were  arrested,  together  with  three 
other  Friends,  put  in  prison,  and  then  banished  out  of  the  Colony. 
This  was  in  1672. 

As  has  been  before  stated,  the  last  instances  recorded  of  cruel 
whipi)ing  of  Friends  in  New  England  was  in  1677. 

George  Fox  appears  from  his  Journal  not  to  have  gone  further 
North  or  East  than  Rhode  Island.  Being  anxious,  if  possible,  tore- 
claim  sonje  of  the  Ranters,  who  occasionally  came  to  the  meetings 
of  Friends,  and  behaved  in  a  rude  and  indecorous  manner,  he  ap- 
pointed a  meeting  especially  for  them  ;  but  to  which,  he  says,  came 
many  Friends  and  others;  and  the  Lord  "gave  him  power  over 
them,  to  his  praise  and  glory."  Accompanied  by  the  Governor  he 
went  to  Providence,  where  "  The  Lord  whom  we  waited  upon,  was 
with  us,  and  his  power  went  over  all,  and  his  blessed  Seed  was  ex- 
alted and  .set  above  all."  With  the  Governor  still  as  his  companion, 
he  visited  Narraganset,  where  he  had  several  meetings,  attended  by 
the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  place.  There  was  great  openness 
to  hear  the  doctrines  he  preached,  and  several  received  them,  and 
joined  the  Society.  He  says,  that  at  one  place,  "  I  heard  that  some 
of  the  Magistrates  said  among  themselves,  "  If  they  had  money 
enough  they  would  hire  me  to  be  their  minister."  This  was  where 
they  did  not  well  understand  us  and  our  principles  ;  but  when  I  heard 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  439 

of  it,  I  said  it.  was  time  for  me  to  be  gone  ;  for  if  tlieir  eye  was  so  much 
to  me,  or  and  of  us,  they  would  not  come  to  their  own  teacher." 
This  was  prior  to  his  visit  to  Shelter  Island. 

Afrer  getting  througli  with  what  was  required  of  him  in  this  part 
of  the  country,  George  Fox  returned  again  into  ^Maryland,  and  so 
into  Virginia  and  Carolina,  as  has  been  already  narrated.  On  the 
23d  of  the  Third  month,  1673,  he  embarked  for  his  native  country, 
where  he  arrived  after  a  voyage  of  about  five  weeks :  he  landed  at 
Bristol. 

In  the  year  1675,  AYilliam  Edmundson,  under  the  constraining 
influence  of  gospel  love,  again  visited  the  Colonies  in  America. 
After  spending  five  months  engaged  in  the  service  of  the  gospel  in 
Barbadoes,  where  several  were  convinced  under  his  ministry,  he 
sailed  for  Rhode  Island  ;  where  he  landed  in  about  three  weeks.  At 
that  time  New  England,  with  the  exception  of  Rhode  Island,  was 
engaged  in  the  war  with  King  Philip  ;  but  the  Governor  of  that 
Province,  being  a  Friend,  was  unwilling  to  take  any  part  in  the 
bloody  contest,  and  refused  to  issue  any  commission  for  raising  or 
officering  troops.  The  Indians  committed  great  carnage  and  destruc- 
tion of  property  ;  killing  the  inhabitants,  not  only  in  open  combat, 
but  in  the  fields, on  the  roads  and  by  their  firesides;  so  that  people 
of  all  other  religious  professions  but  Friends,  carried  arms  with 
them  on  all  occa.^ions,  even  when  they  assembled  for  the  purpose  of 
Divine  worship.  It  was  a  remarkable  circumstance,  that  though  prop- 
erty was  destroyed  by  the  savages  in  other  parts  of  the  colony,  yet 
they  made  no  incursion  on  the  Island  itself,  and  no  Friend  was  killed. 

Wju.  Edmundson  travelled  northeastward  towards  Piscataway, 
though  it  was  thought  very  dangerous ;  but,  he  says,  "  I  committed 
my  life  to  God  who  gave  it ; "  and  "  I  travelled  in  many  places,  as 
with  my  life  in  my  hand,  leaving  all  to  the  Lord  who  rules  in 
heaven  and  earth."  At  different  places  on  the  road  going  and  re- 
turning, he  speaks  of  meeting  with  many  Friends  who  were  glad  of 
his  coming  among  them,  especially  in  that  time  of  trial,  and  they 
had  "  precious  and  comfortable  meetings."  He  had  two  meetings 
at  Marblehead.  "  Many  resorted  to  them,  and  several  were  convinced 
and  received  the  truth." 

1676.  In  Boston  and  its  vicinity,  he  was  brought  under  "great 
exercise,"  on  account  of  some  who,  he  says,  professed  with  Friends, 
but  lived  not  in  the  truth,  "  who  did  much  hurt,  and  hindered  the 
Lord's  work."  He  went  from  Boston  to  Rhode  Island,  in  a  vessel 
owned  by  Edward  Wharton,  who  had  been  so  great  a  sufferer  daring 


440  FRIEN^DS    IN    THE 

the  hot  persocutioii  uiuler  Enclicott  and  his  coadjutors,  and  who  was 
still  living  in  Salem.  Friends  in  Rhode  Island  were  yet  under  nuich 
trial,  on  account  of  the  people  who  did  not  profess  with  them,  being 
bent  on  participating  in  the  Indian  war,  and  endeavoring  to  impli- 
cate the  government,  in  giving  sanction  and  assistance  to  carrying 
it  on.  It  was  a  great  strength  to  the  Governor  and  other  officers, 
to  have  the  company  of  this  resolute  and  devoted  servant  of  the 
Prince  of  Peace,  at  this  juncture;  and  he  observes,  "Friends  were 
glad  of  my  coming,  and  it  pleased  God  that  it  was  to  good  pur- 
])ose  in  several  respects ;  the  faithful  and  honestdiearted  among 
them  were  mucli  helped  and  strengthened  by  my  being  there.  I 
stayed  some  time  among  them,  and  had  many  blessed  and  heavenly 
meetings  to  worship  God  ;  also  men's  meetings  for  church  affairs." 

While  laboring  there  he  was  seized  with  a  malignant  disease,  then 
carrying  off  many  of  the  inhabitants.  He  observes,  "Then  some 
spirits  whom  I  had  dealt  with  for  their  looseness,  w'ere  glad,  and 
thought  their  curb  and  rein  were  taken  off;  but  the  Lord  healed 
and  raised  me  uj),  so  that  in  about  ten  days,  I  was  able  to  appear  in 
public  meetings     .     .     .     and  the  Lord  carried  me  over  all." 

Finding  it  laid  upon  him  to  go  to  New  Hartford,  in  Connecticut, 
and  knowing  that  the  men  in  authority  in  that  Colony  were  greatly 
o])p()secl  to  Friends,  and  at  that  time  much  excited  against  them,  it 
brought  him  under  severe  exercise  of  mind,  before  he  was  made 
willing  to  give  up  to  expose  himself  among  them.  Arriving  at  New 
London  he  essayed  to  have  a  meeting,  but  the  Presbyterians  would 
not  permit  it.  He,  however,  appointed  a  meeting  a  short  distance 
out  of  the  town  ;  but  before  it  was  over,  he  says,  "  The  constables  and 
other  officers  came  with  armed  men,  and  foicib.ly  broke  up  our  meet- 
ing, haling  and  abusing  us  very  much  ;  but  the  sober  people  were 
oliended  at  them." 

James  Fletcher  offering  to  accompany  him  to  New  Hartford,  they 
set  off  on  horseback,  through  the  wilderness,  without  a  guide,  and 
after  a  hard  day's  ride,  arrived  at  an  inn  within  a  few  miles  of  the 
town.  Leaving  James  here  the  next  moining,  William  walked  into 
New  Hartford,  and  it  being  the  First  day  of  the  week,  he  went  to 
the  "  Church,"  and  remained  until  the  "service"  was  concluded. 
Having  then  spoken  "  what  the  Lord  gave  me,"  the  minister  and 
Magistrates  soon  went  away  ;  but  most  of  the  people  remaining,  he 
had  full  opportunity  to  relieve  him.-elf  of  his  aj)prehended  duty.  lu 
the  afternoon  he  went  to  another  place  for  worshi}) ;  where,  while  the 
minister  and  people  were  assembled,  they  had  an  armed  guard  set, 


SEVENTEEXTII    CEXTURY.  441 

to  keep  off  the  Indians.  Here,  he  says,  "  I  dechired  the  way  of  sal- 
vation to  them  a  pretty  while ;  but,  by  the  persuasion  of  the  priest, 
the  officers  haled  rae  out  of  the  worship-house,  and  hurt  my  arm  so 
that  it  bled."  It  was  a  very  cold  day,  and  Wm.  Edmundson  had 
had  nothing  to  eat  all  day.  He  appealed  to  the  officer  having  him  in 
charge  —  who  was  complaining  of  the  severity  of  the  cold  — if  it  was 
Christian  usage  they  were  subjecting  him  to.  He  was  troubled, 
tried  to  excuse  tlie  priest  and  Magistrates,  and  then  took  him  to  an 
inn.  The  people  thronged  to  see  and  hear  him,  so  that  he  had 
an  opportunity  of  freely  discoursing  with  them,  and  he  observes, 
"  Truth's  testimony  was  over  all."  The  next  morning  the  officer 
sent  him  word  he  might  go  where  he  would,  and  he  went  back  to 
meet  his  companion, 

William  Edmundson  again  went  through  the  perils  and  hardships 
of  a  journey  through  the  wilderness,  from  New  York  to  Maryland, 
and  from  there  on  into  Carolina.  He  speaks  of  having  many 
"  blessed  meetings,"  Avith  Friends  and  others,  after  his  arrival  in 
Maryland,  and  also  in  Virginia.  But  he  suffered  greatly  from  the 
exposure  in  an  open  boat  to  the  snow,  sleet,  and  severe  cold,  when 
crossijig  the  inlets  and  bays,  as  also  on  the  rivers.  He  was,  how- 
ever, mercifully  carried  through  all,  and  enabled  to  labor  faithfully 
in  word  and  doctrine,  and  in  the  affairs  relating  to  Gospel  order. 
He  says,  referring  to  the  state  of  the  Society  in  Virginia,  "  There 
was  indeed  need  enough  for  help,  for  things  were  much  out  of  order, 
and  many  unruly  spirits  to  deal  with.  I  had  good  service  and  suc- 
cess, for  the  Lord  blessed  his  work  in  my  hand."     This  was  in  1677. 

As  the  whole  distance  between  the  Settlements  in  Virginia  and 
those  in  North  Carolina  was  at  that  time  considered  too  dangerous 
to  be  traversed  by  any  but  armed  bands  ;  not  only  on  account  of 
the  hostility  of  the  Indians,  who  were  murdering  the  whites,  almost 
Avherever  found  in  that  section  of  the  country,  but  also  on  account 
of  the  sanguinary  Avar  then  being  waged  between  the  Governor,  Sir 
"William  Berkeley  and  his  partisans,  and  Colonel  Bacon  and  his  par- 
tisans, Friends  were  very  unwilling  Wm.  Edmundson  should  attempt 
the  journey,  and  for  some  time  he  hesitated  to  start.  But  havuig 
appointed  a  meeting  where  none  had  been  held  before,  and  walked 
in  the  evening  preceding,  some  distance  with  a  young  man,  the  son 
of  the  widowed  Friend  at  whose  house  William  had  been  staying,  he 
was  called  up  in  the  night,  to  be  told  that  the  young  man  was  dead. 
"  Then,"  he  says,  "  the  word  of  the  L  )rd  came  to  me,  saying,  all 
lives  arc  in  my  hand,  and  if  thou  goest  not  to  Carolina,  thy  life  is  as 


442  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

this  young  nuvn\s ;  but  if  thou  goest,  I  will  giv(>  ihci'  thy  Hie  for  a 
prey."  So,  ticcompuuied  by  an  "ancient  man  Friend,"  he  wcuit,  and 
had  "  meetings  in  several  places"  in  that  colony  ;  and  having  "  settled 
things  among  Friends,"  he  found  himself  at  libc^rty  to  return  home  ; 
and  there  being  a  vessel  from  Bristol  in  Elizabeth  river,  he  took 
passage  in  her,  and  arrived  in  Ireland  after  a  tempestuous  voyage. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Lull  of  Persecution  in  Great  Britain— George  Fox  reported  to  have  turned  Pres- 
byterian —  Tiiird  "  Conventicle  Act" —  T.  Ellwood's  Criticism  Thereon — ■ 
Character  of  Inibrmers  and  Magistrates  —  G.  Fox  and  an  Informer  —  Terri- 
ble Persecution  —  Church  of  England  "Service"  performed  at  Friends' 
Meeting-House — Horsleydown  Meeting-House  Torn  Down — Eatcliflf  Meet- 
ing-IIouse  Wrecked  —  Trial  of  Wm.  Penn  and  Wni.  Mead  —  Jury  Fined — 
Defendants  Kept  in  Prison — Death  of  Admiral  Penn — Trial  and  Siitiering 
of  otlier  Prisoners  before  tlie  same  Court  —  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower — 
Wheeler  Street  Meeting-House  and  Gilbert  Latey  —  Constancy  and  Faith- 
fulness of  Friends  —  Illness  of  G.  Fox  —  Domestic  Trials  (»f  liis  ^Vife. 

IX  recurring  to  the  condition  of  the  Society  in  Great  Britain,  it 
may  be  remembered  there  had  been  a  lull  in  the  storm  of  persecu- 
tion, for  a  little  time  after  the  great  fire  in  London  ;  [IGGG]  the  loss 
and  distress  incurred  by  this  calamity,  and  by  the  disastrous  events 
of  the  war  with  the  Dutch,  had  so  occupied  the  government  and  peo- 
ple as,  in  some  measure,  to  divert  their  attention  from  the  persecu- 
tion of  Dissenters. 

The  King  in  his  a'ldress  at  the  opening  of  parliament  in  1GG8, 
had  expressed  his  willingness  to  stuiction  a  more  moderate  policy 
towards  those  who  dissented  from  the  "  Established  Church,"  and 
his  privy  Council  favored  the  trial.  But  the  "  Lords  Spiritual," 
and  the  House,  quickly  intervened  to  prevent  any  mitigation  of  the 
rigor  of  the  laws  against  Dissenters ;  and  Charles,  a  Roman  Catho- 
lic at  heart,  was  too  indifferent  to  religion  in  any  form,  to  persevere 
in  carrying  out  whatever  good  intention  he  might  have  had  ;  and 
fearing  to  cross  their  bigoted  zeal,  he  complied  with  their  deniands, 
and  issued  his  Proclamation  for  again  enforcing  the  laws  against  con- 
venticles, «&c. 

The  fire  of  persecution,  nevertheless,  burnt  more  fitfully  and  with 
less  heat,  and  it  again  became  a  subject  of  serious  consideration  with 


SEVENTEENTPl    CENTURY.  443 

several  of  tho.se  who  were  more  deeply  interested  in  the  interests  of 
the  country,  whether  something  more  ought  not  to  be  attempted,  in 
order  to  remove  the  objections  of  some  classes  among  the  Dissenters, 
to  amalgamating  with  the  Established  Church,  and  to  extend  a  modi- 
fied toleration  to  others,  who  could  not  be  induced  to  give  up  their 
own  organizations  and  modes  of  worship.  Accordingly,  some  of 
those  holding  high  offices,  together  with  two  of  the  more  moderate 
Bishops,  prepared  proposals  of  concessions  to  be  made,  and  commu- 
nicated them  to  some  Dissenting  ministers,  who  advised  with  the 
]M-incipal  members  of  their  congregations.  A  bill  was  prepared  by 
the  Lord  Chief  Justice,  intended  to  carry  these  views  into  operation  ; 
but  the  knowledge  of  it  coming  to  some  of  the  prelates  who  had  not 
been  consulted,  at  the  time  when  the  Parliament  was  again  conven- 
ing, they — more  especially  Archbishop  Slieldon— set  themselves  to 
work,  and  succeeded  in  preventing  the  proposed  l)ill  being  presented 
to  the  House. 

The  amended  "  Conventicle  Act  "  expired  by  limitation  in  1670, 
and  the  usual  prelude  to  the  enactment  of  some  other  legal  device 
for  harassing,  preying  upon,  and  if  possible  eradicating,  those  who 
would  not  support  episcopacy,  in  its  unchristian  demands  and  pre- 
tensions, was  again  put  in  practice.  Reports  were  spread  abroad 
through  the  country,  of  intended  insurrections  of  Presbyterians 
and  Catholics,  and  that  their  design  was  to  overturn  the  govern- 
ment. When  George  Fox  returned  from  his  visit  to  Ireland  in 
1669,  he  landed  at  Liverpool,  and  after  holding  several  religious 
meetings  in  Lancashire  and  Cheshire,  he  passed  into  Gloucester- 
shire ;  where  he  heard  a  report,  in  several  places,  that  he  had  turned 
Presbyterian,  and  that  he  was  to  be  at  a  large  meeting  in  a  yard, 
where  a  pulpit  was  already  set  up  for  him  to  preach  ;  and  he  says, 
he  saw  the  yard  and  the  pulpit  set  in  it. 

He  observes,  "  The  occasion  of  this  strange  report,  as  I  was  in- 
formed, was  this.  There  was  one  John  Fox,  a  Presbyterian  priest, 
who  used  to  go  about  preaching  ;  and  some,  changing  his  name  from 
John  to  George,  gave  out  that  George  Fox  was  turned  from  a 
Quaker  to  be  a  Presbyterian,  and  would  preach  at  such  a  place  on 
such  a  day.  This  begat  such  curiosity  in  the  people,  that  they  went 
thither  to  hear  this  Quaker  turned  Presbyterian,  who  would  not 
have  gone  to  have  heard  John  Fox  himself.  By  this  means  it  was 
reported  they  had  got  together  above  a  thousand  people.  But  when 
they  came  there,  and  perceived  they  had  a  trick  put  upon  them, 
that  he  was  but  a  counterfeit  George  Fox,  and  understood  that  the 


444  FRIENDS     IX    THE 

real  George  Fox  was  hard  by,  several  luuidreds  came  to  our  meet- 
ing, and  were  sober  and  attentive." 

Some  time  after,  this  John  Fox  got  into  a  quarrel  with  the  parish 
j)riost  who  had  succeeded  him  in  the  living  he  formerly  enjoyed  ; 
and  in  a  contest  that  took  place  in   the  "  steeple-house,"  between 
them  and  their  respective  partisans,  a  common  Prayer  Book  was 
destroyed,  and  the  supporters  of  J.  Fox  gave  utterance  to  expres- 
sions construed  to  be  treasonable.     This  was  quickly  published,  but 
in  such  language  as  gave  the  impression,  that  the  treasonable  ex- 
pressions were  from  "  George  Fox  the  Quaker."     The  report  of  a 
large  and  tumultuous  meeting  being  held  by  George  Fox  turned 
Presbyterian,  and  of  the  treasonable  words  expressed,  was  spoken 
of  in  Parliament  as  a  cause  of  complaint  and  suspicion ;  so  that 
George  thought  it  needful  to  obtain  certificates  from  some  of  the 
"  members  of  the  House,  who  were  acquainted  with  John  Fox,  testi- 
fying that  he  was  the  person  implicated,  and  not  George  Fox  the 
Quaker.     Nevertheless  this  report  was  made  use  of  among  others 
to  unsettle  the  minds  of  the  people,  and  induce  them  to  think  there 
was  need  for  severe  measures  to  keep  down  the  Dissenters ;  all  of 
whom  were  considered  to  be  political  malcontents.     The  law  against 
Dissenters  that  had  just  expired,  while  inflicting  indescribable  suf- 
fering on  those  who  were  brought  under  the  operation  of  its  pro- 
visions, had  failed  in  its  object ;  partly  because  of  its  severity  in 
imposing  enormous  fines,  long  imprisonments  and  banishments;  the 
last  being  so  repugnant  to  the  feelings  of  the  people  as  to  prevent 
its  being  executed.      It  was  therefore  determined  to  try  another 
method  ;  which  by  enlisting  the  cupidity  of  the  depraved  class,  will- 
ing to  prey  upon  the  property  of  others  for  obtaining  the  means  to 
gratify  their  own  sensual  indulgences ;  and  using  the  almost  unre- 
strained judicial  functions  of  ofiicials  clothed  with  al)solute  power, 
it  was  hoped  would  so  impoverish  and  harass  those  who  met  together 
for  Divine  worship  in  a  way  differing  from  the  "  Cliurch  of  Eng- 
land," as  to  render  them  unable  to  live  in  their  native  country. 
Accordingly  a  third  "  Act  to  prevent  and  suppress  seditious  Con- 
venticles," was  passed  by  Parliament,  and  received  the  royal  assent 
in  the  Fourth  month  of  167(J. 

By  this  Act  it  was  declared  unlawful  for  more  than  five  persons 
beside  a  family  to  assemble  for  performing  Divine  worship  "  in  any 
other  manner  than  according  to  the  Liturgy  and  practice  of  the 
Church  of  England."  Where  this  was  violated,  the  "  oliender  "  or 
"  offenders  "  were  to  be  fined  five  shillings  for  the  first  "  ulience," 


S  E  V  E  X  T  i:  E  N  T  IT    CENTURY.  445 

and  ten  for  the  second.  The  preacher  or  teacher  to  be  fined  twenty 
pounds  for  the  first  offence,  and  forty  for  the  second.  Those  per- 
mitting such  meetings  to  be  held  in  their  house,  or  on  their  premises, 
were  to  be  fined  twenty  pounds.  The  oaths  of  two  witnesses' to  be 
sufficient  proof,  and  the  record  of  a  Magistrate  under  his  hand  and 
seal  to  be  a  perfect  conviction,  and  to  be  certified  to  the  next  Court 
of  Quarter  Sessions.  The  fines  were  to  be  levied  on  the  goods  and 
chattels  of  the  offender,  and  if  he  was  too  poor  to  satisfy  the  de- 
mand, then  to  be  levied  on  the  goods  and  chattels  of  any  other  per- 
son or  persons,  thus  convicted  of  having  been  present.  The  fines  of 
preachers  or  teachers,  were  to  be  in  like  manner  levied  upon  them, 
or  if  they  are  without  goods  or  chattels,  which  could  be  distrained, 
then  u]i)on  any  other  person  convicted  of  being  present;  and  in  like 
manner  upon  the  house  where  the  meeting  was  held  ;  provided  in 
either  of  these  latter  cases  not  more  than  £10  or  half  the  fine,  was 
to  be  taken.  The  money  thus  obtained,  was  to  be  divided,  one-third* 
to  the  King,  one-third  to  the  poor,  and  the  remaining  third  to  th« 
informers.  Justices,  Constables,  &c.,  were  authorized  to  break  into 
the  place  where  the  meeting  was  held,  or  said  to  be  holding.  Jus- 
tices were  to  be  fined  £100  if  refusing  to  act,  and  Constables,  &c., 
£5.  All  clauses  of  the  Act  "  Shall  be  construed  most  largely  and 
beneficially  for  the  suppressing  of  conventicles,  and  for  the  justifica- 
tion and  encouragement  of  all  persons  to  be  employed  in  the  execution 
thereof."  No  warrant  or  mittimus  was  to  become  void  on  account 
of  defects  in  form  ;  the  goods  and  chattels  of  a  convicted  offender 
were  to  be  seized  wherever  found,  and  a  husband  was  liable  for  the 
fines  imposed  on  his  Vv'ife,  whether  he  was  present  or  not. 

Thomas  Elhvood,  who  was  a  sufferer  from  this  iniquitous  law,  and 
active  in  defeating  its  profligate  and  abandoned  executioners,  in 
their  attempts  upon  others,  says  of  it  — 

"  Firstly.  It  broke  down  and  overrun  the  bounds  and  banks, 
anciently  set  for  the  defence  and  security  of  Englishmen's  lives, 
liberties,  and  properties,  viz.:  Trial  by  juries.  Instead  thereof, 
directing  and  authorizing  justices  of  the  peace,  and  that  too  privately, 
out  of  sessions,  to  convict,  fine,  and  by  their  warrants,  distrain  uj)()n 
offenders  against  it;  directly  contrary  to  the  Great  Charter. 

"Secondly.  By  that  Act  the  informers,  who  swear  for  their  own 
advantage,  as  being  thereby  entitled  to  a  tliird  part  of  the  fines, 
were  many  times  concealed,  driving  on  an  underhand  private  trade  ; 
so  that  men  might  l)e  and  often  were  convicted  and  fined,  without 
having  any  notice  or  knowledge  of  it,  till  the  officers  came  and  took 


446  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

away  their  goods ;  nor  even  then  could  they  tell  by  whose  evidence 
they  were  convicted.  Than  which,  what  could  be  more  opposite  to 
common  justice,  which  requires  that  every  man  shouhl  be  openly 
charged,  and  have  his  accuser  face  to  face,  that  he  might  both 
answer  for  himself  before  he  be  convicted,  and  object  to  the  validity 
of  the  evidence  given  against  him. 

"Thirdly.  By  that  Act,  the  innocent  were  punished  for  the 
offences  of  the  guilty.  If  the  wife  or  child  was  convicted  of  having 
been  at  one  of  those  assemblies,  which  by  that  act  w-as  adjudged 
unlawful,  the  fine  was  levied  on  the  goods  of  the  husband  or  father 
of  such  wife  or  child,  though  he  was  neither  present  at  such 
assembly,  nor  was  of  the  same  religious  persuasion  that  they  Avere 
of,  but  perhaps  an  enemy  to  it. 

"Fourthly.  It  was  left  in  the  arbitrary  pleasure  of  the  Justices, 
to  lay  half  the  fine  for  the  house  or  ground  where  such  assembly 
was  holdeu,  and  half  the  fine  for  a  pretended  unknown  preacher ; 
and  the  whole  fines  of  such  and  so  many  of  the  meeters  as  they 
should  account  poor,  upon  any  other  or  others  of  the  people,  who 
were  present  at  the  same  meeting,  not  exceeding  a  certain  limited 
sum ;  without  any  regard  to  equity  or  reason." 

Efforts  have  been  made  to  exonerate  the  Bishops  and  clergy  from 
the  odium  of  being  the  active  instruments  in  procuring  the  passage 
of  this  abominable  law,  and  we  will  not  undertake  to  examine 
whether  it  owed  its  paternity  more  to  the  ecclesiastical  than  to 
the  civil  power.  It  is  undeniable,  however,  that  after  it  came  into 
force,  several  of  the  Bishops  and  most  of  the  clergy,  were  eager  and 
active  to  have  it  executed.  Archbishop  Sheldon  exerted  himself 
to  enlist  all  his  suffragans  in  the  service,  urging  them  to  use  their 
influence  to  the  utmost,  for  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  the  law. 
In  a  letter  to  one  of  his  Bishops,  which  Calamy  recites,  we  find  this 
language.  "  And  now,  my  Lord,  what  the  success  may  be  we  must 
leave  to  God  Almighty  ;  yet,  my  Lord,  I  have  this  confidence  under 
God,  that  if  we  do  our  parts,  now  at  first  seriously,  by  God's  help, 
and  the  assistance  of  the  civil  power,  considering  the  abundant  care 
and  provision  the  Act  contains  for  our  advantage,  we  shall,  in  a  few 
months,  see  so  great  an  alteration  in  the  distraction  of  these  times, 
as  that  the  seduced  people,  returning  from  their  seditions  and  self- 
seeking  teachers  to  the  unity  of  the  Church,  and  uniformity  of  God's 
worship,  it  will  be  to  the  glory  of  God,  the  welfare  of  the  Church, 
the  praise  of  his  Majesty's  government,  and  the  hai)piness  of  the 
whole  Kingdom."  The  substance  of  this  letter  was  directed  to  be 
communicated  to  all  the  clergy  of  each  diocese. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  447 

Thomas  Elhvood  says  iu  his  journal,  "  That  some  of  the  clergy 
of  most  ranks,  and  others  who  were  excessively  bigoted  to  that 
party,  used  their  utmost  efforts  to  find  out  and  encourage  the  most 
profligate  wretches  to  turn  informers ;  and  get  such  persons  into 
parochial  ofiices  as  would  be  most  obsequious  to  their  directions,  and 
prompt  at  their  beck  to  put  this  law  into  most  rigorous  execution." 
Persons  of  plausible  manners,  and  capable  of  assuming  different 
characters,  were  employed  to  insinuate  themselves  into  the  company 
of  different  Dissenters,  pretending  to  unite  with  them,  and  thus  obtain 
knowledge  of  the  preachers,  and  principal  persons  connected  with 
them  ;  and  on  the  first  fitting  occasion  to  inform  against  them.  One 
thus  commissioned  by  the  Vice  Chancellor  of  Oxford,  came  into 
Buck's  county,  and  first  tried  to  pass  himself  off"  on  Friends ;  but 
being  rel)uffed  by  them,  and  when  drunk,  having  betrayed  his  em- 
ployment, he  went  among  the  Baptists  in  another  part  of  the  country, 
and  having  induced  one  of  them  to  converse  freely  with  him  about 
the  times  and  the  laws,  accused  him  before  a  Magistrate  of  speaking 
treasonable  words ;  which  Avould  have  cost  him  his  estate  and  lib- 
erty, but  that  bis  accuser's  former  character  being  found  out,  he 
became  alarmed  and  fled  the  country.  But  associating  a  man  with 
him  as  an  accomplice,  who  had  been  in  jail  for  stealing  a  cow,  thev 
entered  upon  the  business  of  regular  informers.  There  were  a  num- 
ber of  instances  of  Justices  resigning  their  positions  and  leaving  the 
bench,  because  they  could  not  conscientiously  be  the  instruments 
for  executing  a  law  they  felt  to  be  infiunously  unjust,  and  which 
left  them  no  option  whether  to  act  or  to  decline,  unless  they  were 
willing,  in  the  latter  case,  to  incur  the  heavy  penalty  of  £100. 

This  law  was  intended  to  act  with  the  same  merciless  severity  on 
all  Dissenters,  and  wherever  the  opportunity  offered,  it  was  gen- 
erally executed  on  all.  But  Presbyterians,  Baptists,  and  Indepen- 
dents, thought  themselves  justified  in  bending  to  the  storm.  Neal 
says,  "The  Non-conformist  ministers  did  what  they  could  to  keep 
themselves  within  the  compass  of  the  law ;  they  preached  frequently 
twice  a  day  in  large  families,  with  only  four  strangers,  and  as  many 
U!idrr  the  age  of  sixteen  as  would  come ;  and  at  other  times,  in  places 
where  people  might  hear  in  several  adjoining  houses;  but  after  all, 
infinite  mischiefs  ensued;  families  were  impoverished  and  divided," 
tSrc,  &c. 

This  Act  went  into  operation  the  10th  of  the  Third  month  1070; 
but  in  some  parts  of  the  country,  it  took  time  for  the  machinery  to 
be  provided  to  carry  it  into  effect.     In  the  cities  and  towns  it  began 


448  FRIENDS    IN    TUE 

its  work  at  once.  In  London  the  ineeting-liouses  of  Friends  were 
shut  up  by  the  civil  authority.  On  the  First-day,  directly  after  the 
Act  went  into  operation,  George  Fox  went  to  Grace-church  Street 
meeting.  "  I  found,"  he  says,  *'  the  street  full  of  people,  and  a  guard 
set  to  keep  Friends  out  of  their  meeting-house.  I  went  to  the  other 
passage  out  of  Lombard  street,  where  also  I  found  a  guard,  but  the 
court  was  full  of  people,  and  a  Friend  was  speaking  among  them. 
When  he  had  done  I  stood  up."  He  had  not  spoken  long,  when  au 
informer  and  some  soldiers  came,  and  pulling  him  down,  took  him 
and  others  to  go  before  the  Mayor.  As  they  went  along,  the  in- 
former said  to  one  of  the  company,  "  It  would  never  be  a  good 
world,  till  all  the  people  came  to  the  good  old  religion  that  was  two 
hundred  years  ago."  George  said,  "Art  thou  a  Papist?  what!  a 
Papist  an  informer  ?  "  Tiiis  got  to  be  known  among  the  people,  wdio 
were  at  that  time  greatly  excited  against  the  Papists.  When  at  the 
Mayor's  house,  some  present  asked  G.  Fox  for  what  he  was  taken 
up  ?  He  desired  them  to  ask  the  informer,  and  also  what  was  his 
name?  The  man  refused  to  tell  his  name,  and  on  one  of  the  officers 
saying  he  would  have  to  tell  it ;  and  asking  why  he  was  intruding 
himself  among  the  soldiers,  he  became  frightened,  and  attempted  to 
escape.  One  of  the  officers  asked,  "  Have  you  brought  people  here 
to  inform  against,  and  now  will  you  go  away  before  my  Lord  Mayor 
comes?"  He, however,  slipped  out  through  the  door;  but  no  sooner 
did  he  get  into  the  street  than  the  crowd  shouted  "  A  Papist 
informer !  a  Papist  informer  I  "  and  G.  Fox,  fearing  lest  the  mob 
would  do  him  bodily  injury,  desired  the  soldiers  to  rescue  him  ; 
which  they  did,  and  brought  him  into  the  house  again.  He  at- 
tempted to  escape  the  second  time,  but  the  soldiers  had  again  to 
bring  him  back,  lest  the  people  would  maim  him.  They  took  him 
into  an  adjoining  house,  where  he  so  altered  his  appearance,  that  he 
was  able  to  sneak  off,  without  being  recognized.  There  were  some 
Presbyterian  and  Baptist  teachers  examined  at  the  same  time,  who 
were  convicted ;  but  when  George's  turn  came,  there  was  no  one  to 
inform  against  him  and  the  other  Friends;  after  some  discourse  as  to 
their  coming  within  the  purview  of  the  law,  the  Mayor  discharged 
them  ;  first  taking  their  names  and  residences. 

As  giving  some  idea  of  the  course  pursued  by  Friends  under  these 
trying  circumstances,  it  may  be  mentioned,  that  upon  G.  Fox  being 
thus  liberated,  he  went  inmiediately  back  to  Grace-church  Street 
meeting ;  but  found  the  meeting  held  in  the  street  was  over,  and 
most  of  the  Friends  gone  to  their  homes.     At  the  other  meeting- 


SEVENTEEN  Til    CENTURY,  449 

houses  Friends  were  kept  out,  and  in  some  instances  several  were 
taken  away,  bat  were  not  long  detained  ;  and  George  says,  "A  glo- 
rious time  it  was,  for  the  Lord's  power  came  over  all,  and  his  ever- 
lasting truth  got  renown.  For  as  fast  as  some  that  were  speaking 
were  taken  down,  others  were  moved  of  the  Lord  to  stand  up  and 
speak,  to  the  admiration  of  the  people  ;  and  the  more  because  many 
Baptists  and  other  sectaries  left  their  public  meetings,  and  came  to 
see  how  the  Quakers  would  stand." 

Persecution  now  ran  riot ;  and  the  power  being  by  design  placed  in 
the  hands  of  the  most  profligate  and  debased,  glad  to  avail  themselves 
of  the  opportunity  granted  them  to  rob,  under  sanction  of  law,  the 
goods  of  the  religious  and  industrious,  rapine,  havoc  and  impoverish- 
ment were  spread  over  the  nation  by  the  graceless  informers,  abetted 
by  a  venal  magistracy,  eager  to  share  in  the  plunder.  As  was  to  be 
expected,  where  the  money  or  goods  seized,  came  into  the  hands  of 
the  unscrupulous  officials,  very  little  of  it  was  parted  with,  for  either 
the  King  or  the  poor.  As  the  people,  especially  in  the  country, 
very  generally  refused  to  buy  the  goods  thus  take;i,  the  few  who 
were  willing  to  be  accessories  after  the  fact,  bought  them  for  a  fourth 
or  third  of  their  value;  thus  affording  the  myrmidons  of  the  law 
opportunity  to  repeat  their  seizures,  until,  in  many  instances,  the 
victims  were  stripped  of  everything  they  possessed.  The  records 
contain  accounts  of  many  instances  where  Friends  in  humble  cir- 
cumstances had  everything,  —  beds,  bedding,  clothing,  and  the  im- 
plements used  in  their  business  taken  away.  The  sick  were  dragged 
out  of  bed,  their  beds  and  clothing  .^eized,  and  they  obliged  to  lie 
upon  straw.  Cradles,  and  the  vessel  in  which  food  for  infants  was 
prejjaring,  were  sometimes  carried  off.  In  one  case  a  Constable 
having  reported  to  the  Magistrate,  that  he  had  stripped  the  house 
of  every  thing  but  some  loaves  of  bread,  he  was  ordered  to  return 
and  bring  them,  and  if  he  could  not  sell  them,  to  feed  them  to  the 
Magistrate's  horses. 

But  the  storm,  biting  and  incessant  as  it  was,  was  no  more  effec- 
tive in  deterring  Friends  from  assembling  for  the  purpose  of  wor- 
shipping their  Almighty  Father  in  heaven,  than  that  which  had  been 
raised  under  the  former  "  Conventicle  Acts."  Grievously  spoiled 
and  cruelly  abusc^l  as  they  were,  they  knew  their  enemies  could 
truthfully  allege  nothing  against  them  but  that  which  concerned  the 
law  of  their  God ;  and  in  the  sincerity  of  their  liearts,  they  made 
their  appeal  unto  Him,  with  full  confidence  that  He  would  extend 
his  fatherly,  protecting  care  over  them,  would  cause  the  wrath  of 
29 


450  Fill  ENDS    IN    THE 

man  to  bring  Ilini  praise,  and,  when  He  saw  it  was  enough,  wonld 
restrain  the  remainder  of  wrath,  and  limit  the  rage  and  cruelty  of 
their  merciless  tormentors.  Deprived  of  the  use  of  their  meeting- 
houses, they  assembled  as  near  to  them  as  they  could  get ;  and 
beaten,  bruised,  imprisoned  and  fined,  as  many  of  each  company 
were  almost  sure  to  be,  the  next  meeting-day  found  others  at  the 
same  place,  engaged  in  the  performance  of  the  same  indispensable 
duty;  ready  to  encounter,  with  meekness  and  patience,  the  wrath  of 
their  persecutors,  and  to  suffer  for  tiie  maintenance  of  their  rights  as 
men,  and  their  obligation  as  Christians. 

1670.  In  London,  after  some  weeks'  trial  of  violent  exclusion  of 
Friends  from  their  meeting-houses,  beating  of  drums  to  drown  the 
voice  of  the  speakers,  and  barbarous  abuse  of  those  who  met  in  th.e 
streets,  without  any  prospect  of  being  successful  in  I  heir  cxtei-mi- 
iiating  intentions,  it  was  resolved  by  the  church  j:)arty  to  try  other 
measures.  A  clergyman  was  appointed  to  attend  at  Grace-church 
Street  meeting-house,  and  conduct  service  there  in  accordance  with 
the  manner  of  the  "  Established  Church."  Accordingly,  accompanied 
by  a  guard  of  soldiers,  he  repaired  to  the  place,  drawing  a  crowd  of 
idle  rabble  after  him  ;  whose  curiosity  prompted  them  to  witness 
"  the  Episcopal  service"  conducted  by  a  priest  in  a  Quaker  meet- 
ing-house. His  first  sermon  was  on  Love  and  Charity,  and  when 
he  got  through,  George  Whitehead  stood  up,  and  preached  on  the 
same  virtues ;  showing  how  inconsistent  persecution  for  religion, 
which  Friends  were  then  enduring,  was  with  those  virtues.  He 
was  pulled  down,  carried  before  the  Lord  Mayor,  and  though  he 
pleaded  that  even  according  to  the  late  Act  it  was  a  lawful  as- 
sembly, and  that  no  one  denied  he  had  preached  the  gospel,  yet  the 
Mayor  said,  that  as  soon  as  the  priest  had  done,  it  became  a  con- 
venticl-e,  and  though  he  believed  he  (G.  W.)  had  done  good,  yet 
he  fined  him  forty  pounds. 

When  the  priest  came  to  the  meeting-house  on  the  next  First- 
day,  he  found  Friends  already  assembled,  and  holding  their  meet- 
ing in  the  court.  His  heart  failed  him,  and  he  held  back,  until  a 
double  guard  of  soldiers  were  brought;  Avho  made  way  for  him  to 
the  door  of  the  house;  but  some  of  the  mob  assembled  to  see  the 
"sport,"  deriding  liim,  he  slunk  away.  The  next  meeting-day,- the 
soldiers  went  by  the  time  it  was  light  in  the  morning,  and  prevented 
Friends  from  entering  their  house,  or  assembling  in  the  court ;  and 
so  the  priest  had  the  "  service  "  all  his  own  way,  with  the  few  auxili- 
aries who  were  willing  to  hear  him.     Thus  by  picketing  the  street 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  451 

and  court  with  soldiers,  and  arresting  the  Friends  who  came  into  it, 
the  priest  managed  to  go  through  his  performance  iu  the  gallery  of 
the  meeting-house,  for  three  or  four  weeks ;  but  as  he  could  get  uo 
respectable  audience,  it  was  obliged  to  be  given  up. 

Exasperated  at  finding  the  ill  success  attending  the  infliction  of 
fines,  imprisonments,  beatings  and  other  inhumanities,  for  keeping 
Friends  from  assembling  for  the  purpose  of  Divine  worship,  an  order 
was  adopted  by  the  King  and  Council,  on  the  29th  of  the  Seventh 
month,  1670,  Saudcroft,  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  being  pres- 
ent, to  demolish  the  meetiug-house  at  Horsleydowa,  in  South  wark  ; 
and  Christopher  Wren,  "Surveyor-General  of  his  Majesty's  Works," 
was  directed  to  execute  it.  The  congregation  worshipping  there  had 
been  continually  subjected  to  the  brutality  and  vile  indecencies  of 
the  soldiery  let  loose  upon  them ;  but  with  an  undeviating  con- 
stancy and  humble  trust,  had  persevered  in  obeying  God  rather 
than  man ;  submitting  patiently  to  be  despoiled  of  their  goods, 
and  to  undergo  whatever  else  the  wrath  of  man  was  ])ermitted  to 
impose  upon  them.  The  destruction  of  their  meeting-house  was  an 
act  of  mere  arbitrary  power,  and  the  military  were  employed  in 
carrying  it  out.  On  the  20th  of  the  Eighth  month,  a  company  of 
soldiers,  with  carpenters  and  others,  went  to  the  place  and  pulled 
down  the  whole  house;  carting  away  the  windows,  doors,  lumber, 
&c. ;  which  were  sold,  and  the  money  kept.  The  next  meeting-day, 
the  Friends  met  on  the  rubbish  of  their  demolished  house,  and  held 
their  meeting,  until  they  were  assaulted  by  the  soldiery,  beaten,  and 
dragged  away. 

The  precedent  thus  set,  John  Robinson,  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower, 
so  far  as  appeai-s,  of  his  own  will  and  authority,  first  broke  up,  or 
carried  away  all  the  forms  from  Friends'  meeting-house  at  Ratclifi'; 
and  finding  that  Friends  continued  to  meet  there,  tlioiigh  witliout 
benches  to  sit  on,  he  sent  his  soldiers,  who  made  a  wreck  of  the 
whole  house ;  carrying  away  in  carts  such  portions  as  could  be 
made  further  use  of,  or  might  be  sold.  But  here,  as  at  Horsley- 
down,  Friends  did  not  neglect  to  meet  on  the  ruins,  or  as  near  as 
the  infuriated  soldiers  would  allow  them  to  come,  and  so  kept  up 
their  meetings ;  where  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  be  with  them,  and 
to  give  them  to  partake  of  his  blessed  love  and  peace  in  the  presence 
of  tlieir  enemies.     [1670.] 

It  would  swell  this  work  far  beyond  its  pn^scribed  limits,  to  nar- 
rate a  tithe  of  the  grievous  sufterings  endured  by  Friends,  during 
this  season  of  bitter  persecution.     Tlieir  treatment  in  London,  bad 


452  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

as  it  was,  was  tlioiiglit  to  be  less  severe  than  in  many  other  parts  of 
the  kingdom.  Yet  in  that  city,  it  was  a  common  occurrence  for 
those  who  attended  their  meetings  for  worship,  to  be  beaten  with 
the  muskets  of  tlie  foot-soldiers,  and  the  sabres  of  the  dragoons, 
until  the  blood  ran  down  upon  the  ground;  women,  sometimes 
young  maidens,  were  maltreated  in  the  most  shameful  manner; 
sometimes,  fastened  by  a  rope  to  the  saddlebow  of  the  horseman, 
and  made  to  run,  or  be  thus  dragged  through  the  streets ;  some- 
times, after  beating  the  unresisting  sufferers,  the  soldiers  would 
shovel  up  mud  and  iilth  out  of  the  kennels  and  dash  it  over  their 
persons ;  and  in  cases  where  the  citizens,  alarmed,  or  ashamed  at 
the  inhuman  treatment  by  the  savage  soldiers,  opened  their  doors 
to  bring  their  inoffensive  victims  under  shelter,  or  in  other  ways 
attempted  to  befriend  them,  they  only  brought  upon  themselves 
abuse  and  loss,  by  the  resentment  they  incurred.  Friends  repre- 
sented to  the  Magistrates  the  illegality  of  the  course  usurped  by  the 
military,  and  some  of  them  attempted  to  put  a  stop  to  it ;  but  their 
authority  —  if  it  was  exerted  in  good  faith  —  was  disregarded,  and 
the  violence  and  outrage  went  on. 

In  order  to  find  excuse  for  legally  imposing  longer  imprisonment 
upon  Friends,  the  Magistrates  of  London  resolved  to  have  those 
taken  at  their  meetings,  indicted  for  riot.  On  the  14th  of  the 
Eighth  month,  1670,  William  Penn  and  William  Mead  were  taken 
from  the  meeting  held  in  the  street,  as  near  to  Grace-church  meet- 
ing-house as  they  could  get ;  the  former  being  engaged  in  ministry 
at  tlie  time.  They  were  brought  to  trial  on  the  1st  of  the  Ninth 
month,  before  the  Mayor  —  Samuel  Starling,  —  the  Recorder  — 
John  Howell, — several  Aldermen  and  the  Sheriffs.  Wm.  Mead 
had  formerly  been  a  Captain  in  the  Commonwealth's  army,  but 
having  embraced  the  truths  of  the  Gospel  as  held  by  Friends,  he  of 
course  gave  up  all  connection  with  military  life,  and  is  mentioned 
in  the  indictment,  as  a  linen-draper,  in  London;  though  it  is  prob- 
able he  resided  most  of  his  time  in  Essex,  wdiere  he  had  a  consider- 
able landed  estate.  He  afterwards  married  a  daughter  of  Margaret 
Fell. 

Tlie  indictment  charged  that  they,  with  other  persons,  to  the 
number  of  three  hundred,  with  force  and  arms,  unlawfully  and 
tumultuously  assembled  together  on  the  15th  day  of  August,  1670, 
and  the  said  William  Penn,  by  agreement  made  beforehand  with 
William  Mead,  preached  and  spoke  to  the  assembly;  by  reason 
whereof,  a  great  concourse  and  tumult  of  people  continued  a  long 


SEVENTEEXTH    CEN"TUEY.  453 

time  in  the  street,  in  contempt  of  the  King  and  his  hiw,  to  the  gi-eat 
disturbance  of  his  peace,  and  to  the  terror  of  many  of  his  liege 
people  and  subjects. 

The  character  of  the  trial  might  be  judged  by  the  first  incident 
that  occurred.  Being  brought  before  the  Court  on  the  3d  of  the 
Ninth  month,  an  officer  took  off  their  hats  on  their  entrance ; 
whereupon  the  Mayor  angrily  ordered  him  to  put  them  on  again; 
which  being  done,  the  Recorder  fined  them  forty  marks  apiece,  for 
alleged  contempt  of  Court,  by  appearing  before  it  with  their  hats 
on.  This  trial  has  become  celebrated,  not  only  on  account  of  the 
ability  with  which  William  Penn  —  then  in  his  twenty-sixth  year 
—  defended  his  cause,  and  sustained  the  inalienable  rights  of  Eng- 
lishmen, but  for  the  inflexible  firmness  of  the  jury  in  maintaining 
their  own  rights,  and  adhering  to  their  conscientious  convictions; 
notwithstanding  the  iniquitous  determination  of  the  Court,  to  en- 
foi'ce  its  own  will,  to  convict  and  punish  the  prisoners  at  the  bar, 
and  to  oblige  the  jury  to  become  their  tools  for  that  purpose. 

The  indictment  was  incorrect,  even  in  the  statement  of  the  time 
when  the  oflfence  was  said  to  have  taken  place ;  as  it  was  on  the 
14th  of  the  month,  and  not  on  the  15th,  and  therefore  it  ought  to 
have  been  quashed  by  the  Court,  and  the  prisoners  discharged. 
The  evidence  of  the  three  witnesses  examined,  Avas  altogether  in- 
conclusive, but  William  Penn  boldly  said  to  the  Court,  "  We  con- 
fess ourselves  to  be  so  far  from  recanting  or  declining  to  vindicate 
the  assembling  of  ourselves,  to  preach,  pray  or  worship  the  eternal, 
holy,  just  God,  that  we  declare  to  all  the  world,  that  Ave  do  believe 
it  to  be  our  indispensable  duty  to  meet  incessantly  on  so  good  an 
account;  nor  shall  all  the  powers  upon  earth  be  able  to  divert  us 
from  reverencing  and  adoring  the  God  who  made  us."  He  then 
asked  the  Court,  to  tell  him  upon  what  law  the  indictment  and  pro- 
ceedings were  founded.  The  Recorder  answering,  the  coinmon  law, 
Penn  requested  him  to  tell  him,  what  law  that  was;  for  if  it  was 
common,  it  must  be  easy  to  define  it.  But  the  Recorder  refused  to 
tell  him,  saying  it  was  lex  noii  Hcripta,  and  it  was  not  to  be  ex- 
pected that  he  could  say  at  once  what  it  was,  for  some  had  been 
thirty  or  forty  years  studying  it.  Penn  observed,  that  Lord  Coke 
had  declared  that  common  law  was  common  right,  and  common 
right  the  great  chartered  privileges  confirmed  by  former  Kings. 
The  Recorder,  greatly  excited,  told  him  he  was  a  troublesome 
fellow,  and  it  was  not  to  the  honor  of  the  Court  to  sutler  him  to  go 
on;  but  Penn  calmly  insisted  tliat  the  (youi-t  was  bound  to  cxphiin 


454  FR-IEXDS     IN    THE 

to  the  prisoners  at  tlu'ir  har,  the  law  tlicy  liad  violatod,  and  upon 
which  thcv  were  being  trii'd  ;  and  he  tohl  tliein  phiinly  tliat  unless 
tliey  did  so,  tliey  were  violatini^  the  eliartereil  rights  of  Englishmen, 
and  acting  upon  an  arbitrary  determination  to  sacrifice  those  rights, 
to  their  own  illegal  designs.  Whereupon  the  Mayor  and  Recorder 
ordered  him  to  be  turned  into  the  bail-dock.  W.  Penn  — "  These 
are  but  so  many  vain  exclamations  ;  is  this  justice  or  true  judgment  ? 
Must  I,  therefore,  be  taken  away  because  I  plead  for  the  funda- 
mental laws  of  England?  Then  addressing  himself  to  the  jury,  he 
said,  '  However,  this  I  leave  upon  your  consciences  who  are  of  the 
jury,  and  my  sole  judges,  that  if  these  ancient  fundamental  laws 
which  relate  to  liberty  and  property,  and  are  not  limited  to  par- 
ticular persuasions  in  matters  of  religion,  must  not  be  indispensably 
maintained  and  observed,  wiio  can  say  he  hath  right  to  the  coat 
upon  his  back.  Certainly  our  liberties  are  openly  to  be  invaded, 
our  children  enslaved,  our  families  ruined,  and  our  estates  led  away 
in  triumph,  by  every  sturdy  beggar  and  malicious  informer,  as  their 
troi>hies,  but  our  pretended  forfeits  for  conscience-sake.  The  Lord 
of  heaven  and  earth  will  be  judge  between  us  in  this  matter.'  The 
hearing  of  this  emphatic  speech  was  so  troublesome  to  the  Recorder, 
that  he  cried,  '  Be  silent  there.'  At  which  W.  Penn  returned,  '  I 
am  not  to  be  silent  in  a  cause  wherein  I  am  so  much  concerned, 
and  not  only  myself,  but  many  ten  thousand  families  besides.'" 

Penn  being  thrust  into  the  l>ail-<loek,  Wra.  Mead  was  called  up, 
and  was  asked  if  he  W'as  present  at  the  meeting?  AVhich  question  he 
I'efused  to  answer,  on  the  ground  that  he  could  not  be  required  to 
accuse  himself.  He  then  told  the  jury  that  the  indictment  was  false 
in  many  particulars,  and  that  Wm.  Penn  was  right  in  demanding 
tlie  law  upon  which  it  was  based.  It  charged  him  with  assembling 
by  force  and  arms,  tumultuously  and  illegally,  which  was  untrue  ; 
and  he  informed  them  of  Lord  Coke's  definition  of  a  rout  or  riot,  or 
unlawful  assembly.  Here  the  Recorder  interrupted  him,  and  en- 
deavored to  cast  ridicule  on  what  he  had  said,  by  taking  off  his  hat 
and  saying,  "  I  thank  you  for  telling  us  what  the  law  is."  On  Mead 
replying  sharply  to  a  taunting  speech  of  Richard  Brown,  the  old 
and  inveterate  enemy  of  Friends,  the  Mayor  told  him  "  He  deserved 
to  have  his  tongue  cut  out."  He,  too,  was  put  into  the  bail-dock, 
and  the  Court  proceeded  to  charge  the  jury.  Whereupon,  Wm, 
Penn  cried  out  with  a  loud  voice  to  the  jury,  to  take  notice,  that  it 
was  illegal  to- charge  the  jury  in  the  prisoners'  absence,  and  without 
giving  them  opportunity  to  plead  their  cause.    The  Recorder  ordered 


SEVENTEENTH     CENTURY.  455 

him  to  be  put  down.  Wm.  Mead  tlieii  remonstrating  against  such 
"  barbarous  and  unjust  proceedings,"  the  Court  ordered  them  both  to 
be  put  into  a  filtliy,  stinking  phice,  called  "  the  hole."  After  an  ab- 
sence of  an  hour  and  a  half,  eight  of  the  jury  came  down  agreed, 
but  four  stayed  u|)  and  would  not  assent.  The  Court  sent  for  the 
four,  and  menaced  them  for  dissenting.  When  the  jury  was  all 
together,  the  prisoners  were  brought  to  the  bar,  and  the  verdict 
demanded.  The  Foreman  said,  Wm.  Penu  was  guilty  of  speaking 
in  Grace-church  Street.  The  Court  endeavored  to  extort  some- 
thing more,  but  the  Foreman  declared  he  was  not'  authorized  to 
say  anything  but  what  he  had  given  in.  The  Recorder,  highly 
displeased,  told  them  they  might  as  well  say  nothing,  and  they  were 
sent  back.  They  soon  returned  with  a  written  verdict,  signed  by 
all  of  them,  that  they  found  Wm.  Penn  guilty  of  speaking  or  preach- 
ing in  Grace-church  Street,  and  Wm.  Mead  not  guilty.  This  so 
incensed  the  Court,  that  they  told  them  they  would  have  a  verdict 
they  would  accept,  and  that  "  they  should  be  locked  up  without 
meat,  drink,  fire  or  tobacco  ;  you  shall  not  think  thus  to  abuse  the 
Court.  We  will  have  a  verdict,  by  the  help  of  God,  or  you  shall 
starve  for  it."  Against  this  outrageous  infraction  of  justice  and  right, 
Wm.  Penn  remonstrated,  saying,  "My  jury,  who  are  my  judges, 
ought  not  to  be  thus  menaced  ;  their  verdict  should  be  free,  and  not 
compelled ;  the  Bench  ought  to  wait  upon  them,  but  not  forestall 
them.  I  do  desire  that  justice  may  be  done  me,  and  that  the  arbi- 
trary resolves  of  the  Bench  may  not  be  made  the  measure  of  my 
jury's  verdict."  The  Recorder  cried  out,  "  Stop  that  prating  fellow's 
mouth  or  put  him  out  of  Court."  Penn  insisted  that  the  agreement 
of  the  twelve  men  was  a  verdict,  and  that  the  Clerk  of  the  Court 
should  record  it;  and,  addressing  the  jury,  he  said,  "  You  are  Eng- 
lishmen; mind  your  privileges  ;  give  not  away  your  right!"  To 
which  some  of  them  replied,  "  Nor  will  w'e  ever  do  it." 

The  jury  were  sent  to  their  room,  and  the  prisoners  to  jail,  the 
former  being  deprived  of  food,  drink,  and  every  accommodation. 
The  same  verdict  w'as  returned  the  next  morning ;  calling  from  the 
Bench  upbraiding  and  threats,  similar  to  those  so  lavishly  bestowed 
on  the  jury  before;  the  Recorder,  in  his  passion,  going  so  far  as  to 
say,  "  Till  now,  I  never  understood  the  reason  of  the  policy  and 
prudence  of  the  Spaniards  :n  suffering  the  Inquisition  among  them  ; 
and  certainly,  it  will  never  be  well  with  us  till  something  like  the 
Spanish  Inquisition  be  in  England."  Again  the  jury  was  sent  back 
to  their  room,  and  the  prisoners  returned  to  Newgate;  both  being 


456  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

t;o  kept  for  aiiotlier  twenty-four  hours;  the  jury  without  victuals, 
drink,  or  other  accommodations.  The  next  morning  tliey  were  again 
brought  into  Court,  and  the  u  ual  question  respecting  tlieir  verdict 
being  put,  the  Foreman  first  replied,  "  You  have  our  written  verdict 
already."  The  Recorder  refusing  to  allow  it  to  be  read,  the  Clerk 
rei)eated  the  query  :  How  say  you,  is  Wu).  Penn  guilty  or  not  guilty  ? 
the  Foreman  answered  :  Not  guilty.  The  same  verdict  was  given  in 
the  case  of  Wm.  Mead.  The  jury  being  separately  questioned,  they 
all  made  the  same  reply.  The  Recorder,  exasperated  at  their  de- 
cision and  firmness,  after  pouring  out  his  invectives  upon  them,  said, 
The  Court  fines  you  forty  marks  a  num,  and  imprisonment  till  paid. 

Wm.  Penn  now  demanded  his  liberty  ;  but  the  Mayor  said.  No, 
you  are  in  for  your  fines.  "Fines!  for  what?"  replied  Penn.  For 
contempt  of  Court,  was  the  answer.  Pwm  then  declared,  that  ac- 
cording to  the  laws,  no  man  could  be  fined  without  trial  by  jury  ; 
but  the  Mayor  ordered  him  and  Mead  first  to  the  bail-dock,  and 
then  to  the  jail ;  where  the  jury  was  likewise  consigned. 

But  this  noble  stand  of  the  jury  for  law  and  right  was  not  allowed 
to  terminate  in  the  })unishmeut  of  these  upright  men,  and  the  con- 
tinued gratification  of  the  revenge  of  the  unjust  Judges.  After  in- 
ettectually  demanding  of  the  Court  their  release  two  or  three  times, 
a  writ  of  habeas  corpus  was  granted  by  Judge  Vaughan  ;  who  upon 
hearing  tlie  case,  decided  their  fine  and  imprisonment  illegal,  and 
set  them  free. 

William  Penn,  anxious  to  have  the  cases  of  himself  and  his  frien(1 
reviewed  by  a  Superior  Court,  wrote  to  his  father;  affectionately 
desiring  him  not  to  interfere  to  have  him  released.  But  the  old 
man,  who  was  fast  declining,  and  anxious  to  have  the  company  and 
attentions  of  his  son,  to  whom  he  was  not  only  reconciled,  but  on 
whose  filial  affection  and  care  he  had  learned  to  lean  for  comfort 
and  supj)ort,  was  not  willing  to  wait  the  tardy  process  of  law ;  and 
therefore  paid  the  fines  of  both  the  Friends,  and  had  them  set  free. 
The  Admiral  survived  but  a  lew  days  the  liberation  of  his  son  ;  in 
which  time  he  sent  one  of  his  friends  to  the  King  and  Duke  of  York, 
to  make  his  dying  request,  that,  so  far  as  they  could,  they  would 
hereafter  befriend  his  loved  son  ;  which  both  pron)ised  to  do.  Ad- 
dressing his  son,  shortly  before  his  death,  he  said,  "Son  William, 
if  you  and  your  friends  keep  to  your  plain  way  of  preaching,  and 
your  plain  way  of  living,  you  will  make  an  end  of  the  priests  to  the 
end  of  the  world."  Again  —  sensible  it  is  probable  of  the  wrong  he 
had  before  committed  in  his  course  towards  his  son  —  he  said  em- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  457 

pliatically,  "  Let  nothing  in  tlie  world  tempt  you  to  wrong  your 
conscience.  I  charge  you,  do  nothing  against  your  conscience ;  so 
vou  will  keep  peace  at  home,  which  will  be  a  feast  to  you  in  the 
day  of  trouble." 

Near  the  close  of  this  year  [1670],  William  Penn  was  again  ar- 
rested, at  Wheeler  Street  meeting,  by  some  of  the  officers  of  Robin- 
son, Lieutenant  of  the  Tower,  who  had  sent  them  there  for  the 
purpose,  and  he  was  taken  before  him.  His  examination,  as  pub- 
lished, shows  his  Christian  courage  and  firmness,  as  he  exposed  the 
duplicity  of  Robinson,  in  his  profession  of  friendship  for  him  ;  and 
asserted  his  innocence  of  the  charges  made  against  him.  He  was 
sent  to  Newgate  for  six  months;  during  which  time  he  drew  up  an 
account  of  the  memorable  trial  at  the  Old  Bailey  ;  also  several  dis- 
sertations which  were  afterwards  published  as  tracts :  one  of  these 
was,  "  The  great  Case  of  Liberty  of  Conscience,  once  more  briefly 
Debated,  and  Defended  by  authority  of  Scripture,  Reason,  and 
Antiquity." 

At  the  same  session  of  the  Court,  which  had  acted,  as  has  been 
narrated,  in  the  cases  of  Penn  and  Mead,  there  were  thirteen  other 
Friends  tried;  among  whom  was  Thomas  Rudyard  ;  who  being  well 
instructed  in  the  law,  and  versed  in  the  application  of  it,  had  ren- 
dered himself  very  obnoxious  to  the  Magistrates,  by  repeatedly  and 
successfully  extricating  Friends  from  their  grasp,  whom  they  were 
endeavoring  illegally  to  punish.  Twice  they  had  had  him  arrested 
and  imprisoned,  with  the  hope  he  could  thus  be  kept  out  of  their 
way ;  but  both  times  he  was  set  free  bj^  due  process  of  law.  Now 
he  was  taken  at  meeting,  and  with  other  Friends,  was  to  be  tried  on 
indictments  similar  to  those  of  Penn  and  Mead.  The  Court  having 
sent  the  first  jury  to  jail,  proceeded  to  have  another  empanelled  ; 
taking  care  to  have  men  on  it  who  they  knew  would  not  be  likely 
to  thwart  their  designs.  The  prisoners  claimed,  that  as  the  former 
jury  had  been  sworn  to  try  their  cases,  no  other  could  legally  have 
their  cases  brought  before  them.  To  this  the  Court  would  give  no 
other  reply  than  that  it  overruled  the  objection  ;  and  when  several 
of  the  jurors  were  challenged,  as  being  incompetent  and  unfit  to  try 
the  case,  the  same  reply  was  made.  One  of  the  prisoners  saying, 
that  such  an  answer  was  arbitrary,  unless  it  was  shown  to  be 
founded  on  law,  the  Recorder  told  him  he  sliould  bo  gagged,  and 
deserved  to  have  his  tongue  bored  through  with  a  red-hot  iron. 
The  same  kind  of  treatment  as  had  nuirkcnl  th(!ir  former  proceed- 
ing, was  indulged  t<;wards  these  Friends ;  their  hats  were  taken  off" 


458  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

by  an  offietT,  then  by  order  of  the  Court  put  on,  and  they  fined  for 
contempt,  and  at  the  conclusion  of  the  evidence,  on  attcnii)ting  to 
))h>a(l  in  their  own  defence,  they  were  thrust  into  tlie  bail-ih)cU  ;  the 
jury  was  charfred  while  they  were  thus  absent  from  the  Court,  the 
Recorder  instructing  it,  they  must  bring  tliem  in  guilty  ;  which  it 
was  quite  ready  to  do. 

When,  at  the  close  of  the  session,  the  j)ris()ners  were  brought  into 
Court  to  receive  sentence,  they  were  prepared  with  exceptions  to 
arrest  judgment ;  but  they  found  the  sentences  had  already  been 
given  ;  and  without  their  knowing  what  the  sentences,  thus  passed 
in  secret,  were,  they  were  huri-ied  back  to  jail.  They  afterwards 
discovered  that  fines  of  different  amounts  had  been  imposed,  and 
imprisonment  until  paid.  To  gratify  the  special  hatred  towards 
Thomas  Rudyard,  his  fine  was  one  hundred  pounds. 

But  Newgate  was  so  crowded  with  prisoners,  there  was  no  room 
to  receive  these  just  condemned,  and  regardless  as  the  Magistrates 
were  of  the  suffering  resulting  from  over-crammed  apartments,  they 
found  it  absolutely  necessary  to  procure  another  place  for  the  safe- 
keeping of  these  innocent  convicts.  Learning  that  the  keeper  of 
a  place  called  "  The  Dog,"  near  Newgate,  and  a  person  who  had 
been  confined  there,  had  just  died  of  Spotted  Fever,  that  place  was 
selected  to  confine  these  Friends  in ;  an<l  strict  orders  were  given 
not  to  allow  any  one  of  them  to  go  out  on  any  occasion.  The  pre- 
vious course  of  the  Magistrates  gave  rise  to  the  suspicion  that  this 
place  was  chosen  Avith  a  hope  that  the  contagious  disease  of  which 
the  two  had  died,  might  be  still  lurking  about  the  premises,  and 
thus  assist  the  authorities  in  getting  rid  of  some  of  the  Quakers, 
whom  they  found  it  impossible  otherwise  to  destroy.  Be  that  as  it 
may,  their  victims  were  preserved  in  health,  it  may  have  been,  to 
their  chagrin  and  disappointment ;  certainly  beyond  the  expe(;ta- 
tion  of  the  prisoners'  friends. 

Thus,  iniquity  and  violence  exalted  themselves  in  what  ought  to 
have  been  courts  of  justice ;  and  so  far  were  the  actors  from  shame 
or  condemnation  —  knowing  that  the  last  Conventicle  Act  was  de- 
signed to  entrap  and  oppress  honest  people,  who  dared  to  dissent 
from  the  "Episcopal  Church,"  and  to  encourage  the  protection  of 
all  who  were  base  enough  to  violate  justice  and  truth  in  order, to 
effect  the  end  designed  —  that  a  short  time  after  these  memorable 
trials,  tlie  Court  of  Magistrates  voted  one  hundred  pounds,  as  a  gift 
to  Alderman  Brown,  for  his  valuable  services  at  that  session  of  the 
Old  Bailey. 


SEVENTEE]S^TH    CENTURY.  459 

Ro1)iiison,  Lieuteuant  of  the  Tower,  having,  as  stated,  destroyed 
Friends'  meeting-house  at  Ratcliff,  decided  to  pursue  the  same 
course  with  that  in  Wheeler  street.  The  members  becoming  aware 
of  this  determination,  some  of  them  waited  on  him,  requesting  suffi- 
cient delay  to  allow  of  their  communicating  his  intention  to  the 
owner  ;  who  was  then  in  the  North  of  England.  This  w\as  granted  ; 
but  he  assured  them  that  if  the  owner  did  not  come  before  him  in 
three  Aveeks,  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  would  not  leave  one  stone 
of  the  house  upon  another.  The  owner  was  Gilbert  Latey,  who 
was  sent  for  as  fast  as  was  then  possible.  Upon  learning  the  danger 
in  which  the  house  stood,  he  at  once  had  it  formally  leased  to  a 
Friend,  who  took  possession  of  it  as  his  tenant.  All  the  necessary 
arrangements  having  been  legally  made,  Gilbert  appeared  before 
Robinson  prior  to  the  expiratioii  of  the  apjjointed  time;  when  the 
following  conversation  is  reported  to  have  taken  place: 

"  Robinson.  —  So  you  are  the  owner  of  this  place  ? 

Gilbert. —  I  am  ;  and  of  several  others  too. 

Robinson.  —  How  dare  you  own  any  meeting-house,  contrary  to 
the  King's  law? 

Gilbert.  —  I  owned  that  meeting-house  before  the  King  had  any 
such  law. 

Robinson.  —  I  find  you  are  a  pretty  fellow;  and  pray  who  lives 
in  the  meeting-house  ? 

Gilbert.  —  My  tenant. 

Robinson.  —  Your  tenant !     What  is  your  tenant  ? 

Gilbert.  —  One  that  I  thought  good  to  grant  a  lease  to. 

Robinson. — Then  you  have  a  tenant  that  has  taken  a  lease  from 
you. 

Gilbert.— Yes." 

Robinson  now  saw  that  he  was  completely  foiled,  and  turning  to 
the  other  Friends  who  were  present,  said,  "  I  think  you  have  now- 
fitted  me.  You  have  brought  a  fellow  to  your  purpose.  Had  your 
friends  been  all  as  wise  as  this  fellow,  you  might  have  had  your 
other  meeting-houses  as  well  as  this." 

Taking  the  hint  from  this  circumstance,  Friends  took  the  same 
course  with  other  meeting-houses,  and  thus  preserved  them  from 
destruction  by  the  governmental  authorities. 

It  is  c(!rtainly  a  remarkable  circumstance,  that  iiotwitlisLanding 
all  the  elaborate  pains  taken  by  the  vindictive  churchmen  and  venal 
Parliament,  seconded  l)y  a  faithless  King  and  a  profligale  Court,  to 
force  Dissenters  into  a  hypocritical  conformity  with  the  "  cliurch" 


460  F  n  I  K  X  I>  S     IX    T  II  E 

establi.shod  by  law  ;  and  tlic  (It'ii'nult'd  character  of  llic  iiieu  Uioy 
enlisted  as  instruments  to  carry  their  cunningly  devised  scheme  into 
effect ;  the  havoc  that  was  made  of  the  means  of  subsistence,  and  the 
suffering  inflicted  by  every  means  of  punishment  at  tlie  command  of 
their  enemies,  yet  Fri(!iids  boldly  and  unflinchingly  endured  it  all, 
rather  than  abate  one  jot  in  the  maintenance  of  their  right  to  wor- 
ship the  Almighty  according  to  the  dictates  of  their  consciences. 
Through  the  conflict,  far  more  galling  to  the  s|)irit  of  a  man  than 
physical  warfare,  that,  with  brief  intervals,  lasted  for  years,  they 
kept  the  banner,  given  them  to  display  because  of  the  Truth,  con- 
stantly aloft,  and  finally  secured  the  triumphof  religious  liberty,  by 
wearing  out  the  wrath  and  cruelty  of  their  oppressors  with  meek- 
ness, patience,  and  long-suffering  endurance. 

The  testimony  of  Neal,  given  in  his  history  of  the  Puritans,  may 
be  again  cited  as  coming  from  one  who  was  far  from  being  preju- 
diced in  favor  of  Friends :  it  is  partly  quoted  from  Burnet.  He 
says,  referring  to  the  time  of  which  we  have  been  treating,  "  The 
beliavior  of  the  Quakers  was  very  extraordinary,  and  had  something 
in  it  that  looked  like  the  spirit  of  martyrdom.  They  met  at  the 
same  places  and  hour  as  in  times  of  liberty,  and  Avhen  the  oflicers 
came  to  seize  them,  none  of  them  would  stir:  they  went  altogetiier 
to  ])rison  ;  they  stayed  there  till  they  were  dismissed  ;  for  they  would 
not  petition  to  be  set  at  liberty,*  nor  pay  the  fines  set  upon  them, 
nor  so  much  as  the  prison  fees.  When  they  were  discharged,  they 
went  to  their  meeting-houses  again  as  before,  and  when  the  doors 
were  shut  up  by  order,  they  assembled  in  great  numbers  in  the 
street  before  the  doors ;  saying  they  would  not  be  ashamed  nor 
afraid  to  own  their  meeting  together,  in  a  peaceable  mann(;r,  to 
worship  God  :  but  in  imitation  of  the  Prophet  Daniel,  they  would  do 
it  more  publicly,  because  they  wei'e  forbid.  Some  called  this  obsti- 
nacy, others  firmness  ;  but  by  it  they  carried  their  point,  the  govern- 
ment being  weary  of  contending  against  so  much  perverseness." 
The  last  word  shows  this  was  written  in  no  laudatory  spirit;  but 
it  cannot  depreciate  the  inflexible  Christian  conduct  that  extorted 
such  a  testimony. 

There  being  a  little  abatement  in  the  heat  of  persecution  in  Lon- 
don, George  Fox,  towards  the  latter  part  of  1670,  travelled  through 
dittl'rent  parts  of  the  country,  inciting  and  encouraging  Fi'iends  to 
faithfulness  in  the  maintenance  of  their  meetings,  and   patient  en- 

*  This  is  a  mistake,  as  tliey  repeatedly  presented  their  siifiering  case  to  tlie 
King. 


SEVEXTEENTH    CEXTURY.  461 

^  durance  of  the  suffering  brought  upon  them  therefor.  Before  re- 
^  turning  to  London,  he  was  taken  sick,  and  his  nervous  system  be- 
came so  affected,  that  he  lost  both  sight  and  hearing.  He  believed 
this  sickness  was  partly  in  consequence  of  the  baptism  of  his 
sjiirit  into  a  sense  of  the  condition  of  those  who  were  oppressing 
the  truth  and  Friends ;  whom  he  designates  as  "  man-eaters."  He 
says,  "  I  was  sensible  I  had  a  travail  to  go  through,  and  therefore 
desired  that  none  but  solid,  weighty  Friends,  might  be  about  me. 
Under  great  sufferings  and  travails,  sorrows  and  oppressions,  I  lay 
for  several  weeks  ;  whereby  I  was  brought  so  low  and  weak  in  body, 
that  few  thought  I  could  live.  Some  that  were  with  me,  went  away, 
saying,  '  They  would  not  see  me  die  ;'  and  it  was  reported  both  in 
London  and  in  the  country,  t!iat  I  was  deceased  ;  but  I  felt  tlie 
Lord's  power  inwardly  supporting  me."  AYlien  so  far  recovered 
that  he  began  to  have  perception  of  light,  he  requested  to  be  taken 
in  a  carriage,  slowly  from  place  to  place  ;  staying  two  or  three  weeks 
at  the  bouse  of  one  Friend  after  another.  In  the  course  of  this  slow- 
moving  from  one  part  of  the  country  to  another,  convalescence  went 
on  ;  but  his  weakness  continued  long  so  great  he  could  hardly  stand. 
A  few  days  before  the  death  of  Amor  Stoddard,  who  had  been  a 
faithful  minister  of  and  sufferer  for  the  Truth,  George  Fox  was 
taken  to  see  him,  and  says,  "  I  was  moved  to  tell  him, '  He  had  been 
faithful  as  a  man,  and  faithful  to  God ;  and  that  the  immortal  Seed 
of  Life  was  his  crown.'  "  He  also  wrote  the  following  epistle  to 
Friends  : 

"  My  dear  Friends  :— The  Seed  is  above  all.  In  it  walk ;  in  which 
ye  all  have  life.  Be  not  amazed  at  the  weather  ;  for  always  the  just 
suffered  by  the  unjust,  but  the  just  had  the  dominion.  All  along 
ye  may  see,  by  faith  the  mountains  were  subdued,  and  the  rage  of 
the  wicked,  with  his  fiery  darts,  were  quenched.  Though  the  waves 
and  storms  be  high,  yet  your  faith  will  keep  you,  so  as  to  swim  above 
them;  for  they  are  but  for  a  time,  and  the  truth  is  without  time. 
Therefore  keep  on  the  mountain  of  holiness,  ye  who  are  led  to  it  by 
the  liglit,  where  nothing  shall  hurt.  Do  not  think  that  anything 
will  outlast  the  truth,  which  standeth  sure;  and  is  over  that  which 
is  out  of  the  truth.  For  the  good  will  overcome  the  evil,  tlie  light 
darkness,  the  life  death,  virtue  vice,  and  righteousness  unrighteous- 
ness. The  false  prophet  cannot  overcome  the  true  ;  but  the  true 
prophet,  Christ,  will  overcome  all  the  false.  So  be  faithful,  and  live 
in  that  which  doth  not  think  the  time  loner.  G.  F." 


462  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

During  all  this  time  Margaret  Fox  was  again  in  jail  at  Lancaster, 
having  been  committed  there  by  order  of  the  King  and  Council,  on^ 
the  old  sentence  of  premunire;  witli  the  consent,  if  not  at  the  insti- 
gation, as  was  believed,  of  her  son  George,  who  was  greatly  exas- 
perated at  his  mother  marrying  George  Fox.  George  Fell  was  a 
barrister,  a  free  liver,  indulging  in  the  manners  and  habits  of  a  man 
of  the  world,  and  not  unfre(iuently  straitened  for  means  to  meet  his 
expenses.  Whether  advised  or  not  oi*  his  mother's  intended  mar- 
riage with  George  Fox,  does  not  ap])ear ;  but  he  became  greatly. 
incensed  when  he  found  it  had  taken  place,  and  at  once  set  to  work 
to  dispossess  her  and  her  daughters  of  Swarthmoor  Hall.  By  the 
will  of  Judge  Fell,  his  widow  was  to  forfeit  her  right  in  the  Hall 
should  she  again  marry,  and  the  daughters  to  come  into  possession 
of  it.  But  the  son,  who  was  greatly  prejudiced  against  them  all, 
because  of  their  having  become  Friends,  was  determined,  if  he  could 
accomplish  it,  to  drive  them  away  from  their  home,  and  obtain  it 
for  himself 


CHAPTEK  XXV. 

Imprisonment  of  I.  Pcnington  and  T.  Ellwood — I.  P.  and  Earl  of  Bridgwater 
■ — Cruel  treatment  by  tlie  latter  of  tlie  former — I.  P.  liberated  by  the  Court 
in  London — Testimony  of  a  fellow  prisoner — Wm.  Dewsbury — His  concern 
for  .J.  Perrot — Great  Imprisonment  of  Friends  in  York — Long  Imprison- 
ment of  W.  Dewsbury  —  Epistle  by  W.  D. — Political  Affairs— Royal  Proc- 
lamation to  suspend  the  Penal  Laws  against  Dissenters  —  Friends  liberated 
from  Prison — Effects  of  their  patient  Suffering — Controversy  with  the  Bap- 
tists—  Dissatisfaction  of  the  People  —  Pi-oclamation  Revoked — Arrest  and 
Imprisonment  of  G.  Fox  —  G.  F.'s  persecution  by  Parker  —  Interviews  with 
G.  F.  ill  prison — Friends  in  Scotland — Alexander  Skene — Queries  addressed 
by  A.  Skene — Efforts  of  the  Clergy  to  suppress  Friends — Judges  in  Scotland 
admit  an  Affirmation  instead  of  an  Oath. 

IT  was  not  only  in  support  of  their  religious  obligation  to  keep  up 
their  meetings  for  Divine  Worship,  against  the  claim  of  tithes, 
and  the  unlawfulness  of  oatlis,  that  Friends  were  called  to  suffer 
grievously  ;  but  for  their  obedience  to  their  divine  Lord  and  Master, 
in  refusing  those  common  and  corrupt  tokens  of  false  honor  to  their 
fellow  mortals,  which  marked  the  habits  and  manners  of  men  of  the 
world,  and  were  intended  to  gratify  pride,  or  promote  self-interest. 
In  1665  Thomas  Ellwood  and  Isaac  Peuino-ton  were  arrested  and 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTUIIY.  463 

committed  to  tlie  common  jail,  while  attending  the  burial  of  a 
Friend  ;  a  Magistrate  of  the  county  choosing  to  construe  the  com- 
pany of  relatives  and  friends  convened  to  pay  the  last  office  of  re- 
spect to  the  departed,  into  a  conventicle.  Coming  up  to  the  proces- 
sion, he  knocked  the  coffined  corpse  off  the  shoulders  of  the  Friends 
■who  were  carrying  it,  into  the  street  of  the  little  town  through  which 
they  were  passing  to  the  graveyard ;  and  it  laid  for  hours  thus  ex- 
posed before  it  was  interred  ;  when  it  was  taken  from  the  widow,  and 
buried  in  what  was  called  the  unconsecrated  portion  of  the  "  Church  " 
ground.  The  Friends  named,  with  eight  others,  who  had  been  in 
attendance  at  the  funeral,  were  kept  in  jail  until  the  assize,  when  the 
Judge  refused  to  hear  their  case,  and  the  Magistrates  who  had  com- 
mitted them,  discharged  them  at  the  end  of  a  month  from  the  time 
of  holding  the  Court,  without  any  trial  having  been  granted  them. 
But  I.  Fenington,  having  had  occasion  to  address  the  Earl  of 
Bridgwater,  the  latter  took  great  offence  because  Isaac,  in  writing 
to  him,  had  not  used  the  term  "My  Lord,"  nor  signed  his  letter 
"  Your  humble  servant ;  "  and  he  determined  to  punish  him  there- 
for. Accordingly,  about  four  weeks  after  his  I'ecent  discharge  from 
the  jail,  1.  Fenington  was  again  arrested  and  committed  to  Ayles- 
bury prison,  on  a  mittimus  granted  by  the  deputy-lieutenant  of  the 
county  ;  which  directed  the  jailer  to  keep  him  in  safe  custody,  during 
the  pleasure  of  the  Earl  of  Bridgwater ;  and  the  Earl  declared  he 
should  "  lie  in  prison  till  he  would  rot,"  unless  he  publicly  apolo- 
gized for  having  addressed  him  as  he  did,  and  again  address  him  as 
his  rank  demanded. 

I.  Penington's  wife  had  not  been  able  to  leave  her  chamber 
since  the  birth  of  their  last  child,  when  her  husband  was  thus  taken 
from  her,  at  the  behest  of  the  proud  Earl ;  and  doubtless  the  separa- 
tion was  a  severe  trial  to  her.  The  following  letter  shows  the  state 
of  miud  to  which  that  meek  and  pure-hearted  husband  had  at- 
tained.    It  was  written  from  the  jail. 

1665.  "  My  dear  true  Love. — I  have  hardly  freedom  to  take  notice 
of  what  hath  passed,  so  much  as  in  my  own  thoughts ;  but  I  am  satis- 
fied in  my  very  heart,  that  the  Lord,  who  is  good,  hath  ordered  things 
thus,  and  will  bring  aljout  what  He  pleaseth  thereby.  Why  should 
the  fleshly-wise,  reasoning  part  murmur,  or  find  fault.  Oh!  be 
silent  before  the  Lord,  all  flesh  within  me!  and  disturb  not  my 
soul  in  waiting  on  my  God,  to  perceive  what  He  is  working  in  me 
and  for  me,  and  which  He  maketh   these  uncouth  occurrences  con- 


464  FRIENDS    I  N    T  II  E 

dace  unto.  One  thing  have  I  de.sircd  of  the  Lord,  even  that  I 
may  be  his;,  perfectly  disposed  of  by  Him,  know  nothing  but  Him, 
onjoy  nothing  but  in  his  life  and  leadings.  Thus  must  I  give  up 
and  part  with  even  thee,  my  most  dear  and  worthy  love,  or  I  can- 
not be  happy  in  my  own  soul,  nor  enjoy  tliee  as  I  desire. 

"I  find  my  heart  deeply  desiring  and  breathing  after  the  pure 
power  of  the  Lord  to  reigu  in  me;  yet  dare  I  not  choose,  but  beg 
to  be  taught  to  wait;  and  to  be  made  willing  to  drink  the  resiilue 
of  the  cup  of  suffering,  both  inward  and  outward,  uniil  the  Lord 
see  fit  to  take  it  from  my  lips.  Oh,  my  dear!  say  little  concerning 
me ;  plead  not  my  cause ;  but  be  still  in  thy  own  spirit,  and  await 
what  the  Lord  will  do  for  me ;  that  all  the  prayers  which,  in  the 
tenderness  of  my  soul,  I  have  often  put  u])  for  thee,  may  have  their 
full  effect  upon  thee.  My  dear,  be  my  true  yoke-fellow,  helpful  to 
draw  my  heart  toward  the  Lord,  and  from  everything  but  what  is 
sanctified  by  the  presence  and  leadings  of  his  life.  I  feel,  and 
thou  kuowest  that  I  am,  very  dearly  thine.  I.  P." 

The  Earl,  knowing  that  as  his  victim  had  broken  no  law,  he 
must  be  liberated  if  brought  before  Court,  and  that  his  friends  were 
fully  expecting  Isaac's  discharge  at  the  next  assizes,  exerted  his  in- 
fluence with  the  Judges  and  other  officers,  and  prevented  his  case 
being  called  for  trial.  This  flagrant  prevention  of  justice  took 
place  at  every  session  of  the  Court  for  at  least  a  year,  and  probably 
more ;  for  I.  Penington  was  committed  in  the  Sixth  month  of 
1665,  and  an  appeal  to  the  Magistrates  on  behalf  of  his  persecuted 
Friends  and  himself,  is  dated  from  the  jail,  near  the  close  of  the 
Fourth  month  of  1666.  Li  this  appeal,  he  says  :  "  I  have  been  and 
still  am  a  patient  sufferer  for  well-doing,  blessing  the  Lord  who  re- 
deemeth  and  preserveth  the  souls  of  his  children  out  of  evil-doing, 
and  who  l)ringeth  his  indignation  and  wrath,  with  great  perplexity 
and  misery,  upon  nations  and  upon  persons,  who  set  themselves  in 
opposition  to  Him." 

It  has  been  mentioned,  that  when  Isaac  Penington's  father  was 
sentenced  for  his  participation  in  the  trial  of  Charles  I.,  all  his 
estate  was  confiscated  to  the  King ;  and  the  greater  part  of  it  had 
been  bestowed  by  the  King  on  the  Duke  of  Grafton.  But  the 
Grange  at  Chalfont  had  not  been  taken  from  his  son  Isaac,  and  he 
had  continued  to  reside  there.  While,  however,  he  was  thus  kept 
a  prisoner,  at  the  instigation  of  some  one  —  and  it  was  believed  to 
have  been  the  Iv.irl  of  Bridgwater — he  was  dispossessed  of  this  home, 


SEVEXTEENTH    CEXTURY.  465 

and  his  family  turned  out  and  obliged  to  seek  a  dwelling  place; 
wherever  the  different  members  could  find  one.  Some  unprincipled 
persons,  who  knew  that  I,  Penington  could  not  take  the  needful 
oath  to  bring  suit  for  money,  due  and  withheld  by  the  debtor,  taking 
advantage  of  his  conscientiousness,  refused  to  pay  him  money  they 
owed  him,  and  thus  completely  impoverished  hira.  In  addition  to 
this,  one  of  his  wife's  relatives,  knowing  that  she  was  bound  by  the 
same  scruples  against  swearing  as  her  husband,  brought  a  suit  to 
dispossess  her  of  great  part  of  the  estate  she  inherited  from  her 
former  husband  ;  had  the  cause  thrown  into  Chancery,  where  there 
was  no  redress  except  upon  an  oath,  and  thus  succeeded  in  rob- 
bing her  of  it,  because  she  could  not  verify  her  just  title,  by  com- 
plying with  the  law.  "  Thus,"  she  says,  "  we  were  stripped  of  my 
husband's  estate,  and  wronged  of  great  part  of  mine.  After  this, 
we  were  tossed  up  and  down  from  place  to  place,  to  our  great 
weariness  and  charge;  seeing  no  place  to  abide  in  in  this  country, 
near  to  meetings  ;  which  had  formerly  been  held  at  our  house  at 
Chalfont."  , 

Some  time  after  the  publication  of  an  address  to  the  Magistrates, 
put  forth  by  I.  Penington,  the  Earl  of  Ancram,  whether  moved  by 
it,  or  by  the  notorious  injustice  committed  on  the  innocent  sufferer, 
interfered,  and  succeeded  in  having  him  discharged  from  jail.  He 
had,  however,  been  liberated  little  more  than  three  weeks,  when  the 
Earl  of  Bridgwater  again  persuaded  the  Deputy  Lord-lieutenant 
to  have  him  arrested,  and  sent  to  Aylesbury  prison.  Apparently 
anxious  to  rid  themselves  of  this  pious,  unresisting  Christian  gen- 
tleman, they  now  had  him  shut  up  in  a  damp,  cramped,  unhealthy 
apartment ;  where  he  was  soon  taken  sick,  and  in  the  course  of  a 
short  time  brought  so  low,  that  his  life  was  despaired  of;  and  it  ap- 
peared as  though  his  implacable  enemies  would  succeed  in  their 
efforts  to  move  him  out  of  the  way.  But  it  pleased  his  heavenly 
Father,  whom  it  was  his  greatest  delight  to  serve,  to  raise  him  up 
from  his  bed  of  languishing,  and  restore  him  to  comparative  health 
and  strength.  The  unprincipled  Earl  was  unrelenting;  he  per- 
sisted in  saying  he  should  apologize  for  not  addressing  him  as  My 
Lord,  and  publicly  give  him  that  title,  and  subscribe  himself  his 
obedient  servant ;  and  none  of  the  Judges  were  willing  to  incur  his 
displeasure,  for  the  sake  of  a  poor  despised  Quaker;  so  that  little 
hope  was  entertained  of  his  again  escaping.  But  a  relative  of  Mary 
Penington,  becoming  acquainted  with  the  circumstances  of  her  hus- 
baud's  unrighteous  persecution,  took  out  a  writ  oi  habeas  corpus,  and 
30 


466  FRIEXI),S    IX    THE 

had  the  case  brought  before  the  Court  in  Loudon  ;  where,  upon  ex- 
amination, there  was  found  to  be  no  charge  recorded  against  him  ; 
there  was  no  cause  to  try,  and  he  was  at  once  set  free.  This  was 
in  1668. 

In  1672,  r.  Penington  liaving  gone  to  visit  some  Friends  who 
were  ])risonei's  in  Reading  jail,  a  ^Magistrate  of  tliat  j)hice  hearing  he 
was  there,  sent  for  him,  and  on  his  appearing  before  him,  tendered 
liim  the  oath  of  alh\giance;  whicli  lie  informing  the  Magistrate  he 
couhl  not  conscientiously  take,  he  was  committed  to  the  prison.  He 
was  kept  there  closely  for  twenty-one  months  ;  when  he  was  liberated 
by  the  King,  at  the  time  he  issued  his  order  to  discharge  all  Friends 
who  were  incarcerated  on  suits  of  the  crown. 

One  of  the  Friends  who  was  a  fellow-sufierer  with  T.  Penington, 
bears  this  testimony  concerning  him  while  he  was  a  prisoner  :  "  Be- 
ing made  willing  by  the  power  of  God,  to  suffer  with  patience,  cheer- 
fulness, contentedness  and  true  nobility  of  spirit,  he  was  a  good  ex- 
ample to  me  and  others.  I  do  not  remember  that  ever  I  saw  him 
cast  down  or  dejected  during  the  time  of  his  close  confinement,  or 
ever  heard  him  speak  hardly  of  those  that  persecuted  him  ;  for  he 
was  of  that  temper  to  love  enemies,  and  to  do  good  to  them  that 
hated  him  ;  having  received  a  measure  of  that  virtue  from  Christ 
his  Master,  that  taught  him  so  to  do.  Indeed  I  may  truly  say,  in 
the  prison  he  was  a  help  to  the  weak,  being  made  instrumental  in 
the  hand  of  the  Lord  for  that  end.  Oh !  the  remembrance  of  the 
glory  that  did  often  overshadow  us  in  the  place  of  our  confinement ; 
so  that  indeed  the  prison  was  made  by  the  Lord,  who  was  power- 
fully with  us,  a  pleasant  palace.  I  was  often,  with  many  more,  by 
those  streams  of  [spiritual]  life,  that  did  many  times  flow  through 
him,  as  a  vessel,  greatly  overcome  with  a  sense  of  the  pure  presence 
and  love  of  God,  that  was  plentifully  spread  abroad  in  our  hearts." 

Although  William  Dewsbury,  when  engaged  in  the  service  of  his 
Lord,  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  appears  to  have  been  greatly 
favored,  and  to  have  had  many  seals  to  the  convincing  power  and 
efiicacy  of  his  ministry,  yet  it  was  jjermitted,  in  divine  wisdom, 
that  he  should  prove  himself  to  be  a  faithful  witness  to  his  full  con- 
viction of  the  divine  origin  and  obligation  of  the  doctrines  he 
preached,  and  the  self-denying  testimonies  he  exemplified  in  his 
daily  life,  by  the  meekness  and  Christian  cheerfulness  with  which 
he  bore  imprisonment  during  nearly  the  whole  of  the  last  twenty- 
five  years  of  his  life.  He  had  been  greatly  distressed  with  the 
course  pursued  by  J.  Perrot,  and  iu  an  epistle  addressed  by  him 


SEVENTEEXTII    CEXTURY.  467 

"  To  all  the  faithful  in  Christ,"  iu  the  year  1663,  the  following  pas- 
sages occur,  "  Oh  !  how  tJid  my  bowels  yearn  for  the  preservation  of 
John  Perrot,  in  doing  what  I  could  to  draw  and  separate  him  from 
that  spirit  which  gave  forth  the  paper  that  propagated  the  keeping 
on  of  the  hat  in  prayer,  and  reflected  upon  those  that  called  upon 
the  name  of  the  Lord  with  their  heads  uncovered.  But  after  much 
counselling  of  him  in  tender  love,  to  stop  that  paper  from  going 
abroad,  and  he  would  not  be  separated  fi'om  that  spirit  which  gave 
it  forth,  I  cleared  my  conscience,  in  the  word  of  the  Lord.  And 
now,  in  my  freedom  in  God,  I  declare  to  the  children  of  Zion,  what 
the  judgment  is  that  did  arise  in  my  heart ;  to  this  purpose  : —  John, 
if  thou  propagate  w'hat  thou  hast  written  iu  this  paper,  thou  wilt 
wound  more  hearts  and  cause  more  trouble  of  spirit  among  the 
tender-hearted  people  of  the  Lord,  than  when  the  temptation  entered 
James  Naylor ;  who  deeply  suffered  ;  but  the  Lord  restored  him 
again  by  true  repentance.  And  as  to  my  particular,  it  is  not  my 
nature  to  be  found  striving  with  thee,  or  with  any  upon  the  earth  ; 
but  having  declared  the  truth  to  thee,  I  will  return  to  my  rest  iu 
the  Lord ;  and  let  every  birth  live  out  the  length  of  its  day,  and 
let  time  manifest  what  is  born  of  God,"  &c. 

In  1660,  William  Dewsbury  was  confined,  first  in  Ouse-bridge 
prison  in  the  city  of  York,  then  in  York  Tower ;  whence  in  1661  he 
was  removed  to  York  Castle.  The  cause  for  imprisonment  was  re- 
fusal to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance.  At  one  time  in  the  year  1661, 
there  were  five  hundred  and  thirty-six  Friends  shut  up  in  the  prisons 
of  Yorkshire ;  five  hundred  and  five  of  whom  were  crowded  into  the 
Castle ;  where  five  of  them  died  from  diseases  brought  on  by  the 
unhealthiness  of  their  quarters.  From  this  imprisonment  he  w^as 
liberated  by  the  proclamation  of  King  Charles  II.,  issued  just  after 
he  came  to  the  throne.  Several  of  the  extraordinary  epistles  which 
he  sent  abroad  to  his  brethren  and  sisters,  while  they  were  suffering 
so  grievously  for  the  testimony  of  Jesus,  in  which  he  strives  to 
build  them  up  on  the  most  holy  faith,  and  to  bring  home  to  them  a 
renewefl  sense  of  the  consolations  of  the  gospel,  were  dated  from 
York  Castle  or  dungeon. 

He  had  been  at  liberty  but  a  few  months,  when  he  was  again  sent 
to  Warwick  prison,  with  several  other  Friends.  [1661.]  He  had 
given  thanks  after  supper  at  an  inn  ;  which  was  construed  by  the 
informer  and  Magistrate  into  preaching  at  a  conventicle.  Again  the 
oath  of  allegiance  was  tendered,  and  as  the  Friends  could  not  take 
it  they  were  sent  to  the  jail ;  where  some  of  them  were  kept  fur  teu 


468  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

years.  How  W.  Dewsbury  was  extricated  from  this  imprisonment 
is  not  recorded;  but  in  a  short  time  after  his  commitment,  he  was 
in  Lon(hHi  ;  where  he  wrote  an  a(hlress  to  liis  suffering  brethren, 
dated  in  the  Twelftli  month  of  16G1,  from  Newgate  i)rison.  Dis- 
charged from  there  in  1662,  he  returned  to  his  family  and  home ; 
earnestly  engagcMl  however  at  different  places  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  by  which  many  were  convinced,  and,  under  the  operation 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  their  hearts,  converted.  In  the  Fiflli  mouth 
of  that  year,  he  was  taken  from  his  home,  and  again  committed  to 
York  Castle,  on  the  charge  of  being  "  a  ringleader  among  the 
Quakers."  Here  he  was  closely  kept  until  the  fore  part  of  1663, 
when  he  obtained  a  release.  But  towards  the  latter  part  of  that 
year,  he  was  again  sent  prisoner  to  Warwick  common  jail ;  where 
he  remained  in  close  confinement  until  some  time  early  in  1672, 
over  eight  years.  While  thus  enduring  bonds  for  the  testimony 
of  Jesus,  he  continued  to  enjoy  that  life  which  is  hid  with  Christ  in 
God,  and  his  pen  was  not  idle;  but  employed  again  and  again  to 
address  his  fellow-professors  and  sufferers. 

One  of  these  epistles,  written  when  the  Courts  were  sentencing 
Friends  to  transportation,  was  addressed  to  "  My  dear,  honorable 
bi'ethren,  who  are  or  may  be  sentenced  to  be  transported  to  the 
isles  beyond  the  sea,  for  the  testimony  of  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus."  Another  was  to  "  Those  from  whom  the  Lord  hath  suffered 
or  shall  suffer  their  dear  and  tender  husbands  to  be  separated  be- 
yontl  the  seas  or  elsewhere,  for  the  testimony  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ."  The  latter  breathes  such  a  sweet,  loving,  but  steadfast 
spirit,  that  it  may  well  have  a  place  here. 

"  Dear  handmaids,  whom  the  Lord  hath  counted  worthy  to  j)art 
with  your  dear  and  tender  husbands  for  his  name  —  assuredly  many 
put  their  shoulders  to  help  to  bear  the  burdens  of  your  trials  in  this 
day.  O,  the  tears  and  breakings  of  heart,  that  are  poured  forth 
before  the  Lord,  for  your  dear  husbands,  for  you  and  your  dear 
children  !  Ye  are  families  of  many  prayers,  and  assuredly  shall  be 
known  to  be  families  of  many  mercies.  Be  content  with  your  cup 
handed  forth  to  you,  and  bless  the  name  of  the  Lord,  that  you  are 
accounted  worthy  to  be  the  first  fruits.  What  could  the  Lord  do 
more  for  you,  than  count  you  worthy  to  suffer  in  this  nature,  and 
give  you  such  husbands,  who  are  set  as  lights  in  the  face  of  all 
people ;  let  it  be  seen  that  you  love  the  Lord  Jesus  more  than  your 
dear  husbands.     Stand  over  the  affectionate  part,  and  solace  your 


S  EVEN  TP:  EXT  II    CENTURY.  469 

souls  in  the  love  and  life  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  your  eternal  husband, 
and  the  comforter  of  your  earthly  husbands.  He  will  make  us  all 
rejoice  iu  whatever  He  calls  us  unto ;  we  diligently  watching  and 
judging  ourselves,  and  resting  in  the  Light,  and  in  the  will  of  God. 
In  which,  the  Lord  establish  you ;  for  whom  your  brother  breathes 
daily  to  the  Lord,  to  strengthen  you  and  your  dear  husbands,  and 
all  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  whom  fare  you  well. 

W.  D." 

In  1672  there  was  a  temporary  suspension  of  persecution  of  Dis- 
senters ;  more  I'elieving  to  Friends  than  others,  because  of  their  being 
the  chief  sufferers.  King  Charles,  constantly  in  need  of  money  to 
meet  the  expenses  of  himself  and  his  Court,  and  strongly  inclined 
to  openly  embrace  the  Romish  religion,  which  his  brother,  the  Duke 
of  York,  had  for  some  time  avowed  and  practised,  had  entered  into 
a  secret  treaty  with  Louis  the  XIV.  of  France;  by  which,  for  a 
stipulated  sum,  to  be  paid  him  annually,  he  had  bound  himself,  and 
as  far  as  he  had  the  power,  the  government  of  England,  to  make 
public  profession  of  the  Catholic  faith  ;  to  employ  the  strength  of 
England  iu  assisting  the  French  monarch  to  conquer  the  United 
Provinces,  and  iu  support  of  the  claim  of  the  House  of  Bourbon 
to  the  throne  of  Spain,  in  case  of  the  death  of  the  young  and  sickly 
reigning  Sovereign  of  that  Kingdom.  Parliament  had  been  in- 
duced by  representation  of  the  cabinet  —  then  called  the  Cabal  — 
that  it  was  necessary  for  the  support  and  enlargement  of  the  fleet, 
to  vote  a  large  sum  of  money —  nearly  a  million  of  pounds  —  which 
being  the  chief  service  the  King  and  his  Council  cared  far  it  to 
perform,  it  was  at  once  prorogued.  The  suspicion  of  the  nation  had 
long  been  aroused,  by  the  marriage  of  the  King  to  a  Catholic  prin- 
cess, the  proclivity  of  several  of  the  members  of  the  Court  towards 
that  religion,  and  the  openly  acknowledged  preference  of  the  Duke 
of  York  for  it,  that  a  design  was  covertly  entertained  to  bring  the 
Catholics  again  into  power.  It  was  therefore  necessary  that  the 
initiatory  steps  for  carrying  out  the  secret  treaty  with  France, 
should  be  taken  slowly  and  stealthily. 

Professing  to  be  moved  by  the  suflerings  of  a  large  portion  of  his 
subjects,  and  his  strong  desire  to  promote  domestic  union  and  peace, 
the  King  issued,  in  1672,  a  Proclamation  ;  in  which,  claiming  the 
right  inherent  in  his  royal  person,  and  in  virtue  of  his  supreme 
authority  in  ecclesiastical  matters,  as  head  of  the  church,  he  sus- 
pended the  execution  of  all   ])i  nal  laws  against  those   wiio  did  not 


470  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

conlbnn  to  tlic  (loctrine,  discipline  and  government  of  the  "church 
established  by  law." 

False  as  were  the  avowed  motives,  and  arbitrary  the  power  as- 
sumed for  this  ostensibly  laudable  act,  the  act  itself  was  one  of 
indescribable  relief  to  those  who  were  paying  the  [)enalty  of  the 
infraction  of  those  laws,  in  sup])orting  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  and 
the  right  of  liberty  of  conscience. 

Friends,  ever  on  the  alert  to  relieve  their  suffering  brethren,  at 
once  took  steps  for  availing  themselves  of  the  provisions  of  the  proc- 
lamation. George  Whitehead,  Thomas  Moor  and  Thomas  Green, 
waited  on  the  King  and  Council.  In  the  interview,  these  Friends 
again  took  occasion  to  assure  the  King,  that  the  refusal  of  Friends 
to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  was  solely  because  they  felt  them- 
selves restrained  by  the  command  of  Christ,  and  his  Apostle  James, 
not  to  swear;  and  tliat  it  was  not  from  any  disloyalty  to  him  or 
disrespect  to  his  government.  The  King  told  them  he  would  par- 
don their  friends.  It  being  said,  that  as  they  were  innocent  they 
needed  no  pardon,  and  that  the  order  from  the  King  would  be  all- 
sufficient  for  their  release,  the  Council  informed  the  Friends  that 
such  a  release  would  not  free  the  prisoners  from  the  penalties  they 
had  incurred;  and  unless  they  were  cleared  by  the  King's  pardon, 
they  W'Ould  be  liable  to  be  re-imprisoned,  and  their  fines,  and  the 
sentence  of  premunire,  would  still  hang  over  them.  The  necessary 
letters-patent  were  then  made  out ;  the  Lord  Keeper  (Orlando 
Bridgeman)  voluntarily  remitted  his  fees ;  and  as  the  number  of 
Friends  in  the  different  jails  throughout  the  country  was  so  large, 
that  the  fees  for  jirocuring  their  separate  discharge  would  have 
amounted  to  a  great  sum,  the  King  ordered  that  the  pardon,  though 
com[)rehending  so  many,  should  be  charged  but  as  one.  There 
were  upwards  of  four  hundred  names  of  Friends  included  in  it,  and 
it  required  eleven  skins  of  parchment  for  a  fair  copy. 

The  Solicitors  employed  by  other  Dissenters,  now  applied  to 
Friends  to  assist  them  in  obtaining  a  similar  discharge  of  those  pro- 
fessing with  them,  who  were  in  prison  ;  and  Friends,  as  George 
Whitehead  remarks,  "were  glad  of  it,  and  that  they  partook  of 
the  benefit  through  our  industry."  Friends  advised  them  to  apply 
to  the  King  for  liberty  to  have  the  names  of  their  friends  incluiled 
in  the  letters-patent,  already  procured  by  Friends;  which  they  did, 
and  obtained  his  consent,  and  among  these  names  was  that  of  John 
Bunyan.  The  act  of  pardon  completed,  it  required  great  contrivance 
and  labor  to  carry  it  as  quickly  as  jjossible  to  the  different  jails. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTUP.Y.  471 

wliere  Frieuds  were  shut  uj),  and  luive  it  obeyed  by  the  liberation 
of  the  prisoners.  But  Friends  in  London  were  too  heartily  inter- 
ested in  the  welfare  of  their  brethren  and  sisters,  to  halt  because  of 
the  trouble  or  expense ;  they  pursued  the  good  work  they  had  in 
hand,  unremittingly,  overcame  all  obstacles,  and  in  a  little  while 
had  the  gladdening  assurance  that  all  those  who  came  within  the 
scope  of  the  letters-])utent,  were  now  at  liberty;  not  a  few  of  whom 
had  been  suffering  the  hardships  of  prison  life  for  many  years  ;  Wm. 
Dewsbury,  as  before  stated,  was  one  thus  liberated. 

The  conduct  of  Friends  during  the  season  of  conflict  and  persecu- 
tion through  which  they  had  been  passing,  had  made  a  strong  im- 
pression upon  many  members  of  other  Dissenting  Societies,  and 
these  had  not  hesitated  to  acknowledge  that  it  was  their  unconquera- 
ble firmness,  and  unresisting  suffering,  that  had  baffled  the  unright- 
eous schemes  of  the  dominant  hierarcliy  and  subservient  civil  au- 
thorities, to  enforce  uuiforraity  of  profession  and  modes  of  worship  ; 
and  had  in  great  measure  screened  other  sects  from  the  severity  of  the 
punishment,  which,  had  they  been  faithful  to  their  profession,  would 
have  reached  them.  This  led  many  to  examine  into  the  religious 
principles  of  Friends,  and  to  compare  the  course  pursued  by  them 
with  that  of  many  of  their  own  pastors  and  fellow  professors.  The 
consequence  was,  that  considerable  numbers  were  convinced  of  the 
scriptural  soundness  of  those  principles,  and  joined  in  fellowship 
with  the  Society.  This  was  especially  the  case  from  among  the 
Baptists ;  insomuch  that  when  under  the  protection  of  the  King's 
proclamation,  they  were  not  afraid  to  appear  openly  before  the 
public,  some  of  their  preachers,  who  had  lost  many  of  their  former 
hearers,  brought  railing  accusations  against  Friends,  both  in  their 
pulpits  and  by  publishing  pamphlets.  One  of  their  ministers  named 
Hicks,  had  printed  and  spread  abroad,  "A  Dialogue  between  a 
Christian  and  a  Quaker."  In  this  he  represented  the  "Quaker"  as 
uttering  many  unscriptural  and  absurd  opinions:  which  the  "Chris- 
tian," of  course,  easily  refuted  and  proved  to  be  unsound.  The 
whole  was  so  worded  as  to  impress  the  reader  with  the  belief  that 
it  was  a  correctly  reported  conversation,  that  had  actually  taken 
place. 

William  Peiin  soon  published  a  rei)ly,  entitled,  "  The  Christian 
Quaker,  and  his  Divine  Testimony  Vindicated,"  in  which  he  not 
only  exposed  the  disingenuousness  of  atti-ibuting  to  Friends  senti- 
ments they  never  held  or  promulgated,  and  the  lolly  of  thus  setting 
up  a  mere   man  of  straw  to  be  ovei-tuincd  ;   but   he  explained   and 


472  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

enforced  tlie  cloclrinc  of  the  Linlit  of  Christ,  or  the  8i)irit  of  Truth 
being  furnished  to  all  men.  That  it  emanates  from  Christ,  who  the 
Scriptures  declare,  is  the  true  Light  that  lighteth  every  man  that 
Cometh  into  the  world:  that  it  convinces  of  sin,  and  leadeth  all  who 
co-operate  with  it  out  of  sin  and  into  all  truth  ;  consequently  it 
bears  testimony  to  the  Divinity  of  the  Jiord  Jesus  Christ,  and  to  all 
his  ofHccs ;  to  his  atonement,  as  the  propitiatory  sacrifice  for  the 
sins  of  the  whole  world  ;•  to  his  JVIcdiatorship,  and  to  his  being  the 
Advocate  with  the  Father  ;  and  that  this  doctrine  of  the  Light  of 
Christ  in  the  soul  of  man,  is  a  distinguishing  characteristic  of  the 
Society  of  Friends. 

There  was  another  pamphlet,  entitled,  "  The  Dialogue  Continued," 
and  a  third  ;  to  all  Avhich  i-cplies  were  made,  and  the  scriptural 
soundness  of  the  doctrines  held  by  Friends  fully  established. 

The  Baptist  ministers  having  made  a  i)ersonal  attack  upon  the 
character  of  Wni.  Penn  and  George  Whitehead,  the  latter  entered 
a  complaint  thereof,  to  some  of  the  leading  men  in  their  Society, 
and  asked  that  an  opportunity  be  given  them  to  clear  themselves 
and  their  religious  belief  of  the  charges  made.  A  meeting  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  Baptists  at  a  time  when  the  Friends  implicated  were 
away  from  Lontlon  ;  and  on  some  Friends  in  that  city  being  informed 
of  it,  they  gave  notice  that  Wm.  Penn  and  G.  Whitehead  were  too 
far  away  to  receive  word  of  the  meeting,  and  to  get  to  the  city  in 
time  to  attend  it ;  and  therefore  they  desired  it  might  be  postponed 
for  a  few  days.  This,  however,  was  not  granted,  but  the  meeting- 
assembled,  and  as  there  were  lione  to  controvert  what  was  said,  of 
course  the  charges  were  declared  to  be  proved. 

Upon  Wm.  Penn  being  informed  of  what  had  occurred,  he  at  once 
came  to  London,  and  demanded  another  meeting,  where  the  com- 
plaint made  against  Friends  might  be  investigated.  At  first  this 
was  opposed;  but  w-as  finally  acceded  to;  and  at  the  meeting  aj)- 
pointed,  Thomas  Hicks  and  Jeremy  Ives  spoke  on  behalf  of  the 
Baptists,  and  Wm.  Penn,  (ieorge  Whitehead  and  George  Keith,  on 
behalf  of  Friends.  The  dispute,  which  ajipears  to  have  been  prin- 
cipally about  the  distinction  between  the  manhood  and  the  deity  of 
Christ  — the  Baptists  refusing  to  ent(;r  into  an  examination  of  the 
charges  brought  against  Friends,  but  attacking  William  Penn'.s 
"Christian  Quaker," — was  inconclusive  and  unsatisfactory,  as  to 
settling  the  points  of  difference.  Again  Friends  endeavored  to 
obtain  another  conference,  but  the  Baptists  refused  ;  whereupon 
Friends   appointed  a  meeting   to   be  held   at  their  own   house  in 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  473 

Wheeler  Street,  and  invited  Hick.s  and  the  others  of  their  oppo- 
nents who  were  willing,  to  come  to  it.  Hicks,  who  was  the  author 
of  a  charge  that  Friends  were  not  Christians,  refused  to  attend ; 
but  Ives,  and  some  others,  were  sent,  who  altogether  objected  to 
any  examination  of  the  charges  made,  and  of  course  Friends  could 
obtain  no  acknowledgment  of  the  injustice  done  them.  One  good 
consequence  however  resulted,  in  that  many  of  the  Baptist  congre- 
gation left  them  and  joined  Friends. 

Several  Friends  were  now  much  engaged  in  preparing  controver- 
sial writings,  in  defence  of  the  doctrines  they  held  and  preached, 
and  in  exposing  and  refuting  the  charges  brought  against  them,  as 
being  unsound  in  the  Christian  faith.  Disagreeable  as  this  mode 
of  warfare  was,  it  was  found  that  the  more  closely  the  religious  faith 
of  the  Society  was  sifted  and  tested,  the  more  it  was  proved  to  be  con- 
sonant with  Scripture,  and  the  greater  the  number  that  embraced  it. 

Taking  into  consideration  how  frequently  Friends  who  were  called 
to  the  work,  were  engaged  abroad  in  ministerial  labors ;  and  how 
often  and  long  many  of  those  not  engaged  as  ministers,  as  well  as 
the  hitter,  were  shut  up  in  prisons,  it  is  surprising  the  promptness 
with  which  they  replied  to  every  printed  attack  made  upon  them 
or  the  doctrines  they  preached ;  how  freely  they  resorted  to  the 
press  to  give  a  general  knowledge  of  the  principles  they  held;  to 
refute  error;  to  expose  the  evil  spirit  and  fruits  of  persecution,  and 
to  promote  holiness  of  life  and  conversation.  Printing  in  that  day 
was  expensive ;  but,  robbed  and  spoiled  as  they  were  of  their  out- 
ward substance,  by  unjust  fines  and  the  levies  of  merciless  priests, 
and  often  maimed  or  enfeebled  by  the  punishments  inflicted  by  their 
persecutors,  it  is  remarkable  that  they  yet  found  means  for  defray- 
ing the  expense  of  publishing  and  circulating  the  great  number  of 
woi'ks  they  wrote.  This  is  one  of  the  striking  evidences  of  their 
considering  everything  they  had  —  talents,  time,  and  property  —  as 
belonging  to  the  gracious  Giver  of  all  things  we  enjoy ;  and  that  it 
was  their  duty  to  serve  Him  and  his  cause  first,  and  themselves 
afterwai'ds. 

Productive  of  relief  to  Dissenters  as  was  the  proclamation  of  the 
King,  rek'asing  them  from  the  further  action  of  the  penal  laws  for 
enforcing  conformity,  it  came  from  too  doubtful  and  polluted  a  source, 
to  alhnv  exi^'clation  of  its  long  continuance.  The  ohji'ct  had  in 
view  was  ratiier  relief  to  Popish  recusants,  tlum  favor  to  tlie  great 
Ijody  of  the  people  that  refused  to  be  included  in  the  Established 
('liui'ch.     That    j.'orllon  ol'  th»3  large;  sum  voted   by  Parliament  for 


474  F  R  I  E  ^'  D  S    IX    THE 

the  increase  of  the  navy,  which  the  King  and  Court  had  heen  ena- 
bled to  appropriate  for  their  own  use,  was  soon  squandered.  A 
flagrant  breach  of  pul)Iic  faith,  in  refusing  to  refund  money  that- 
had  been  temporarily  loaned  to  the  government,  by  the  goldsmiths 
of  London,  and  obliging  the  lenders  to  be  satisfied  with  the  interest 
allowed  upon  the  principal,  gave  rise  to  great  monetary  distress 
and  disorder.  There  was  increasing  dissatisfiiction  with  the  influ- 
ence Roman  Catholics  were  obtaining  in  different  ways,  and  even 
very  many  of  the  Nou-couformists,  who  had  managed  to  conceal  or 
screen  themselves  while  the  storm  of  persecution  raged,  joined  in 
puldicly  denouncing  the  assumption  of  arbitrary  power,  by  which 
the  King  had  proclaimed  toleration,  and  claimed  the  prerogative 
to  set  the  laws  of  the  realm  at  naught.  Louis  the  XIV.  found  the 
expenditure  retjuired  to  curry  on  the  war  with  three  powers  on  the 
Continent  so  great,  that  he  could  not  pay  the  sum  by  which  he  had 
subsidized  Charles,  and  the  latter  could  do  without  anything  else, 
better  than  money  to  pay  for  his  debaucheries.  The  murmured 
discontent  of  the  people,  was  not  to  be  disregarded,  the  want  of 
money  pressed,  and  there  was  no  alternative  but  to  reassemble  Par- 
liament, which  had  been  repeatedly  prorogued,  and  trust  to  the 
policy  and  chicanery  of  the  "  Cabal,"  to  manipulate  it  into  comiDli- 
ance  with  the  royal  will  and  exigencies. 

1673.  When  assembled,  the  first  step  taken  by  the  Commons  was 
to  give  the  King  to  understand,  that  his  proclamation  of  toleration 
was  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  the  Constitution,  and  inconsistent  with 
the  limited  power  with  which  the  sovereign  of  Great  Britian  was 
invested.  A  demand  was  made  for  its  withdrawal,  and  the  King 
and  Council  were  given  clearly  to  understand,  that  until  that  was 
done,  they  need  look  for  no  supply  of  pecuniary  means  to  carry 
on  the  war,  or  to  meet  the  other  necessities  of  the  government. 
Charles,  at  first,  appeared  inclined  to  insist  upon  what  he  claimed 
as  his  prerogative ;  but  some  of  his  ministers  cowered  before  the 
determined  tone  of  the  House,  and  withdrew  their  support  from  the 
unpopular  measure ;  and  as  money  was  a  sine  qua  non  with  the 
King,  he  yielded  to  the  demand,  revoked  the  declaration  he  had 
made,  and  promised  not  to  pursue  such  a  course  again. 

Doubtless  this  action  of  the  Parliament  in  restriction  of  despotic 
power,  sprung  from  a  noble  motive  in  some,  to  secure  the  acknowl- 
edged liberties  of  the  people,  and  so  far  it  deserves  praise ;  but 
there  can  be  as  little  doubt,  that  with  many  others,  it  had  its  origin 
in  their  hatred  of  Dissenters,  and  their  unwillingness  to  see  them  in 


SEVENTEEXTH     CENTURY.  475 

the  CMijoymeiit  of  the  exercise  of  their  religion,  freed  from  the  severe 
punishments  they  had  inflicted  on  them  therefor. 

The  priests,  Magistrates  and  informers  were  once  more  let  h)ose, 
to  reaj)  their  liarvest  of  unrighteous  gains;  and  Friends,  as  bef)re, 
came  under  the  cruel  scourge  of  the  infamous  law  of  1670. 

George  Fox,  who  with  his  wife  had  been  travelling  among 
Friends  and  holding  meetings,  being  in  Worcestershire,  was  with 
his  sou-iu-law,  Thomas  Lower,  apprehended,  while  at  a  Friend's 
house,  and  committed  by  Henry  Parker,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  to 
the  county  jail ;  the  charge  against  them  being,  that  they  were 
holding  large  meetings  to  the  prejudice  of  the  established  church. 
The  mittimus  was  dated  December  17th,  1673.  After  their  incar- 
ceration, some  Friends  accompanied  Margaret  Fox  and  her  daugh- 
ters, more  than  one  of  whom  appear  to  have  been  with  her,  to  their 
home  in  the  North. 

At  the  session  of  the  Court  there  was  nothing  found  against 
the  prisoners,  as  they  had  been  taken  out  of  a  private  house,  where 
there  was  no  conventicle  held,  and  Thomas  Lower  was  discharged ; 
but  the  Court  tendered  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  George  Fox,  and 
upon  his  telling  the  Magistrates  that  he  could  not  break  Christ's 
command  by  taking  an  oath,  he  was  recommitted  to  the  prison;  and 
his  son-in-law,  refusing  to  be  liberated  while  his  father  was  kept 
prisoner,  went  with  him.  After  some  time  the  case  was  removed  to 
the  Court  of  the  King's  Bench,  in  London,  by  a  writ  o^ habeas  corpus; 
and  from  the  manner  in  which  the  proceedings  were  conducted,  and 
the  conduct  of  the  Judges  towards  George  Fox,  there  was  reason  to 
believe  his  liberation  would  soon  take  place.  The  Sheriff  of  Wor- 
cester was  discharged  from  the  care  of  him,  and  he  was  placed  in 
the  custody  of  the  "  keeper  "  of  the  King's  Bench  Court.  But  Justice 
Parker,  who  was  his  present  persecutor,  having  come  to  London 
and  obtained  an  interview  with  the  Judges,  they  had  George  again 
brought  before  them,  and  gave  an  order  to  have  him  remitted  to  the 
Worcester  sessions.  He  was,  however,  upon  his  promise  to  appear, 
permitted  to  take  his  own  time  and  way  for  going  there.  He  stayed 
in  London  some  time,  attended  the  Yearly  Meeting,  and  then  trav- 
elled leisurely  to  Worcester,  for  he  was  still  infirm  and  weak,  and 
appeared  at  the  session.  Parker  again  succeeded  in  having  the  oath 
tendered  to  him,  and  he  was  recommitted  for  refusing  to  take  it.  At 
the  instance  of  some  of  the  Magistrates  who  were  friendly  to  him,  he 
was  permitted  to  have  the  liberty  of  tlie  town  until  the  next  session. 

While  thus  a  prisoner  at  large,  George  Fox  embraced  the  oppor- 


476  FRIENDS     IX    THE 

tunities  that  presented,  to  spixad  a  knowledge  of  tlic  truth  ;  as  will 
be  seen  by  tlie  following  extracts  from  his  Journal : 

"  At  one  time  came  three  non-conformist  priests  and  two  lawyers  to 
discourse  with  nie  ;  and  one  of  the  priests  undertook  to  prove,  'That 
the  Scriptures  are  the  only  rule  of  life.'  After  I  had  defeated  his 
proof,  I  had  a  fit  opportunity  to  oi)en  to  them,  '  The  right  and 
proper  use,  service,  and  excellency  of  the  Scriptures;  and  also  to 
show,  that  the  Spirit  of  God  which  was  given  to  every  one  to  profit 
withal,  the  grace  of  God  which  bringeth  salvation,  and  which  hath 
appeared  to  all  men,  and  teacheth  theni  that  obey  it  to  deny  un- 
godliness and  worldly  lusts,  and  to  live  soberly,  righteously,  and 
godly  in  this  present  world  ;  that  this,  I  say,  is  the  most  fit,  proper, 
and  universal  rule  which  God  hath  given  to  all  mankind  to  rule, 
direct,  govern,  and  order  their  lives  by.' 

"Another  time  came  a  common-prayer  priest,  and  some  people 
with  him.  He  asked  me,  'If  I  was  grown  up  to  perfection?'  I 
told  him,  '  What  I  was,  I  was  by  the  grace  of  God.'  He  replied, 
'It  was  a  modest  and  civil  answer.'  Then  he  urged  the  words  of 
John,  '  If  we  say  that  we  have  no  sin,  we  deceive  ourselves,  and  the 
truth  is  not  in  us.'  He  asked,  '  What  did  I  say  to  that  ? '  'I  said 
with  the  same  apostle,  "  If  we  say  that  we  have  not  sinned,  we  make 
him  a  liar,  and  his  word  is  not  in  us  ; "  who  came  to  destroy  sin,  and 
to  take  away  sin.  So  there  is  a  time  for  people  to  see  that  they  have 
sinned,  and  there  is  a  time  for  them  to  see  that  they  have  sin ;  and 
there  is  a  time  for  them  to  confess  their  sin,  and  to  forsake  it,  and 
to  know  the  blood  of  Christ  to  cleanse  from  all  sin.'  Then  the 
priest  was  asked,  '  Whether  Adam  was  not  perfect  before  he  fell  ? 
and  whether  all  God's  works  were  not  perfect  ? '  The  priest  said, 
'  There  might  be  a  perfection  as  Adam  had,  and  a  falling  from  it.' 
But  I  told  him,  '  There  is  a  perfection  in  Christ  above  Adam,  and 
beyond  falling ;  and  that  it  was  the  work  of  the  ministers  of  Christ 
to  present  every  man  perfect  in  Christ ;  for  the  perfecting  of  whom 
they  had  their  gifts  from  Christ ;  therefore  they  that  denied  perfec- 
tion, denied  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  the  gifts  which  Christ 
gave  for  the  perfecting  of  the  saints.'  The  priest  said,  '  We  must 
always  be  striving.'  I  answered,  '  It  was  a  sad  and  comfortless  sort 
of  striving,  to  strive  with  a  belief  that  we  should  never  overcome.' 
I  told  him  also,  that  'Paul,  who  cried  out  of  the  body  of  death,  did 
also  thank  God  who  gave  him  the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.'  So  there  was  a  time  of  crying  out  for  want  of  victory,  and 
a  time  of  praising  God  for  the  victory.     And  I'aul  said,  '  There  is 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  477 

no  condemnation  to  them  that  are  in  Christ  Jesus.'  The  [)riest  said, 
'  Job  was  not  perfect.'  I  told  him,  God  said  Job  was  a  perfect  man, 
and  that  he  did  shun  evil ;  and  the  devil  was  forced  to  confess,  that 
'  God  had  set  an  hedge  about  him ;  which  was  not  an  outward 
hedge,  but  the  invisible,  heavenly  power.'  The  priest  said,  '  Job 
said,  He  chargeth  his  angels  with  folly,  and  the  heavens  are  not 
clean  in  his  sight.'  I  told  him,  '  That  was  his  mistake,  it  was  not 
Job  said  so,  but  Eliphaz,  who  contended  against  Job.'  '  Well,  bat,' 
said  the  priest,  'what  say  you  to  that  Scripture,  'The  justest  man 
that  is,  sinneth  seven  times  a  day  ?  '  '  Why  truly,'  said  I, '  I  say  there 
is  no  such  Scripture  ; '  and  with  that  the  priest's  mouth  was  stopped. 
Many  other  services  I  had  with  several  sorts  of  people  between  the 
assizes  and  the  sessions."     Here  he  must  be  left  for  the  present. 

Such  was  the  streuglli  and  bitterness  of  the  feeling  prevailing 
among  the  Presbyterians  in  Scotland,  against  the  Episcopal  system  of 
religion,  which  had  been  established  by  law  and  force  in  that  section 
of  the  United  Kingdom,  that  the  attention  of  the  ruling  power  there 
was  kept  so  much  occupied  with  efforts  to  introduce  their  own  forms 
of  worship,  and  to  suj^press  the  determined  opposition  of  the  great 
body  of  the  peo])le ;  —  who,  in  their  hearts,  preferred  the  Puritan 
Synod  and  the  outlawed  "  Ctrnventicle  "  —  that  for  a  considerable 
time,  Friends,  as  a  body  comparatively  small  in  number  escaped 
general  persecution;  except  such  as  consisted  in  the  denunciations 
and  misrepresentations  of  the  "ministers,"  and  the  abuse  of  the 
lower  classes.  But  it  was  a  noted  circumstance,  that  among  the 
early  converts  to  the  religious  principles  of  Friends,  in  Scotland, 
especially  at  Aberdeen  and  its  vicinity,  were  men  and  women  who 
had  long  been  conspicuous  as  strict  religious  professors ;  and  who, 
by  the  exemplary  purity  of  their  lives,  and  devotedness  to  their 
duties,  in  both  civil  and  religious  society,  had  acquired  very  con- 
siderable notoriety  and  influence  in  the  community.  Among  such 
as  these,  were  Alexander  Skene,  one  of  the  Magistrates  of  Aber- 
deen, and  Tlio  u  i-^  Mercer,  "  Dean  of  Guild  ;"  both  of  whom  with- 
drew from  the  "  church,"  and  joined  Friends. 

The  former  had  been  a  violent  opponent  of  "  Quakers  ;"  inso- 
much, that  on  one  occasion  he  had  declared,  "It  were  well  to  take 
that  villain,  George  Keith,  and  hang  him  up  at  the  cross  of  Aber- 
deen." Having  been,  soon  after  this  speech,  seized  with  spasms  in 
the  muscles  of  the  mouth  and  cheeks,  producing  what  is  termed 
riim  sardonicus,  he  believed  it  was  inflicted  on  him  for  his  passion 


478  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

and  furious  speech  against  an  innocent  man  ;  and  being  thereby 
brought  seriously  to  examine  into  his  own  spiritual  condition,  and 
to  give  obedient  heed  to  the  "reproofs  of  instruction,"  he  became 
convinced  not  only  that  he  had  been  in  the  gall  of  bitterness,  but 
that  he  must  adopt  the  religion  of  the  "  Quakers"  he  had  so  much 
despised  ;  and  he  was  favored  with  ability  to  take  up  the  daily  cross 
and  join  with  Friends  in  their  work  and  suffering. 

The  loss  of  several  of  their  highly  esteemed  members  greatly  ex- 
cited the  "  ministers  ;  "  who  feared  the  effect  it  would  have  on  others 
in  their  congregations  ;  and  these  fears  were  increased  by  the  spread 
of  some  queries  on  the  subject  of  worship,  addressed  to  the  min- 
isters, by  A.  Skene.  As  these  show  the  uniformity  of  views  re- 
specting the  spiritual  nature  of  the  religion  of  Christ,  and  the 
necessity  of  waiting  for  ability  from  Him  to  perform  any  religious 
act,  into  which  the  early  members  of  the  Society  were  led,  wherever 
and  however  brought  to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth,  they  may  claim 
a  place  in  these  pages. 

First.  "  Should  any  act  of  God's  worship  be  gone  about  with- 
out the  motions,  leadings  and  actings  of  the  Holy  Spirit  ?  " 

Second.  "  If  the  motions  of  the  Spirit  be  necessary  to  every  par- 
ticular duty,  whether  should  He  be  waited  upon,  that  all  our  acts 
and  words  may  be  according  as  He  gives  utterance  and  assistance?'' 

Third.  "  Whether  every  one  that  bears  the  name  of  a  Christian, 
or  professes  to  be  a  Protestant,  hath  such  an  uninterrupted  measure 
thereof  [the  sensible  prompting  of  the  Holy  Spirit]  that  he  may, 
without  waiting,  go  immediately  about  the  duty?" 

Fourth'.  "If  there  be  an  indisposition  and  unfitness  at  some 
times  for  such  exercises,  at  least  as  to  the  spiritual  and  lively  per- 
formance of  them,  ought  they  to  be  performed  in  that  case  and  at 
that  time?  " 

Fifth.  "  If  any  such  duty  be  gone  about  under  pretence  that 
it  is  in  obedience  to  the  external  command,  without  the  spiritual  life 
and  motion  necessary,  whether  such  a  duty  thus  performed  can  in 
faith  be  expected  to  be  accejtted  of  Ood ;  and  not  rather  reckoned  as 
a  bringing  of  '  strange  fire  '  before  the  Lord  ?  seeing  it  is  performed, 
at  best,  by  the  strength  of  natural  and  acquired  parts,  and  not  by 
the  strength  and  assistance  of  the  Holy  Ghost :  which  was  typified 
by  the  fire  that  came  down  from  heaven ;  which  alone  behoved  to 
consume  the  sacrifice,  and  no  other." 

Sixth.  "  Whether  such  duties  gone  about  in  the  mere  strength 
of  natural  and  acquired  parts,  either  in  public  or  in  private,  be  not 


S  EVENT  EEXTH  CENTURY.  479 

as  really,  upon  the  gross  matter,  an  image  of  vien's  invention,  as  the 
Popish  worship  f  though  not  so  gross  in  the  outward  apjjearauce  ? 
and,  therefore,  whether  it  be  not  as  real  superstition  to  countenance 
auy  worship  of  that  nature,  as  it  is  to  countenance  Popish  worship, 
though  there  he  a  difference  in  the  degree  f 

Seventh.  "  Whether  it  be  a  ground  of  offence  or  just  scandal,  to 
countenance  the  worship  of  those,  whose  j)rofessed  principle  it  is 
neither  to  speak  for  edification,  nor  to  pray,  but  as  the  Holy  Ghost 
shall  be  pleased  to  assist  them  in  some  measure,  more  or  less ;  with- 
out which  they  rather  choose  _to  be  silent,  than  to  speak  without 
this  influence." 

The  Bishop  of  Aberdeen  summoned  a  convention  of  ministers, 
who  sent  a  messenger  to  the  King's  Council  at  Edinburgh,  with  a 
petition,  that  it  would  "  Take  some  effectual  course  to  curb  and  rid 
the  land  of  the  Quakers,  who  were  increasing  among  them."  The 
Council,  liowever,  declined  to  pass  any  new  ordinance,  but  referred 
the  petitioners  to  an  Act  that  had  been  passed  some  time  before ; 
that  all  who  withdrew  "from  the  parish  church,  be  admonished  by 
the  preachers  before  two  sufficient  witnesses,"  and  then  after  a  con- 
tinued absence  of  three  more  weeks,  "  they  be  fined  one-eighth  of 
their  valued  rents." 

This  was  considered  too  mild  a  punishment,  by  the  ministers  ;  but 
they  set  about  giving  the  legal  notice  to  Friends,  and  in  order  to 
mulct  them  in  the  fines,  they  prevailed  upon  the  Magistrates  of  Aber- 
deen, to  pass  an  ordinance:  "That  no  Quaker  should  be  made  a 
burgess  or  freeman  of  that  City  ;  that  whosoever  received  a  Quaker 
into  his  house,  without  leave  of  the  Magistrate,  should  be  fined  five 
shillings;  and  that  if  any  person  should  let  a  house  for  Quakers, 
either  to  meet  or  dwell  in,  he  should  be  fined  £28  2*'.  Qd.  sterling." 
But  to  the  great  chagrin  of  the  persecutors,  just  as  they  were  about 
to  inflict  the  suffering  prepared,  the  King's  Proclamation  of  Indul- 
gence came  forth,  and  stopped  the  hands  stretched  out  to  seize  upon 
the  property  of  their  honest  neighbors  and  town's  people.  Friends 
in  Scotland  as  in  England,  looked  upon  this  as  a  providential 
interference,  and  with  many  other  Non-conformists,  accepted  it  with 
gratitude. 

Friends  also  obtained  relief  in  another  case  of  conscience,  in  which 
many  of  them  had  suffered  greatly.  The  law  required,  that  unless 
there  was  a  witness  to  tlie  contraction  of  a  debt,  it  could  not  be 
legally  collected,  unless  the  debtor  refused  to  take  an  oath  that  he 
did  not  owe  the  money  claimed.     As  Friends  could  neither  take  an 


480  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

oath  themselves,  nor  call  upon  others  to  take  one,  some  of  them  had 
been  made  a  prey  repeatedly,  by  dishonest  persons  bringing  claims 
against  them  altogether  false  and  unjust;  but  from  which  Friends 
could  not  clear  themselves  by  oath ;  and  again,  by  such  persons  re- 
fusing to  pay  debts  they  justly  owed  to  Friends ;  relying  on  the 
want  of  evidence,  and  their  known  conscii-ntiousness  in  i-ehuion  to 
swearing. 

The  Supreme  Judges,  witnessing  the  great  injustice  thus  per- 
petrated upon  men  whom  they  believed  to  be  honest  and  sincerely 
conscientious,  adopted  a  resolution,  that  in  such  cases  the  simple 
declaration  of  a  Friend  to  the  (ruth  of  the  statement  he  made, 
should  be  accepted.  Tliis  was  long  before  the  affirmation  of  a 
Friend  was  made  legal  in  England. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Robert  Barclay — Deatli  of  A.  Jaffray — Severe  persecution  begun  at  Aberdeen 
— Dispute  of  R.  Barclay  and  G.  Keith  with  Students— Barclay's  Apology 
— Friends  imprisoned  in  Aberdeen — Sympathized  with  by  otiier  Friends — 
Letter  of  Princess  Elizabeth— G.  Fox  sentenced  to  Premun ire— Carried  to 
London  on  Habeas  Corpus — Discharged — Account  of  Richard  Davies— G. 
Fox,  while  too  feeble  to  travel  much,  writes  Epistles,  &c. — Friends  visit 
Holland — Great  Spoliation  of  Friends— Unjust  constructions  of  the  "  Con- 
venticle Act" — Tlie  King  and  Church  Party  inexorable — Interview  of  G. 
Whileliead  and  W.  Croncli  with  tlie  Bishop  of  Canterbury. 

IN  1669,  Robert  Barclay  was  married  to  Christian  —  daughter 
of  Gilbert  and  Margaret  3Iolleson.  Gilbert  had  been  one  of 
the  Magistrates  of  Aberdeen,  and  now,  with  his  wife,  was  a  highly 
esteemed  member  amongst  Friends.  So  incensed  were  the  "  minis- 
ters," that  a  marriage  should  take  place  without  any  of  thera  being 
allowed  to  officiate  in  it —  it  being  the  first  one  so  solemnized  in  that 
city  —  that  they  applied  to  the  Bishop,  and  through  him  procured 
a  summons  of  R.  Barclay,  to  appear  before  the  Privy  Council  at 
Edinburgli,  to  answer  for  au  unlawful  marriage.  But  the  account 
states,  "  This  matter  was  so  overruled  of  the  Lord,  that  they  never 
had  power  to  put  their  summons  into  execution,  so  as  to  do  any 
prejudice." 

At  Ury,  where  David  Barclay  and  his  son  Robert  were  settled, 
a  Monthly  Meeting  was  established  in  1669  ;  also  "  a  more  public  or 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  481 

general  meeting  "  was  held  there  half-yearly  ;  the  first  of  which  is 
mentioned  as  remarkable  for  the  convincement  "  of  several  people 
of  good  account."  Meetings  "for  transacting  the  affairs  of  the 
Church,"  were  set  up  in  different  localities  in  Scotland,  as  circum- 
stances called  for  them. 

Young  as  Robert  Barclay  was,  when,  under  the  transforming 
power  of  the  Grace  of  God,  he  forsook  the  alluring  pleasures  and 
honors  of  the  world,  to  bear  the  cross  of  Christ,  and  espouse  the 
cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  in  the  midst  of  a  crooked  and  per- 
verse generation,  he  soon  gave  unmistakable  evidence,  that  with 
all  his  intellectual  acuteness,  and  his  acquired  store  of  learning,  he 
had  come  to  realize  that  "  The  fear  of  the  I^ord  is  the  beginning  of 
wisdom,  and  the  knowledge  of  the  holy  is  understanding."  It  is 
recorded  of  him  that  he  passed  thrcHigh  niany  humbling  and  heart- 
searching  baptisms  ;  by  submitting  to  which,  and  keeping  his  spirit- 
ual eye  single  and  fixed  on  Christ,  the  Author  and  Finisher  of  the 
saints'  faith,  he  was  favored  with  a  clear  view  and  understanding  of 
many  of  the  mysteries  of  the  Kingdom  of  heaven,  the  purity  and 
spirituality  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  and  the  mixed  and  corrupt 
professions  of  religions  prevailing  in  the  world.  As  a  minister,  he 
is  said  to  have  borne  a  faithful  testimony  to  the  truth  ;  clearly  set- 
ting forth  the  doctrines  contained  in  the  Holy  Scriptures  ;  fearlessly 
rebuking  spiritual  wickedness  in  high  places,  and  urging  the  indis- 
pensable necessity  for  the  natural  man  to-  be  brought  under  the 
quick  and  powerful  operation  of  the  Word  of  God,  sharper  than 
any  two-edged  sword,  [)iercing  even  to  the  dividing  asunder  of  the 
soul  and  spirit,  and  of  the  joints  and  marrow  ;  and  is  a  discerner  of 
the  thoughts  and  intents  of  the  heart.  Some  of  the  services  required 
of  him  were  of  a  very  humiliating  ch.u-acter ;  as  that  which  he  per- 
formed in  tlie  early  part  of  1073  —  then  in  his  twenty-sixth  year  — 
when  he  went  through  the  principal  streets  of  Aberdeen,  clothed  in 
sackcloth,  as  "  a  spectacle  unto  men  ;  "  that  he  might  awaken  them 
to  a  true  sense  of  their  condition,  and  the  necessity  for  abasement 
and  repentance,  for  having  despised  the  day  of  the  Lord's  visitation, 
and  made  merry  over  His  witness  in  their  hearts.  He  afterwards 
wrote  au  address  to  the  inhabitants  of  that  city,  which  breathes  the 
loving,  truthful  spirit  of  an  ambassador  of  Him  who  came  to  seek 
and  to  save  that  which  was  lost. 

Shortly  before  this,  when  travelling  with  John  Swintoune  —  or 
Swinton  —  tiiey  visited  the  few  Friends,  who  held  a  meeting  at 
Kinnaber;  where  they  with  others  were  arrested  and  committed  to 
31 


482  FRIENDS     IN    T  H  E 

prison,  and  wero  tliere  kept  Ji  considerable  time ;  but  exactly  liow 
long,  or  how  their  liberation  was  effected,  i.s  not  mentioned. 

While  Friends  were  enduring  much  suffering  in  Scotland,  they 
received  an  epistle  from  their  fellow-believer  and  sufferer,  William 
Dewsbury,  dated  Warwick,  Eighth  month,  1672 ;  which  conveys 
the  Christian  sympathy  and  evangelical  spii'it  which  marked  that 
devoted  servant  of  the  Lord.  The  following  short  extract  is  from 
it.  "  The  Almighty  God  keep  all  your  garments  clean  in  his  holy 
power,  and  in  it  exercise  3'ou  to  the  building  up  of  one  another  on 
your  most  holy  faith ;  that  in  the  pure,  chaste  love,  you  may  grow 
up  in  the  unity  of  the  Spirit,  and  bond  of  peace,  to  shine  forth  as 

the  morning  stars,  to  enlighten  the  people  in  that  nation 

And  seeing  God  hath  called  you  to  be  the  first  fruits,  and  to  make 
vou  a  blessing ;  as  you  wait  to  be  ordered  of  the  Lord,  then  will 
my  expectation  be  answered  in  behalf  of  the  holy  Seed,  whom  my 
soul  loves  in  that  land." 

In  the  early  part  of  1673,  Alexander  Jaffray,  who  has  been  men- 
tioned as  one  of  the  earliest  convinced  in  Scotland,  of  the  doctrines 
of  Friends,  and  who  had  been  a  faithful  witness  through  much  suf- 
fering to  the  virtue  and  j^ower  of  the  principles  he  professed,  died, 
after  an  illness  of  twelve  days.  In  the  course  of  his  last  sickness, 
he  remarked,  "  That  it  was  a  great  joy  and  comfort  in  that  trying 
hour,  that  ever  he  had  been  counted  worthy  to  bear  testimony  to, 
and  suffer  for,  that  invaluable  principle,  of  Christ's  inward  appear- 
ance in  the  hearts  of  the  children  of  men  ;  visiting  all  by  his  Light, 
Grace,  or  Good  Spirit,  which  convinceth  of  sin  ;  and  that  the  great 
judgment  and  condemnation  of  many  in  the  nation,  especially  the 
religious  professors,  was,  and  would  be,  their  having  so  slighted  and 
despised,  yea,  hated  this  Divine  Light,  and  the  witnesses  of  it." 

The  King  having  withdrawn  his  proclamation  in  favor  of  Dis- 
senters, the  Council  at  Edinburgh  issued  an  order  against  "  house 
or  field  conventicles,"  and  requiring  every  head  of  a  family  to  sign 
a  bond  obliging  themselves  and  those  under  their  control,  not  to 
keep  or  be  present  at  any  such  assemblies.  The  ministers  and 
Magistrates  of  Aberdeen  were  prompt  to  avail  themselves  of  this 
device,  for  persecuting  Friends.  They  went  to  their  meeting-house, 
while  assembled  for  worship,  ordered  them  away,  and  on  their  re- 
fusing to  leave,  had  them  forcibly  expelled.  But  on  their  ejectors 
departing, Friends  quietly  reassembled  in  the  house, and  R.Barclay 
and  G.  Keith  were  engaged  in  the  ministry. 

Friends  were  then  fined,  and  a  ministering  Friend  from  England, 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  483 

was  put  in  tlie  Tolbooth,  where  he  was  kept  over  three  mouths. 
They  were  afterwards  denounced  by  name  at  the  market-cross,  as 
rebels  against  the  State,  and  their  personal  property  declared  for- 
feited to  the  King's  use. 

Besides  his  engagements  as  a  minister,  Robert  Barclay  employed 
his  pen  in  defence  of,  and  in  promulgating,  the  truth.  In  1673,  he 
published  his  "  Catechism  or  Coufession  of  Faith  ; "'  and  forasmuch 
as  the  enemies  of  Friends  charged  them  with  denying  or  under- 
valuing the  Scriptures,  he  used  in  it  Scripture  text  altogether,  for 
replies  to  the  interrogatories  upon  points  of  Christian  doctrine. 

Having  prepared  and  published  some  "Propositions,"  embracing 
the  "  Chief  principles  and  doctrines  of  Truth,"  as  held  by  Friends ; 
and  for  rescuing  his  fellow  believers  from  the  unjust  charges  of 
unbelief  in  the  great  fundamental  truths  of  the  Christian  religion, 
and  the  odium  cast  upon  them ;  Robert  Barclay  offered  to  defend 
them  where  those  charges  had  been  made,  and  against  those  who 
had  thus  traduced  Friends.  But  the  "  ministers  "  of  Aberdeen  de- 
clined to  meet  him,  and  on  the  14th  of  Second  month,  1675,  he  and 
George  Keith,  met  several  students  of  "  divinity,"  in  the  presence 
of  many  hundred  people.  Although  the  Friends  were  desirous  to 
enter  upon  the  controversy,  with  the  ministers  and  teachers  them- 
selves, yet,  finding  they  would  not  come  forward,  they  disputed  with 
the  students  for  about  three  hours ;  when  the  latter  began  treating 
the  serious  subjects  under  consideration  with  great  levity,  then  re- 
sorted to  personal  abuse,  and  finally  employed  "  clods  and  stones," 
ending  the  dispute  in  tumult  and  disorder.  The  students  claimed 
that  they  had  gained  a  victory  ;  but  the  evidence  of  the  superior 
argumentation  of  the  Friends  was,  that  four  students,  who  took  no 
personal  part  in  the  controversy,  were  convinced  of  the  soundness 
of  the  doctrines  advocated  by  Friends,  joined  the  Society,  and  had 
published  a  statement  of  the  grounds  upon  which  they  had  changed 
their  religious  views. 

The  "Propositions,"  thus  put  forth  by  II.  Barclay,  were  the  basis 
on  which  he  afterwards,  under  a  sense  of  religious  duty,  constructed 
his  celebrated  "  Apology  for  the  true  Christian  Divinity  ;  being  an 
Explanation  and  Vindication  of  the  Principles  and  Doctrines  of  tlie 
People  called  Quakers;"  which  was  published  in  1675,  and  which 
has  been  acknowledged,  put  forth,  and  recommended  by  the  Society 
ever  since,  as  a  correct,  fair  and  unimpeachable  exposition  of  its  true 
principles  and  doctrines.  Henry  Tuke,  a  Friend  of  high  standing 
in  England,  writing  for  the  "Christian  Observer,"  in  1804,  says  of 


484  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

this  standard  work,  "  Tlic  first  ])ublicatiou  of  the  work,  was  uinh^r 
the  sanction   of  the  Society.       ...      It  was   first  ])riutod   in 
Latin  ;  has  since  passed  through  eight  editions  in  English,  under 
the  sanction  of  the  Society,  besides   one   printed  in  Dublin,  and 
another  at  Birmingham,  by  Baskerville.     It  has  likewise  under- 
gone three  editions  in  German,  two  in  Dutch,  two  in  French,  one 
in  Spanish,  and  one  in  Danish  ;  also  a  second  edition  in  Latin.  All, 
or  most  of  these  in  foreign  languages,  have  likewise  been  at  the 
direction  and  expense  of  the  Society,  and  a  year  never  elapses  with- 
out a  public  recognition  of  the  work  by  the  Society  at  large,  by 
reading  over  a  list  of  books  in  their  Annual  Meetings,  in  order  to 
consider  the  republishing  of  such  as  are  nearly  out  of  print.     Nor 
is  this  all ;  it  is  a  book,  so  far  as  my  knowledge  extends  the  only 
book,  which  has  been  given  by  the  Society  to  many  of  the  public 
libraries  in  Europe,  as  well  as  to  some  Sovereigns  and  Ambassadors, 
for  conveying  a  correct  information  of   their   principles,  and  for 
counteracting  those  misrepresentations  with  which  adversaries.    .     . 
have  endeavored  to  impress  the  public  mind."     Prior  to  the  publi- 
cation of  the  above  notice  of  "  Barclay's  Apology,"  it  had  been  en- 
dorsed and  published  by  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  in  New 
England,  and  since  by  Philadelphia  Yearly  Meeting,  through  its 
representative  body ;  again  by  London  Yearly  Meeting,  and  also 
by  private  individuals,  as  a  standard  work;  exhibiting  in  full  the 
doctrines  and  Christian  faith  which  the  Society  of  Friends  believe 
to  be  in  strict  accordance  with  the  Scriptures  of  Truth. 

The  Society  of  Friends  has  always  believed  that  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures were  written  by  holy  men  under  Divine  inspiration  ;  that  they 
contain  a  revelation  of  the  mind  and  will  of  the  Almighty,  and  a 
declaration  of  the  fundamental  doctrines  and  principles  relating  to 
the  work  of  the  salvation  of  the  soul ;  that  they  are  a  rule  of  faith 
and  practice,  obligatory  on  all  who  have  a  knowledge  of  them  ;  and 
that  whatever  is  contrary  to  them,  is  to  be  considered  a  delusion  of 
Satan.  They,  being  the  words  of  God,  and  a  Divine  record  of 
Christian  faith,  are  therefore  the  only  outward  standard  or  test,  by 
Avhich  controversies  respecting  that  faith  or  belief,  should  be  tried. 
Therefore,  in  thus  fully  endorsing  the  principles  and  practices  in- 
culcated and  defended  in  "Barclay's  Apology,"  and  at  various 
times  and  by  succeeding  generations,  presenting  it  to  the  world  as  a 
true,  clear  and  unequivocal  declaration  of  the  faith  held  and  taught 
by  it,  the  Society  of  Friends  has  never  intended  to  convey  the  idea 
or  opinion,  that  it  claimed  for  that  work  the  same  estimation  or 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  485 

authority  as  for  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  but  that  the  author  of  the 
Apology,  under  the  eulighteuiug  influence  of  a  measure  of  the  same 
Spirit  that  dictated  the  Scriptures,  had  been  enabled  to  demojistrate 
in  it,  what  are  the  Christian  doctrines  set  forth  in  the  sacred  records, 
as  they  are  understood,  embraced,  lived  up  to,  and  promulgated  by 
true  Friends. 

The  doctrines  and  testimonies  so  ably  set  forth  by  Barclay,  are 
in  exact  unison  with  those  preached,  practised,  and  otherwise  incul- 
cated, by  George  Fox,  and  all  those  faithful  men  and  women  who 
labored  with  him  in  the  work  of  the  gospel  in  their  day ;  many  of 
whom  bore  testimony  to  his  growth  and  establishment  in  the  im- 
mutable truth,  and  their  unity  with  his  labors  for  the  promotion  of 
truth  and  righteousness.  To  this  day,  the  work  has  remained  uu- 
refuted,  and  it  continues  to  be  fully  acknowledged  by  all  those  who 
can  rightl}^  claim  to  be  Friends. 

lu  1676,  the  Council  at  Edinbui'gh  issued  a  declaration  of  the 
continued  force  of  former  Acts  against  Conventicles,  and  enjoining 
Sheriffs  and  Magistrates  to  have  them  executed.  Tiiis  incited  the 
civil  and  ecclesiastical  rulers  in  Aberdeen  to  renewed  persecution 
of  Friends,  and  in  a  few  weeks  thirty-four  of  them  were  lodged  in 
prison ;  where  they  were  kept  some  time  before  being  brought  to 
trial.  When  the  trial  came  on,  although  it  was  shown  that  the  in- 
dictments were  incorrect,  and  the  witnesses  called  were  illegal  on 
account  of  their  connection  with  the  prosecution,  yet,  because  they 
would  not  bind  themselves  not  to  go  to  their  meetings  again,  seven 
of  them  were  fined,  each  one-fourth  of  their  respective  annual  rents, 
for  going  to  their  own  meeting,  and  one-eighth  of  the  same,  for  not 
attending  at  the  established  public  worship  ;  thi'ee  of  them  aiiother 
eighth,  for  their  wives'  similar  transgression ;  and  two  of  them — 
John  Skene  and  George  Keith — were  ordered  to  give  bonds  not  to 
preach  again,  under  penalty  of  five  thousand  marks,  or  to  be  ban- 
ished the  kingdom. 

The  Friends  were  again  shut  up  in  a  filthy  prison,  until  the  fines 
levied  could  be  distrained;  which  was  intrusted  to  one  George  Mel- 
ville; who,  as  he  obtained  opportunity,  carried  ofi"  goods,  horses, 
cattle,  &c,,  belonging  to  the  Friends,  far  exceeding  the  amount 
claimed.  As  some  were  liberated  upon  their  fines  being  collected, 
other  Friends  were  committed  ;  and  as  those  discharged  were  soon 
found  at  their  meetings  again,  they  were  also  recommitted.  By  the 
malignant  cruelty  of  some  of  those  in  power,  the  prisoners  were  sub- 
jected to  great  suffering ;  being  sometimes  crowded  in  rooms  so 


486  F  R  I  E  X  D  S    1  N    T  II  E 

small  they  could  not  all  lie  down  at  the  same  time  ;  and  sometimes, 
by  the  boarding  up  of  the  windows,  to  prevent  Friends  preaching 
to  the  people  in  the  streets,  the  circulation  of  air  was  so  impeded, 
that  there  was  imminent  risk  of  suffocation.  Some  physicians  of  tlic 
town  having  expressed  the  opinion,  that  the  close  confinement  in 
the  contaminated  atmosphere,  and  the  other  severe  usage  to  which 
they  were  daily  subjected,  were  endangering  the  lives  of  the  prisoners, 
some  of  their  relatives  and  friends  applied  to  the  Mayor  and  Bailie, 
to  allow  some  of  them  to  be  removed  to  another  place  of  confine- 
ment :  but  he  refused  ;  saying,  "  He  would  pack  them  like  salmon 
in  a  barrel,  and  though  they  stood  as  close  as  the  fingers  on  his 
hands,  they  should  have  no  more  room;  and  if  they  had  not  room 
in  the  chambers  they  might  lie  on  the  stairs ;"  which  was  a  narrow 
passage,  admitting  of  but  one  to  pass  at  a  time. 

Three  of  the  Friends  who  had  been  longest  kept  in  prison  and 
were  most  cruelly  ti'eated  by  the  persecuting  Magistrates,  were  Pat- 
rick Livingston,  George  Gray  and  Andrew  Jaffray.  They  were 
ministers,  and  under  a  sense  of  duty,  found  themselves  engaged  to 
preach  the  gospel  to  the  people  from  the  windows  of  the  Tolbooth 
of  Aberdeen  ;  often  having  a  large  audience  in  the  street,  especially 
on  market  days.  To  prevent  this,  which  was  attended  with  several 
convincemeuts  that  greatly  enraged  the  Magistrates,  those  three 
Friends  were  separated  from  their  fellow  prisoners,  and  thrust  into 
a  close  vaulted  cell  at  the  top  of  the  jail,  where  murderers  were 
usually  confined.  The  only  aperture  for  the  admission  of  light  and 
air,  was  a  iiole  through  the  thick  wall,  with  an  iron  grating  at  each 
end.  The  place  was  infested  with  vermin,  and  in  summer  was 
excessively  hot,  and  those  kept  in  this  horrid  cell  seemed  literally 
buried  alive.  But  the  three  Friends,  through  the  preserving  power 
of  Plim,  whom  they  were  striving  to  serve  in  simplicity  and  sin- 
cerity, were  kept  cheerful  and  well,  and  it  is  said,  "Their  very 
natural  voices  strengthened,  and  [were]  raised  up  as  trumpets, 
mightily  to  sound  forth  God's  glorious  truth  and  ])()wer,  through 
the  said  hole  in  the  wall,  and  though  four  or  five  stories  high,  and 
[the  hole]  double  grated,  as  aforesaid,  so  that  iheir  faces  could  not 
win  near  to  see  the  street  below,  yet  they  were  distinctly  heard  all 
over  the  street  by  the  people,  who  the  more  frequently  got  together." 
Finding  that  their  own  cruelty,  and  the  patient  endurance  of  suffer- 
ing by  the  Quaker  preachers,  were  working  the  effect  they  most 
dreaded  or  hated,  the  Magistrates,  after  seven  weeks'  trial  of  the 
"  iron  house,"  as  it  was  called,  returned  the  three  Friends  to  the 
same  quarters  as  were  occupied  by  their  fellow  professors. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  487 

While  these  Friends  were  thus  enduring  suffering  for  their  testi- 
mony to  the  truth,  juid  to  keep  a  conscience  void  of  offence  towards 
God  and  towards  man,  they  were  visited  by  epistles  from  several  of 
their  brethren  in  religious  profession  ;  who  themselves  knew  Avhat  it 
was  to  undergo  bonds  and  afflictions  in  the  same  good  and  noble 
cause.  Isaac  Penington,  AVilliam  Penn,  Gavine  Lawrie,  Hector 
Allane  and  others,  thus  manifested  their  love  and  sympathy;  and 
gave  proof  how  the  faithful  members  of  the  Society  were  united  in 
the  fellowship  of  the  gospel,  and  concerned  to  watch  over  each 
other  for  good,  and  to  encourage  and  serve  one  another  as  members 
of  the  same  household  of  faith. 

David  Barclay  was  one  of  the  prisoners,  and  of  the  sufferers  in 
his  estate  by  the  seizures  of  the  rapacious  Melville ;  but  during  all  the 
forepart  of  this  severe  persecution,  Robert  Barclay  was  absent  from 
Scotland ;  having  gone  on  a  religious  visit  into  England,  and  after 
performing  that  service,  going  on  a  similar  errand  into  Holland  and 
parts  of  Germany. 

.  It  was  during  this  visit  on  the  continent  that  R.  Bai'clay  first 
became  acquainted  with  Elizabetli,  Princess  Palatine,  and  a  mutual 
friendship  was  formed  which  continued  through  life,  a  correspond- 
ence being  kept  up  between  them.  On  his  return  from  this  journey, 
while  at  London,  he  heard  of  the  imprisonment  of  his  father  and 
other  Friends  at  Aberdeen.  He  at  once  drew  up  a  statement  of  the 
case  of  the  suffering  Friends  in  Scotland,  and  had  it  presented  to  the 
King,  through  the  Duke  of  Lauderdale.  The  King  and  Council,  how- 
ever, decided  to  refer  the  matter  to  the  Privy  Council,  at  Edin- 
burgh, and  that  body,  knowing  well  that  neither  the  King  nor 
Lauderdale  would  give  further  attention  to  the  matter,  took  no 
effectual  measures  for  liberating  Friends  at  Aberdeen  ;  but  David 
Barclay  was  discharged  from  prison. 

R.  Barclay  had  not  been  long  at  home  before  he  was  arrested 
while  attending  a  meeting  for  worship  in  Aberdeen,  and  with  three 
other  Friends,  was  shut  up  in  its  noisome  jail.  While  thus  a  prisoner, 
the  fact  having  become  known  to  his  friend,  the  Princess  Elizabeth, 
she  at  once  addressed  a  letter  to  her  brother,  Prince  Rupert,  who 
stood  high  at  the  Court  of  Charles  II. ;  and  as  it  may  be  considered 
characteristic  of  the  feelings  and  sentiments  of  that  personage,  who 
will  be  again  mentioned,  it  may  well  claim  a  place  here. 

"  Herford,  Decend)er  lOth,  1673.  Dear  Brother.  I  have  written 
to  you  some  months  ago  by  Robert  Barclay,  who  passed  this  way, 


488  F  II I  E  iX  D  S     J  X    T  II  E 

and  licarin^ir  I  was  your  sister,  desired  t'>  speak  \vitli  me.  I  knew 
him  to  he  a  (Quaker  hy  his  liat,  and  look  occasion  to  inlorm  myself 
of"  all  their  opinions  ;  and  findinj^  they  were  so  subiniss  to  the  Magis- 
trates ill  real,  omitting  the  ceremonial,  I  wished  in  my  heart  the 
King  might  have  many  such  subjects.  And  since,  I  have  heard  that 
notwithstanding  his  Majesty's  gracious  letter,  on  his  behalf,  to  the 
Council  of  Scotland,  he  has  been  clapped  up  in  jirison  with  the  rest 
t)f  his  friends;  and  they  threaten  to  hang  them  ;  at  least  those  they 
call  preachers  among  them,  unless  they  subscribe  their  own  banish- 
ment ;  and  this  upon  a  law  made  against  other  sects,  that  appeared 
armed  for  the  maintenance  of  their  heresy  —  which  goes  directly 
against  the  principles  of  those,  who  are  ready  to  suffer  all  that  can 
be  inflicted,  and  still  love  and  i)ray  for  their  enemies.  Therefore, 
dear  brother,  if  you  can  do  anything  to  prevent  their  destruc- 
tion, I  doubt  not  but  you  would  do  an  action  acceptable  to  God 
Almighty,  and  conducive  to  the  service  of  your  royal  Master  :  for 
the  Presbyterians  are  their  main  enemies;  to  whom  they  are  an  eye- 
sore, as  bearing  witness  against  all  their  violent  ways. 

"  I  care  not  though  his  Majesty  see  my  letter :  it  is  written  no  less 
out  of  humble  affection  for  him,  than  in  a  sensible  compassion  of 
the  innocent  sufferers.  You  will  act  herein  according  to  your  own 
discretion  ;  and  I  beseech  you  still  consider  me  as,  yours 

Elizabeth." 

As  has  been  already  stated,  George  Fox  was,  in  1674,  a  prisoner 
at  large  in  Worcester,  waiting  for  trial  at  the  next  Quarter  Session 
of  the  Court,  to  be  held  in  the  Second  month.  At  that  session,  when 
he  pleaded  the  errors  in  the  indictment,  he  was  overruled  by  the 
Court,  and  the  oath  being  tendered  to  him  again,  which  he  refused 
to  take,  the  jury  was  instructed  to  bring  him  in  guilty  ;  which  they 
did.  At  the  Sessions  in  the  Fifth  month,  he  was  again  arraigned. 
He  pointed  out  many  errors  in  the  indictment,  which  the  Judge  ac- 
knowledged were  errors ;  but  nevertheless  he  ordered  the  jury  to 
bring  in  a  verdict,  and  as  they  hesitated,  the  Court  instructed 
them  that  it  having  been  testified  that  George  Fox  had  refused  to 
take  the  oath  when  tendered  to  him  at  the  last  sessions,  that  was 
enough  :  whereupon  they  brought  him  in  guilty.  The  Judge  then 
told  him  he  warned  him  of  the  sad  sentence  he  had  incurred. 
George  asked  him  if  he  was  going  to  pass  sentence  upon  him  now  ; 
for  he  had  many  reasons  to  give  why  he  should  not  be  sentenced  on 
that  indictment,  it  being  so  defective.     The  Judge  replied,  he  was 


SEVi:XTEENTII    CENTURY.  489 

about  to  show  liim  the  danger  he  was  in  of  a  premunire,  but  he  did 
not  deliver  it  as  a  sentence,  but  as  an  admonition.  The  Court  then 
ordered  him  taken  away.  After  George  was  gone,  the  Judge  ordered 
that  what  he  had  tohl  him,  as  an  admonition,  shouhl  be  recorded  as 
his  sentence;  and  thus  he  was  made  a  prisoner  for  life  under  the 
premunire. 

George  Fox  being  thus  incarcerated,  with  no  prospect  of  release, 
his  wife  came  to  Worcester,  to  be  with  and  take  care  of  him.  A 
full  statement  of  his  case,  and  of  the  legal  errors  in  his  trials,  was 
drawn  up  by  her  and  their  son-in-law,  Thomas  Lower,  and  pre- 
sented to  the  Judge  who  held  the  next  assizes ;  but  he  would  give 
no  opinion,  except  that  they  might  bring  suit  upon  the  alleg(|d  in- 
validity of  the  trial.  G.  Fox  was  soon  after  taken  sick,  and  became 
so  ill  that  his  life  was  despaired  of.  He,  however,  was  sensible  that 
the  time  for  his  dismissal  from  service  was  not  yet  come,  and  he 
says,  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  him,  that  He  "  had  a  great  deal 
more  work  for  me  to  do  for  Him,  before  He  took  me  to  himself." 
When  he  was  convalescent,  his  wife  went  to  London,  sought  and 
obtained  an  interview  with  the  King,  and  laid  her  husband's  hard 
case  fully  before  him.  He  referred  her  to  the  Lord  Keeper  ;  who 
told  her  the  only  way  to  obtain  a  release,  was  by  the  King's  par- 
don. This  George  refused  to  accept ;  for,  he  declared,  "  I  would 
rather  have  lain  in  prison  all  my  days,  than  have  come  out  in  any 
way  dishonorable  to  Truth." 

Richard  Davies,  a  Friend,  of  Wales,  having  come  to  visit  his 
honorable  and  beloved  friend  in  prison,  G.  Fox  gave  him  an  ac- 
count of  the  circumstances  of  his  case,  and  Richard  being  impressed 
with  the  manifest  illegality  of  some  of  the  proceedings,  suggested 
that  application  should  again  be  made  for  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus, 
and  another  trial  be  had  before  the  Judges  of  the  King's  Bench. 
He  also  proposed  that  a  Welsh  Counsellor,  named  Corbet,  then  in 
London,  should  be  employed  to  conduct  the  case.  George  Fox  felt 
free  to  proceed  at  once  on  this  course ;  so  the  necessary  writ  was 
obtained,  and  they  went  up  to  London ;  George  in  a  coach,  being 
yet  too  weak  to  ride  on  horseback. 

He  says  in  his  Journal :  "  We  came  to  London  the  eighth  of  the 
Twelfth  month,  and  the  eleventh  I  was  brought  before  the  four 
Judges  at  the  King's  Bench,  whore  Counsellor  Corbet  started  a  new 
plea.  He  told  the  Judges,  'They  could  not  imprison  any  man  u])on 
a  premunire.'  Whereupon  the  Chief  Justice,  Hale,  said, '  Mr.  Cor- 
bet, you  sljiould  have  come  sooner,  at  the  beginning  of  tlie  term, 


490  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

■with  this  ])h'a.'      ITc  aii.^wcrcd,  'We  coihl  not  get  a  copy  of  the  re- 
turn  and   tlie  indictnioiit.'     The  Judge  replied,  '  You   should  have 
told  us,  and  we  would   have  I'oreed   them   to  have  made  a  return 
sooner.'    Then,  said  Judge  Wild,  '  Mr.  Corbet,  you  go  upon  general 
terms ;  and  if  it  bo  so  as  you  say,  we  have  committed  many  erroi's 
at  the  Old  Bailey,  and  in  other  Courts.'     Corbet  was  positive,  that 
by  law  they  could  not  imprison  upon  a  premunire.     The  Judge 
said,  '  There  is  summons  in  the  statute.'     '  Yes,'  said  Corbet,  '  but 
summons  is  not  imprisonment,  for  summons  is  in  order  to  a  trial.' 
'Well,'  said  the  Judge,  'we  must  have  time  to  look  in  our  l)ooks, 
and  consult  the  statutes.'     So  the  hearing  was  put  off  till  next  day. 
"The  next  day,  they  chose  rather  to  let  this  plea  fall,  and  begin 
with    the   errors  of   the    indictment ;    and    when    they  came  to  be 
opened,  they  were  so  many  and  gross,  that  the  Judges  were  all  of 
opinion  the  '  indictment  was  quashed  and  void,  and  that  I  ought  to 
have  my  liberty,'     There  were  that  day  several  great  men,  lords 
and  others,  who  had  the  oaths  of  allegiance  and  supremacy  ten- 
dered to  them  in  open  Court,  just  before  my  trial  came  on  ;  and 
some  of  my  adversaries  moved  the  Judges,  that  the  oaths  might  be 
tendered  again  to  me,  telling  them,  '  I  was  a  dangerous  man  to  be 
at  liberty.'     But  Judge  Hale  said,   'He  had   indeed  heard  some 
such  reports,  but  he  had  also  heard  many  more  good  reports  of 
me ; '  so  he,  with   the  rest  of  the  Judges,  ordered  me  to  be  freed  by 
Proclamation.     Thus  after  I  liad  sufiered  imprisonment  a  year  and 
almost  two  months  for  nothing,  I  was  fairly  set  at  liberty  uj)()n  a 
trial  of  the  errors  of  my  indictment,  without  receiving  any  pardon, 
or  coming  under  any  obligation  or  engagement  at  all ;  and  the  Lord's 
everlasting  power  went  over  all,  to  his  glory  and  praise.     Coun- 
sellor Corbet  got  great  fame  by  it ;  many  of  the  lawyers  told  him, 
'He  had  brought  that  to  light  which  had  not  been  known  before, 
as  to  the  not  imprisoning  upon  a  premunire  ; '  and  after  the  trial,  a 
Judge  said  to  him,  '  You  have  obtained  a  great  deal  of  honor,  by 
pleading  George  Fox's  cause  so  in  Court.'  " 

As  Richard  Davies,  who  had  been  so  helpful  in  obtaining  a  new 
trial  for  George  Fox,  whereby  he  was  honorably  discharged,  was  a 
Friend  of  great  integrity  ;  of  whom  George  Whitehead  testifies,  "  He 
was  a  preacher  of  Christ  and  his  righteousness,  ir  his  conversation, 
as  well  as  in  doctrine  an<l  ministry  ;  wherein  he  was  exemplary  to  the 
believers ; "  and  as  he  was  one  of,  if  not  the  first  in  North  Whales, 
convinced  of  the  doctrines  and  testimonies  of  the  Gospel  as  held  by 
Friends,  it  may  be  well  to  give  a  short  sketch  of  his  convincement. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  491 

From  the  account  given  by  him,  it  is  evident,  that  from  yontli  he 
was  a  sincere  seeker  after  truth,  and  conscientiously  concerned  to 
embrace  every  means  and  opportunity  that  presented  for  obtaining 
a  knowledge  of  it ;  being  much  given  to  studying  the  Scriptures, 
and  frequenting  the  meetings  of  the  Independents.  Believing  him- 
self called  to  engage  in  many  religious  exercises,  he  was  often  occu- 
pied in  exhortation,  and  in  making  long  prayers  ;  but  he  remarks  of 
himself  and  his  companions,  though  "The  Lord  did  then  beget  true 
hungerings  and  thii'stings  in  our  souls  after  Him,"  yet  "  We  knew 
not  the  Lord,  as  we  ought  to  have  done;  namely,  by  his  Light, 
Grace  and  Spirit  shining  in  our  hearts,  to  give  us  the  light  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Sou  of  God  ;  which  knowledge  keejDS  a  man  meek 
and  humble." 

About  the  year  165G,  he  says,  "  Our  ministers  told  us  there  was 
a  sort  of  people  come  up  in  the  IS^orth,  called  Quakers,  that  were  a 
people  of  strange  posture  and  principles  :  saying  that  it  was  the  last 
days  and  times  which  Christ  spoke  of  in  tlie  twenty-fourth  of  Mat- 
thew, '  Many  shall  come  in  my  name  and  deceive  many,'  "  verse  v.: 
'  For  there  shall  arise  flilse  Clirists  and  false  prophets,  and  shall 
show^  great  signs  and  wonders ;  insomuch  that  if  it  were  possible, 
they  shall  deceive  the  very  elect,'  verse  xxiv.  This  sort  of  people, 
called  Quakers,  were  much  preached  against:  they  told  us  they 
were  the  false  prophets;  that  they  denied  the  Scriptures  and  all 
ordinances,  and  also  denied  the  very  Christ  that  bought  them,"  &c. 

He  thus  states  his  first  personal  knowledge  of  Friends:  "About 
the  year  1657,  there  came  a  poor  man,  in  a  mean  habit,  to  my 
master's  house,  named  Morgan  Evan,  of  South  Wales :  he  had  met 
with  the  people  called  Quakers  in  his  travels,  and  was  convinced  of 
the  truth.  This  poor  man  discoursed  my  master  about  the  princi- 
ples of  Truth,  and  I  being  in  the  shop  about  my  calling,  my  mistress 
came  and  said,  '  Why  do  you  not  go  to  help  your  master  ?  for  there 
is  a  Quaker  at  the  door,  that  hath  put  him  to  silence.'  I,  hearing 
this,  made  haste  and  took  my  Bible  under  my  arm,  and  put  on  what 
courage  I  could,  to  dispute  with  that  poor  man  ;  but  he  proved  too 
hard  for  us  all.  When  I  went  to  them,  they  were  upon  [the  use  of] 
the  words  Thee  and  Thou,  and  I  peremptorily  asked  him,  what 
command  he  had  to  speak  Thee  and  Tliouf  for  I  did  acknowledge 
to  him  that  it  was  the  language  of  God  to  Adam,  and  the  language 
of  the  Scriptures  ;  but,  said  I,  that  is  not  enough  for  us  in  this  day  ; 
we  must  have  a  command  tin-  it.  To  which  he  answered,  '  Hold  fast 
the  form  of  sound  w(jrds  which   tluju  hast  heard  ot  me.'     I  asked 


492  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

him  whether  that  was  Scripture?  He  asked  me  whether  I  would 
deny  it?  and  I  told  him  he  was  to  prove  it.  Then  he  took  the 
Bible  out  of  my  hand,  and  turned  to  2d  Timoth}',  i.  1*>,  which  he 
read,  and  told  me  that  Hold  fad  there,  was  a  command  ;  wliich  I 
knew  verv  well,  hoth  the  Scripture  and  the  command.  But  to  prove 
him  further,  I  desired  liim  to  read  a  little  more  of  that  chapter,  both 
backward  and  forward,  which  he  freely  did,  and  then  asked  me, 
Why  I  ilid  require  that  of  him?  I  told  him  we  heard  that  the 
Quakers  denied  the  Scriptures,  and  that  they  would  not  read  tiiem. 
He  said  there  were  many  false  reports  about  them.  And  truly 
when  he  read  the  Scriptures  so  readily,  I  concluded  in  myself  that 
what  was  reported  of  them  was  not  true,  and  he  saw  that  he  had 
reached  to  the  Witness  for  God  in  me.  Then  he  exhorted  me  to 
take  heed  to  that  Light  that  shined  in  my  heart,  and  showed  me  my 
vain  thoughts,  and  reproved  me  in  secret  for  every  idle  word  and 
action;  saying,  'That  was  the  true  Light  which  lighteth  every 
man  that  cometh  into  the  world,'  and  that  in  tliat  Light  I  should 
see  more  light,  and  that  it  would  open  the  Scriptures  to  me,  and 
that  I  should  receive  a  measure  of  the  same  Spirit  that  gave  them 
forth.  Further  he  told  rae.  It  was  '  The  more  sure  word  of  j)roph- 
ecy,'  unto  which  I  did  well,  if  I  took  heed,  '  as  unto  a  light  that 
shiueth  in  a  dark  place,  until  the  day -dawn,  and  the  day-star  arise 
in  your  hearts ;'  2  Peter,  i.  19.  And  he  spoke  much  of  the  in- 
ward work,  and  the  operation  of  God's  Holy  Spirit  upon  the  soul ; 
recommending  me  to  the  '  Grace  of  God  that  bringeth  salvation, — 
teaching  us  that  denying  ungodliness  and  worldly  lusts,  we  should 
live  soberly,  righteously  and  godly  in  this  present  Avorld :'  Titus,  ii. 
11,  12.  And  so  he  departed  from  our  house,  and  I  set  him  a  little 
along  on  his  way." 

Awakened  by  this  humble  instrument  in  the  Lord's  hand,  to  a 
far  deeper  insight  of  the  spirituality  of  the  Christian  religion,  and 
its  transforming  work  upon  the  soul,  than  he  had  ever  had  before, 
Richard  Davies  found  that  the  place  of  beginning  and  carrying  on 
the  change  from  a  state  of  nature  to  a  state  of  grace,  was  in  the 
vineyard  of  his  heart.  He  .says,  "The  more  I  waited  in  that 
Light  to  which  he  [M.  Evan]  recommended  me,  the  more  my  ftn-mer 
lieace,  and  that  in  which  I  formerly  took  comfort,  were  broken  ;  and 
herein  I  came  to  see  that  our  former  building  could  not  stand  ;  for 
we  built  with  that  which  the  apostle  called  wood,  hay  and  stubble. 
Here  I  came  to  a  loss  of  all  my  former  knowledge,  and  my  former 
performances   proved   but   a   sandy  foundation."     Earnestly  and 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CEXTURY.  493 

sincerely  desirous  to  come  to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth  as  it  is 
in  Jesus,  he  was  sorely  afraid  lest  he  might  be  deceived  by  the 
Quakers;  for  he  "  had  read  and  heard  that  Satan  himself  is  'trans- 
formed into  an  angel  of  Light.'  "  As  he  came  under  the  teaching  of 
the  Spirit  of  Truth  inwardly  revealed,  he  found  himself  obliged  to 
"  Take  leave  of  all  ray  former  teachers,  and  many  times  went  to  the 
woods  and  other  by-places,  where  none  might  see  me,  to  wait  upon 
the  Lord  ;  where  I  was  much  broken  and  tendered  by  the  power  of 
God."  There  being  no  one  in  that  part  of  the  country  wlio  could 
counsel  or  sympathize  with  liim  in  his  inward  conflicts  and  outward 
trials,  he  fervently  petitioned  that,  if  it  were  right,  he  "  Might  see 
that  poor  man  once  again  ;  for  I  knew  not  where  to  see  the  face  of 
any  called  a  Friend ;  and  it  pleased  God  that  he  came  again  that 
way,  and  I  desired  my  master  and  mistress  to  give  him  lodging,  and 
that  he  might  be  with  me,  to  which  they  consented." 

In  the  course  of  their  conversation,  R.  Davies  learned  the  views 
of  Friends  in  relation  to  the  nature  of  Christian  baptism,  and  the 
use  of  bread  and  wine;  "  which,"  he  observes,  "gave  me  some  satis- 
faction ; "  and  after  they  parted,  "  I  saw  him  no  more  for  several 
years."  Under  the  enlightening  influence  of  Divine  Grace,  he  came 
to  see  that  it  was  a  mistake  to  call  the  Scriptures  the  Word  of  God, 
inasmuch  as  that  title  belongs  to  Christ;  who  was  in  the  beginning, 
before  the  Scriptures  were  written  ;  and  that  it  was  also  wrong  to 
suppose  that  etemial  life  was  to  be  obtained  in  those  sacred  records ; 
but  all  must  come  to  Christ,  as  He  is  inwardly  revealed  to  the  soul, 
as  the  Way,  the  Truth,  and  the  Life.  In  this  way,  as  obedience 
accompanied  the  knowledge  received,  he  became  more  and  more 
fully  instructed  in  the  mysteries  of  the  Kingdom  of  heaven,  and 
willingness  was  wrought  to  take  up  the  daily  cross  and  follow  his 
spiritual  Leader.  He  came  to  see  clearly  the  true  nature  of  the 
baptism  of  Christ,  and  of  feeding  on  His  flesh  and  blood;  that  both 
were  inward  and  spiritual;  the  one  being  the  washing  of  regenera- 
tion, through  the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the  other  the 
communion  with  Christ  as  He  comes  into  the  soul,  and  gives  it  to 
partake  of  the  food  which  He  supplies. 

"  God  showed  me,"  he  observes,  "  the  customs  of  the  nation  were 
vain,  and  our  language  not  according  to  the  language  of  God's 
people,  recorded  in  the  Scriptures  of  truth."  It  cost  him  much  to 
give  up  the  Use  of  the  language,  fashions,  and  compliments  in  which 
he  had  been  educated,  and  w^hich  were  ])ractised  l)y  all  around  him ; 
but  when  convinced  by  the  Holy  Spirit  in   his  heart,  that  it  was 


494  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

right  and  needful,  he  gave  up,  hi  ehihilike  obedience,  thus  to  be- 
come as  a  fool  for  Christ's  sake.  He  says,  "Thus  I  was  con- 
scientiously concerned  to  speak  the  pure  language  of  thou  and  thee 
to  every  one,  without  respect  of  persons;  which  was  a  great  cross  to 
me." 

His  master  —  who  was  convinced  of  many  of  the  doctrines  and 
testimonies  held  by  Friends,  but  was  unfaithful  thereto — found  no 
fliult  with  Richard  for  using  the  plain  language  to  him  ;  "  But  when 
I  gave  it  to  my  mistress,  she  took  a  stick  and  gave  me  such  a  blow 
upon  ray  bare  head,  that  made  it  swell  and  sore  for  a  considerable 
time.  She  Avas  so  disturbed  at  it,  that  'she  swore  she  would  kill 
me,  though  she  would  be  hanged  for  me ; '  the  enemy  had  so  pos- 
sessed her,  that  she  was  quite  out  of  order  ;  thougli  before  she  had 
seldom,  if  ever,  given  me  an  angry  word."  Notwithstanding  the 
hard  usage  he  met  with,  he  continued  faithful,  and  to  perform  his 
"work  and  service"  honestly  and  justly  ;  "  not  with  eye-service  as 
man-pleasers :  but  in  singleness  of  heart,  as  the  servant  of  Christ, 
doing  the  will  of  God  from  the  heart;"  and  in  course  of  time,  though 
the  rage  and  evil-intention  of  his  mistress  continued  long,  yet  being 
taken  ill  after  he  had  gone  to  live  at  another  place,  she  was  favored 
to  see  the  sinful  condition  she  had  fallen  into,  and  told  her  husband, 
"  She  could  not  die  until  she  had  asked  his  [Richard's]  forgiveness, 
and  desired  he  might  be  sent  for."  Richard  sent  word,  that  he  had 
long  before  freely  forgiven  her ;  and  sonle  lime  after,  he  states,  "  It 
pleased  God  to  order  it  so,  that  she  had  a  visit  from  me  before  she 
went  out  of  this  world ;  and  very  comfortable  and  acceptable  it  was 
to  her,  and  in  a  little  time  she  ended  her  days  in  peace,  and  was 
buried  in  Friends'  burying-place." 

It  soon  became  the  talk  of  the  place,  that  Richard  Davies  had 
become  a  Quaker,  and  the  minister  of  the  parish  where  his  parents 
lived,  went  to  them  and  told  them,  "  That  I  had  gone  distracted,  and 
that  they  should  see  for  some  learned  man  to  come  to  me,  and  re- 
store me  to  ray  senses."  His  parents  were  greatly  grieved  and  dis- 
pleased with  him,  and  when  he  first  went  to  visit  them  after  his 
change,  both  fjither  and  mother  turned  their  backs  upon  him  ;  his 
father  saying,  "They  had  thought  to  have  comfort  iu  him,  but  now 
they  expected  he  would  go  up  and  down  the  country  crying.  Repent, 
Repent."  This  treatment  plunged  him  into  great  distress ;  but  he 
had  brought  to  his  remembrance  the  language,  "  When  ray  father 
and  ray  mother  forsake  me,  then  the  Lord  will  take  me  up :  teach 
me  thy  way,  O  Lord !  and  lead  me  in  a  plain  path,  because  of  mine 


SEVENTEEN  Til    CEXTURY.  495 

enemies."  "  At  length,"  he  says,  "  my  mother  came  tenderly  to 
me,  and  took  a  view  of  me,  looking  on  my  face,  and  she  saw  that  I 
was  her  child,  and  that  I  was  not,  as  they  said,  bewitched  or  trans- 
formed into  some  other  likeness  —  which  was  reported  of  Quakers 
then,  and  that  they  bewitched  people  to  their  religion,  &c.  .  .  . 
And  when  I  discoursed  with  her  out  of  the  Scriptures,  her  heart 
was  much  tendered  and  affected  with  the  goodness  of  God  towards 
me ;  she  went  to  see  my  father,  and  when  she  found  him,  said  to 
him,  '  Be  of  good  comfort,  our  son  is  not  as  was  reported  of  him,  we 
hope  to  have  comfort  of  him  yet.'  "  Finding  it  laid  upon  him  to  go 
to  the  place  of  worship  where  the  minister  officiated,  who  had  told 
his  parents  he  was  distracted,  R.  Davies,  when  there,  waited  until 
the  "service"  was  ended,  and  then  called  upon  the  priest  to  defend 
the  false  doctrine  he  had  just  promulgated;  and  if  he  [R.  Davies] 
was  distracted,  as  he  had  said,  to  labor  for  his  restoration.  But 
Richard,  and  a  young  man  who  liad  been  convinced  previously  by 
his  conversation,  and  had  followed  him  to  the  "  steeple  house,"  were 
laid  hold  of,  and  put  in  prison,  where  they  were  kept  that  night; 
the  Magistrate,  on  examination  the  next  raording,  discharging  them, 
as  th«y  had  broken  no  law. 

Under  a  sense  of  religious  duty,  R.  Davies  visited  many  of  his 
former  associates,  setting  before  them  the  errors  of  their  ways,  and 
expounding  to  them  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel  and  the  require- 
ments of  the  way  of  righteousness  ;  and  two  or  three  of  them  were 
convinced  and  embraced  the  truth.  He  states,  "  When  we  had 
come  to  the  number  of  four,  it  was  with  me  that  we  ought  to  meet 
together  in  the  name  of  the  Lord ;  for  I  remembered  the  promise 
of  Christ,  who  said,  '  Where  two  or  three  are  gathered  together  in 
my  name,  there  am  I  in  the  midst  of  them.'  So  we  all  agreed  to 
meet  together,  but  none  of  us  had  a  liouse  of  his  own  to  meet  in. 
We  determined  therefore  to  meet  upon  a  hill,  in  a  common,  as  near 
as  we  could  for  the  convenience  of  each  other  ;  we  living  some  miles 
distant  one  from  another.  There  we  met  in  silence,  to  the  wonder 
of  the  country.  When  the  rain  and  weather  beat  upon  us  on  one 
side  of  the  hill,  we  went  to  the  other  side.  We  were  not  free  to  go 
into  any  of  the  neighbors'  inclosures,  for  they  were  so  blind,  dark 
and  ignorant,  that  they  looked  upon  us  as  witches,  and  would  go 
away  from  us,  some  crossing  themselves  with  their  hands  about 
their  foreheads  and  faces." 

Two  of  these  young  converts  having  been  sent  out  of  that  part 
of  the  country  by  their  relatives,  and  another  proving  unfaithful, 


496  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

Kichard  was  ]t;ft  to  liold  tlie  meeting  alone,  which  he  a})pear.s  to 
have  done  until  the  end  of  his  apprenticeshi|),  when  he  went  up  to 
London,  and  there  followed  his  busine.-s.  lint  in  the  course  of  a 
short  time,  he  found  it  required  of  him  to  return  to  his  f)rmer  place 
of  residence  in  Wales  ;  in  oi-der  to  stand  there  as  a  witness  for  the 
Truth  ;  but  he  was  rebellious,  gi'catly  preferring  to  remain  where 
he  was,  where  lie  had  the  company  and  encouraging  countenance  of 
other  Friends.  He  resisted  the  conviction  of  this  duty  until  he  was 
visited  with  severe  and  painful  illness,  when  he  was  made  willing 
to  resign  himself  to  the  Lord's  disposal ;  who  provided  him  with  a 
suitable  wife;  one  who,  under  a  sense  of  religions  duty,  was  willing 
to  leave  all,  and  rest  content  in  the  field  and  service  of  the  Lord  ap- 
pointed for  them.  They  removed  to  Welch  Pool  in  Wales,  where 
R.  Davies,  who  had  received  and  now  exercised  a  gift  in  the  minis- 
try of  the  gospel,  labored  abundantly;  suffering  frequent  imprison- 
ments, and  often  very  cruel  treatment,  from  those  who  strove  to  pre- 
vent the  spread  of  truth  and  righteousness,  by  persecuting  Friends 
who  labored  to  pronu)te  the  cause  of  Christ.  Many  were  convinced 
of  the  principles  and  testimonies  held  by  Friends,  and  large  meet- 
ings came  to  be  settled  in  that  part  of  Wales,  where  Richard  Diivies, 
singly  and  alone,  had  been  led,  through  the  inshining  of  the  Light 
of  Christ,  to  understand  and  adopt  those  principles  and  testimonies  ; 
and  by  faithfulness  to  the  same  divine  Guide,  had  been  made  in- 
strumental to  open  the  way  for  their  spread,  and  to  gather  the  con- 
verts thereto,  into  a  visible  church.  His  was  another  striking  in- 
stance, added  to  the  many  that  occurred  in  that  day,  of  the  uni- 
formity of  the  operation  of  the  Spirit  of  Truth,  in  leading  its  obedient 
subjects  out  of  the  errors  which  they  had  adopted  by  education  and 
association,  and  into  a  knowledge  of  and  practical  conformity  to  the 
doctrines  and  testimonies  of  the  gospel,  as  Friends  were  called  to  up- 
hold them  ;  even  when  far  separated  one  from  another,  and  sur- 
rounded by  cii'cumstances  wholly  opposed  to  the  reception  and 
advancement  of  those  self-denying  principles.  It  is  written  "  In  tl;e 
mouth  of  two  or  three  witnesses  every  word  may  be  established," 
and  the  multiplicity  of  such  instances  may  well  establish  the  verity 
of  the  religion  Friends  have  ever  professed. 

After  the  clearance  of  George  Fox  from  all  the  charges  that  had 
been  brought  against  him,  and  his  freedom  2:)roclaimed  in  open 
Court,  he  attended  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  London  in  1675,  and 
then  proceeded  North  on  his  way  to  Swarthmoor ;  travelling  slowly, 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  497 

and  visitiug  meetings  regularly  held  or  appointed,  as  lie  journeyed. 
Incessant  labor  in  tlie  promotion  of  the  cause  of  Truth,  and  frequent 
imprisonments  in  cold,  damp  and  noisome  prisons,  with  several 
severe  sicknesses  brought  on  thereby,  had  so  shattered  his  consti- 
tutional vigor  and  impaired  his  strength,  that  he  was  now  a  con- 
firmed invalid,  and  he  spent  nearly  two  years  at  Swarthmoor,  the 
home  of  his  wife  and  her  daughters  ;  unable  to  travel  far,  and  en- 
deavoring to  regain  physical  ability  to  renew  his  arduous  labors  in 
the  service  of  his  beloved  Lord  and  Master.  During  this  period  of 
enforced  retirement  from  active  participation  in  the  w^ork  carried 
on  by  the  Society,  he  was  by  no  means  idle ;  but  employed  his  pen, 
either  in  dissertations  on  specific  points  of  Christian  doctrine  and 
practice,  in  counselling  and  encouraging  his  fellow  professors,  in 
defending  the  civil  and  religious  rights  of  his  persecuted  brethren, 
or  in  warning  those  who  made  use  of  the  power  they  held,  to  inflict 
punishments  upon  others  who  were  conscientiously  striving  to  live 
in  accordance  with  the  Divine  law  written  in  their  hearts.  Within 
these  two  years  he  had  published  more  than  a  dozen  different  works 
of  this  character.  Besides  these,  he  made  a  collection  of  the  several 
epistles  he  had  at  different  times  addressed  to  Friends,  and  also  of 
many  of  the  communications  sent  by  him  to  those  in  power,  &c.,  &c. 
In  1676  he  sent  a  general  epistle  to  the  Yearly  Meeting,  sitting 
in  London  ;  in  which  he  alludes  to  the  ranting  spirit  that  had 
sprung  up  among  Friends  in  some  places,  opposing  the  idea  of  need 
for,  and  the  execution  of,  the  discipline ;  as  well  as  the  men's  and 
women's  meetings  set  up  for  carrying  it  into  effect.  In  the  first 
month  of  1677,  having  in  some  measure  regained  strength  for  the 
journey,  he  left  his  home  and  proceeded  southward ;  stopping  fre- 
quently and  laboring  fervently  among  Friends  and  others,  for  the 
promotion  of  that  blessed  cause,  which  was  dearer  to  him  than  his 
natural  life ;  that  so  his  fellow  professors  might  be  built  up  on  their 
most  holy  faith,  and  others  might  come  to  know  and  embrace  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  He  arrived  in  London  towards  the  close  of  the 
Third  month,  and  he  says  :  "  In  my  journey  I  observed  a  slackness 
and  shortness  in  some  that  professed  the  truth,  in  keeping  up  the 
ancient  testimony  against  tithes."  He  therefore  was  "  moved  of  the 
Lord  "  to  issue  an  ejjistle  to  Friends  on  that  subject ;  which,  after 
alluding  to  the  abrogation  of  all  tithes  under  the  gospel,  and  the 
inconsistency  of  preaching  against  a  man-made  and  hireling  minis- 
try, while  contributing  to  its  support,  he  thus  concludes  :  "  Consider 
how  many  faitliful  servants  and  valiants  of  the  Lord  have  laid  down 
32 


498  FRIEXDS    IN    THE 

theii'  lives  against  them,  in  tliis  day  of  the  Lord  ;  and  in  the  days 
of  the  martyrs  they  did  witness  against  them.  Consider  also  what 
judgments  have  come  upon  those  that  spoiled  Friends'  goods,  and 
cast  them  into  prison  for  tithes  and  maintenance.  Therefore  in  the 
power  of  the  Lord  maintain  the  war  against  the  beast,  and  do  not 
put  into  his  mouth  lest  he  cry  peace  to  you  ;  rvhich  peace  you  vntst  not 
receive,  but  it  must  be  broken  and  thrown  out  by  the  Spirit  of  God. 
Then  in  the  same  spirit  ye  will  receive  the  peace  from  the  Son  of 
peace,  which  the  beast  and  the  world,  with  all  their  earthly  teachers 
for  the  earth,  made  by  man,  cannot  receive  nor  bereave  you  of. 
Therefore  keep  your  authoi'ity  and  dominion  in  the  power.  Spirit, 
and  name  of  Jesus,  in  whom  is  my  love  to  you.  G.  F. 

"  Tliird  month,  1677." 

In  the  Fifth  month  of  this  year  [1677]  in  company  with  Robert 
Barclay,  William  Penn,  George  Keith,  John  Furly,  and  some  other 
Friends,  he  crossed  over  to  Holland  ;  where,  and  in  Germany,  they 
were  engaged  in  religious  service  for  several  months. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  unrelenting  persecution  of  Friends  went 
on  unremittingly  in  many  parts  of  England;  as  has  been  seen,  it 
did  iu  Scotland.  Not  only  did  they  suffer  inhuman  treatment, 
under  color  of  the  "  Conventicle  Act,"  for  meeting  to  worship  the 
Author  of  their  lives,  and  of  all  their  sure  mercies  ;  but  they  were 
stripped  of  their  substance,  and  kept  for  indefinite  periods,  in 
prison-houses  and  dungeons,  by  rapacious  priests ;  suing  them,  for 
their  unceasing  tithes,  in  ecclesiastical  courts,  and  upon  writs  de 
excommunicato  capiendo,  obtaining  power  to  incarcerate  theui  at 
their  will.  It  is  not  necessary  to  enter  into  further  particulars  of 
individual  suffering ;  but  the  following,  taken  from  Sewel,  will 
suffice  to  show,  that  the  cruel  treatment  continued,  which  began 
with  the  determined  effort  to  break  down  the  faithfulness  of  Friends 
to  their  religious  convictions,  and  oblige  them  to  bow  to  the  arro- 
gant claims  and  behests  of  a  proud  and  irreligious  priesthood. 
Since  the  short-lived  experiment  of  the  King  to  suspend  the  action 
of  the  penal  laws  against  Dissenters,  in  order  to  screen  the  Catho- 
lics from  their  operation,  neither  Court  nor  Church  relaxed  in  the 
determination  to  gratify,  to  the  full,  their  relentless  opposition  to 
the  Quakers. 

"The  Act  against  seditious  Conventicles  gave  opportunity  to  the 
malicious  to  disturb  the  religious  meetings  of  the  Quakers,  who 
never  met  in  a  clandestine  manner,  but  always  publicly  :  and  on 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  499 

this  account  fines  were  extorted  from  them  ;  to  which  may  be  added, 
that  oftentimes  they  were  still  very  ill-treated,  and  most  grievously 
abused,  as  among  the  rest  at  Long  Claxton,  in  Leicestershire,  where 
some  women  were  dragged  by  the  neck  along  the  street;  and  among 
these  a  widow,  the  skin  of  whose  neck  was  rubbed  off  by  this  rude- 
ness ;  and  an  ancient  woman,  above  seventy,  was  violently  cast 
down  to  the  ground.  Some  of  the  men  were  dragged  by  the  hair ; 
and  others  by  their  legs,  besides  the  many  blows  given  them  :  and 
some  were  trodden  upon  till  the  blood  gushed  out  of  their  mouths 
and  noses.  Yet  all  this  they  bore  patiently,  without  making  any 
resistance ;  whereby  it  happened  sometimes  that  some  who  had  not 
the  gift  of  preaching,  reached  others  by  their  patient  suffering  ; 
showing  by  their  meek  behavior,  that  their  works  did  agree  with 
their  Christian  profession  :  and  though  many  were  robbed  of  all 
they  had,  even  clothes  and  beds  not  excepted,  yet  they  continued 
steadfast  without  fainting  ;  though  often  it  was  called  a  meeting 
when  some  were  come  together,  not  properly  to  perform  religious 
worship,  as  hath  been  related  already." 

The  law  having  put  it  into  the  power  of  the  most  covetous  and 
the  most  depraved,  to  lodge  complaints  against  Dissenters ;  and 
obliged  Magistrates  to  take  the  oath  of  such,  as  sufficient  evidence, 
of  the  charge  sworn  to ;  and  enjoined  Justices  to  construe  every 
])rovision  of  the  laws,  in  favor  of  the  party  prosecuting  ;  Friends 
could  rarely  meet  together  in  number  over  five,  for  any  purpose 
whatever,  without  some  one  being  found,  who,  coveting  what  little 
property  they  might  possess,  was  willing  to  perjure  himself  by 
swearing  they  were  holding  a  Conventicle ;  and  to  insist  eagerly 
upon  receiving  a  writ  to  take  away  whatever  property  could  be 
found.  Thus  where  Friends  met  together  to  bury  their  dead,  where 
a  few  words  of  comfort  to  the  bereaved  were  expressed  ;  or  of 
exhortation  to  those  at  the  side  of  the  open  grave  were  uttered ;  or 
where  they  met  to  confer  about  relieving  the  necessities  of  the 
poor  ;  such  occasions  were  again  and  again  construed  into  unlawful 
assemblies,  and  made  a  pretext  for  stripping  many  a  housekeeper 
of  almost,  if  not  quite,  everything  that  could  be  found  and  taken 
away.  In  some  instances  the  dead  were  not  suflfered  to  rest  in  their 
graves ;  but  the  latter  were  re-opened,  and  the  bodies  taken  up,  the 
coffins  broken,  and  the  remains  thus  left  exposed  to  public  gaze;  in 
order,  by  thus  harrowing  up  the  feelings  of  relatives  and  friends,  they 
might  be  induced  to  pay  the  jiriest  his  charge  for  reading  the  burial 
service  over  the  corpse  of  their  beloved  and  lost  companion. 


500  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

Moved  by  the  pressure  of  these  grievous  sufferings,  Friends  made 
an  appeal  to  the  Judges,  when  about  to  enter  on  the  duties  of  their 
several  Circuits,  [1674]  as  follows :  "  Many  of  our  friends  called 
Quakers,  being  continued  prisoners,  many  prosecuted  to  great  spoil 
by  informers,  and  on  qui  tarn  writs,  and  by  presentments  and  indict- 
ments, for  £20  per  mensem,  in  divers  counties  tlirough  England, 
only  on  account  of  religion  and  tender  conscience  towards  Almighty 
God,  we  esteem  it  our  duty  to  remind  you  of  their  suffering  con- 
dition, as  we  have  done  from  time  to  time  ;  humbly  entreating  you, 
in  the  Circuits,  to  inquire  into  the  several  causes  of  their  commit- 
ments, and  other  sufferings  which  they  lie  under;  and  to  extend 
what  favor  you  can  for  their  ease  and  relief:  })raying  the  Almighty 
to  preserve  and  direct  you." 

But  all  the  efforts  of  Friends  to  stay  the  hand  of  violence  from 
inflicting  its  merciless  blows  upon  their  unresisting  fellow-members, 
as  well  as  the  attempts  of  other  Non-conformists  to  procure  some 
alleviation  of  the  unjust  and  tyrannical  impositions,  under  which 
many  of  their  number  were  suffering,  were  vain.  The  King,  in- 
different to  the  true  interest  of  religion  in  any  form,  and  anxious  tol 
(comply  with  the  requisitions  of  the  French  monarch,  who  again 
paid  him  his  liberal  stipend  ;  and  with  the  wishes  of  the  profligate 
women  and  men  who  disgraced  his  Court,  and  intrigued  for  the 
gratification  of  their  own  selfish  and  corrupt  propensities  —  most  of 
whom  were  either  secretly  or  openly  Papists  —  turned  a  deaf  ear  to 
the  remonstrance  that  reached  him.  Conscious  that  the  enormity 
of  the  deceitful  and  unpatriotic  course  he  was  pursuing,  had  roused 
the  passions  of  a  large  portion  of  the  people,  and  called  up  a  power- 
ful party,  watching  for  an  opportunity  to  crush  the  Popish  con- 
spirators and  their  schemes,  he  gave  countenance  to  the  oppression 
and  punishment  of  all  those  whom  the  high  church  party,  on  whom 
he  mainly  relied,  denounced  and  sought  to  exterminate. 

Neal  says :  "  The  mouths  of  the  high-church  pulpiteers,  were  en- 
couraged to  open  as  loud  as  possible.  One  in  his  sermon  before  the 
House  of  Commons,  told  them  that  the  Non-conformists  ought  not 
to  be  tolerated,  but  to  be  cured  by  vengeance.  He  urged  them  to 
set  fire  to  the  fagot,  and  to  teach  them  by  scourges  or  scorpions,  and 
open  their  eyes  with  gall." 

The  law  against  Conventicles  allowed  of  an  appeal  from  the 
judgment  of  a  Magistrate  to  the  next  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  ; 
but  Friends  soon  found  that  little  relief,  but  .often  great  additional 
cost,  resulted  from  an  attempt  to  avail  themselves  of  this  provision 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  50  J. 

of  the  Act.  The  fines  imposed  by  the  Magistrates  had  to  be  first 
paid  into  the  hands  of  the  Judges  who  were  to  hear  the  appeal ; 
and  though  in  many  cases  the  most  flagrant  perjury  was  shown  to 
have  been  committed  by  the  informers,  there  was  hardly  an 
instance,  where  the  first  judgment  was  set  aside;  but  almost  univer- 
sally where  an  appeal  was  prosecuted,  some  plea  was  found  by 
which  the  money  deposited  was  kept,  and  the  appellant  mulct  in 
heavy  expenses,  under  the  character  of  Court  charges. 

William  Crouch  having  been  heavily  fined,  on  the  oath  of  an  in- 
former, who  swore  to  his  being  at  a  meeting  on  a  certain  day,  when 
no  such  meeting  was  held,  appeale<l,  and  narrates  the  result  as 
follows ;  which  may  serve  as  a  represiaitative  case.  "  The  informer 
having  sworn  to  a  wrong  day,  upon  which  I  was  convicted  for  ten 
pounds  ;  which  I  deposited,  and  entered  my  appeal,  wliich  came  in 
course  to  a  trial,  where  I  had  retained  counsel  to  plead.  A  jury 
being  sworn,  my  cause  was  called  among  others,  and  witnesses  were 
examined :  after  which,  the  jury  going  forth  to  agree  upon  their 
verdict,  Thomas  Jenner  [who  was  the  Judge]  goes  from  the  bench, 
and  in  some  little  time  returns.  The  jury  coming  in  with  their 
verdicts,  and  having  dropped  my  cause,  it  ivas  called  again  for  a  new 
trial;  T.  Jenner  saying,  'a  slip  in  the  record  should  not  serve  [my] 
turn.'  Whereupon  I  made  application  to  my  counsel ;  who  advised 
me  to  withdraw  my  appeal,  to  prevent  a  worse  consequence ;  for, 
says  he,  they  are  resolved  to  carry  it.  So  I  suffered  the  loss  of  my 
money,  and  all  the  charges." 

1670.  Although  so  often  repulsed  in  their  applications  to  obtain 
the  little  justice  which  the  laws  allowed,  the  impositions  and  spolia- 
tions inflicted  by  the  abandoned  creatures  who,  as  informers,  preyed 
upon  Friends,  became  so  grievous  and  enormous,  that  George 
Whitehead  and  William  Crouch  thought  it  their  duty  to  represent 
their  case  to  the  Bishop  of  Canterbury ;  in  the  hope,  that  as  he  had 
much  interest  at  Court,  and  much  authority  with  the  Episcopal 
clergy,  he  might  be  induced  to  use  them  for  putting  a  stop  to  the 
iniquitous  trade  of  the  informers.  "  We  went  to  the  Bishop  of  Can- 
terbury " —  Doctor  Sandcroft  —  says  William  Crouch,  "  at  his  home 
at  Lambeth,  to  complain  of  the  irregular  proceedings  against  us, 
the  Quakers,  upon  the  Conventicle  Act,  by  informers  who  swore 
falsely  ;  by  which  many  were  convicted,  and  distresses  made  accord- 
ingly ;  which  we  informed  him  of,  and  that  it  was  a  dishonor  to 
their  Church."  To  which  he  replied,  with  great  unconceruedness  of 
mind,  and  without  much   regard,  "  That  a  ship   could  not  be  built 


502  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

wifJtout  some  crooked  timher."  On  which  reply,  Wra.  Croucli  justly 
remark?,  "  It  was  to  the  church  we  referred  the  dishonor  by  false 
evidences,  and  it  was  to  that  reference  the  Bishop  made  answer; 
where  crooked  timher,  it  seems,  is  so  useful ;  crooked  because  con- 
trary to  straight,  not  upright ;  not  to  be  squared  by  an  equal  rule; 
but  bending  and  warping  from  it,  false  to  truth,  liars,  and  forswear- 
ing themselves ;  yet  useful,  in  the  Bishop's  sense  for  the  Church, 
the  ship."    Of  course  no  relief  was  to  be  obtained  from  that  quarter. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

ForeniniuTs  of  ;i  Change — Miserable  End  of  many  Informers — Confession  of 
One  —  Notice  of  Wm.  Baily  —  Meetings  in  Holland — Wm.  Penn's  Address 
to  the  King  of  Poland — Sufferings  of  Friends  on  the  Continent —  Embden 

—  Visits  to  Elizabeth  Princess  Palatine  —  Letter  of  the  Princess  to  G.  Fox 

—  E.  Barclay's  efforts  for  Relief  of  Friends  in  Scotland  —  Kestiveness  of 
same  under  the  Discipline  —  Insubordination  of  Wilkinson  and  Story  — 
Their  Defection  from  the  Principles  of  Friends — Efforts  to  Reclaim  them — 
Separation — Some  Reclaimed  —  Publications  called  forth  by  the  Ranting 
Spirit  —  Jeffrey  Bullock. 

n^HOUGH  Friends  continued  to  be  harassed  and  inipoverished  by 
JL  the  disgniceful  means,  through  which  the  policy  of  the  Court 
and  Chiucli  was  prosecuted,  that  policy  was  gradually  working  a 
decided  change  in  the  views  and  feelings  of  the  people,  and  prepar- 
ing the  way  for  a  more  radical  revolution  in  the  government,  than 
many  at  the  tiraeauticipated.  In  the  Established  Church  itself,  party 
lines  were  drawn  between  "  High  Church,'"  and  "  Low  Church  ;  "  the 
former  insisting  upon  the  absurd  dogiua  of  "  a})ostolic  succession  ;  " 
ou  all  the  arrogant  claims  of  prelacy,  and  the  right  of  enforcing 
conformity  to  their  ritual ;  while  the  latter  took  a  more  common- 
sense  and  Christian  view  of  their  commission  and  functions,  and 
were  prepared  to  concede  to  Dissenters  the  right  to  worship  accord- 
ing to  the  dictates  of  conscience.  Alarmed  at  the  evident  subservi- 
ency of  the  King  to  Louis  XIV.,  and  at  the  stealthy,  but  persistent 
encroachment  of  the  Romanists  upon  governmental  power,  a  strong 
party,  called  the  "Country  Party,"  begari  to  see,  tliat  in  order  to 
thwart  the  designs  of  the  Court,  and  obtain  power  to  crush  out  the 
hopes  and  expectations  of  the  Papists,  who,  under  the  tuition  of 
Jesuits,  were  aiming  to  bring  the  kingdom  under  the  ecclesiastical 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  503 

domination  of  the  Pope,  it  was  necessary  to  obtain  the  help  of  Dis- 
senters in  the  elections  for  Parliament ;  and  that  this  was  not  likely 
to  be  accomplished,  while  they  were  so  cruelly  persecuted.  Beside 
this,  the  natural  disposition  of  Englishmen,  where  their  passions  or 
prejudices  are  not  deeply  enlisted,  to  demand  "fair  play,"  and  to 
sympathize  with  those  struggling  for  the  enjoyment  of  natural 
rights,  began  to  excite  disgust  at  the  continued  exhibition  of  a 
heartless  tyranny,  on  the  part  of  the  party  in  power ;  and  called 
forth  the  expression  of  disapprobation  of  the  penalties  to  which 
they  saw  their  fellow-countrymen  subjected,  for  no  other  offence 
than  striving  to  obey  God  rather  than  man,  in  the  matter  of  religious 
worship.  So  that  notwithstanding  tiie  increasing  boldness  with 
which  Charles  and  the  parasites  of  his  Court,  claimed  the  inalien- 
able authority  of  his  prerogatives,  and  the  "  Established  Church," 
vaunted  its  unquestionable  right  to  condemn  and  eradicate  what- 
ever it  deemed  contrary  to  its  creed  or  its  interests,  beneath  the 
.surface,  a  political  and  ecclesiastical  revolution  was  incubating  ; 
which,  in  the  coui'se  of  a  few  years,  changed  the  character  of  the 
government,  and,  in  good  measure,  restored  many  of  the  rights  now 
withheld  from  the  subjects. 

The  business  of  an  informer,  and  of  those  who  colleagued  with 
them,  though  it  seemed  an  easy  way  of  living  upon  other  people's 
property,  did  not  prove  a  profitable  occupation.  Sewel  and  Gough 
narrate  many  instances,  strikingly  exhibiting  the  miserable  end  to 
which  members  of  both  these  classes  came,  and  the  almost  uniform 
poverty  and  wretchedness  attending  the  latter  days  of  those  who 
had  devoted  themselves  to  serving  the  Church  by  preying  upon  the 
goods  and  persons  of  Friends.  The  former  says :  "  But  none  of 
the  persecutors  seemed  to  take  notice,  or  to  regard  such  instances ; 
for  they  let  their  rage  loose  against  the  Quakers,  who,  for  all  that, 
continued  in  patience,  though  they  did  not  think  it  unlawful  to 
give  notice  of  the  grievous  oppression  their  friends  suffered,  to  those 
that  were  in  authority,  lest  they  might  have  excused  themselves  as 
ignorant  of  these  violent  proceedings.  Therefore  it  was  not  omit- 
ted to  publish,  in  public  print,  many  of  those  crying  instances  that 
have  been  related  here,  and  to  present  them  to  the  King  and  Par- 
liament, with  humble  addresses  to  that  purpose.  But  all  this  found 
but  small  entrance." 

One  instance  narrated  by  Sewel  is  worthy  of  notice  here ;  inas- 
much as  it  demonstrates  that  even  those  who  liave  given  themselves 
up  to  work  wickedness,  and  set  themselves  in  opposition  to  others 


504  FRIENDS     IN    THE 

conscientiously  striving  to  walk  in  obedience  to  the  Lord's  com- 
mands, nlay  be  brought  to  conviction  and  repentance  of  their  guilt, 
and,  through  mercy,  experience  forgiveness.  Mathcw  Hyde,  who 
was  of  respectable  family,  and  not  an  open  informer,  but  who, 
Sewel  says,  "  made  it  his  business,  during  the  space  of  about  twenty 
years,  pulilicly  to  contradict  the  Quakers  in  tlieir  meetings,  and  to 
disturb  them  in  their  worship  of  God,  when  brought  to  his  death- 
bed, was  brought  under  great  condemnation  and  distress;  as  Wil- 
liam Penn  once,  in  the  presence  of  many,  had  told  him  woiild  be 
the  case,  'and  that  the  time  would  come  when  he  would  be  forced 
to  confess  to  the  sufficiency  of  that  Light  he  then  opposed,  and  to 
acknowledge  that  God  was  with  those  called  Quakers.'  With  the 
prospect  of  death  before  him  [1G76]  he  sent  for  G.  Whitehead  ;  and 
when  he  came,  said  to  him:  'What  I  have  to  say,  I  speak  in 
tlie  presence  of  God.  As  Paul  was  a  persecutor  of  the  people  of  the 
Lord,  so  have  I  been  a  persecutor  of  you,  his  people,  as  the  world 
is  who  persecute  the  children  of  God.'  More  he  spoke,  but  being 
very  weak,  his  words  could  not  well  be  understood.  Then  G. 
Whitehead  resumed,  '  Thy  understanding  being  darkened,  when 
darkness  was  over  thee,  thou  hast  gainsaid  the  truth  and  people 
of  the  Lord  ;  and  I  knew  that  that  Light  which  thou  opposedst 
would  rise  up  in  judgment  against  thee.  I  have  often,  with 
others,  labored  with  thee,  to  bring  thee  to  a  right  understanding.' 
To  which  Hyde  said  :  '  This  I  declare,  in  the  presence  of  God 
and  of  you  here,  I  have  done  evil  in  persecuting  you,  who  are 
the  children  of  God,  and  I  am  sorry  for  it.  The  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  show  mercy  unto  me,  and  the  Lord  increase  your  number, 

and  be  with  you." "  G.  Whitehead  resumed  :  '  I 

desire  thou  raayest  find  mercy  and  forgiveness  at  the  hand  of  the 
Lord.  How  is  it  with  thy  soul  ?  Dost  not  thou  find  some  ease  ?' 
'I  hops  I  do,'  answered  Hyde;  'and  if  the  Lord  should  lengthen 
my  days,  I  should  be  willing  to  bear  a  testimony  for  you,  as  pub- 
licly as  I  have  appeared  against  you.'  His  wife  then  said,  '  It  is 
enough;  what  can  be  desired  more?'  'If,'  queried  Whitehead, 
'  the  Lord  should  not  lengthen  out  thy  days,  dost  thou  desire 
what  thou  sayest  should  be  signified  to  others?'  'Yes,' answered 
Hyde,  '  I  do  ;  you  may  ;  I  have  said  as  much  as  I  can  say.'  "  Itx 
about  two  hours  after  this  interview,  he  quietly  breathed  liis  last. 
It  was  of  him  that  William  Penn  published  a  brief  account,  in  his 
tract  entitled  "  Saul  Smitten  to  the  Ground." 

In  1675  died  William  Baily,  who  had  long  been  a  minister  in 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  505 

the  Society  of  Friends,  and  often  a  great  but  patient  sufferer  for 
the  testimony  of  Jesus.  He  was  a  Baptist  minister  at  the  time  of 
his  convincement  of  the  truth  as  held  by  Friends;  which  took 
place  in  16-")6,  under  the  ministry  of  George  Fox.  Having  come 
under  the  transforming  power  of  Divine  Grace,  as  manifested  to 
his  soul,  he  willingly  took  up  the  cross,  and  denied  himself  of 
all  that  he  saw  was  contrary  thereto ;  and,  walking  in  the  Light, 
he  came  to  experience  the  blood  of  Christ  to  cleanse  him  from  sin, 
and  to  give  him  dominion  over  the  temptations  of  Satan.  Having, 
in  the  course  of  time,  received  a  gift  in  the  ministry  of  the  gospel, 
he  became  a  zealous  preacher  of  the  truth,  which  his  spiritual  eyes 
had  seen  and  his  hands  handled ;  accepting,  with  much  resignation, 
the  fines,  imprisonments,  beatings,  and  other  modes  of  persecuting, 
which  were  the  common  lot  of  his  fellow-professors.  On  one  of  the 
occasions  when  an  Episcopal  priest  came  to  officiate  at  Grace- 
church  Street  meeting  —  and,  though  attended  by  a  guard  of  sol- 
diers, failed,  from  shame,  or  some  similar  cause,  to  enter  on  the 
"service" — William  Baily,  who  was  preaching  to  the  multitude 
gathered  there,  was  arrested  and  sent  to  Newgate,  on  a  charge 
of  abusing  the  priest,  though  he  had  not  spoken  a  word  to  him, 
nor  had  the  priest  made  any  attempt  to  officiate.  He  Avas  after- 
wards fined  between  thirty  and  forty  pounds  for  alleged  trespass 
and  contempt.  He  fi)llowed  the  sea  for  a  living,  and,  when  in 
port,  always  took  the  opportunity  presented  for  spreading  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  gospel  as  held  by  Friends.  He  died  when  on  a  voyage 
home  from  Barbadoes.  Being  sensible  that  his  end  was  near,  he 
took  those  about  him  by  the  hand,  exhorting  them  "  to  fear  the  . 
Lord,  and  then  they  need  not  fear  death.  Death,"  said  he,  "is 
nothing  in  itself;  for  the  sting  of  death  is  sin.  Tell  the  Friends 
in  London,  who  would  have  been  glad  to  see  my  face,  I  go  to  my 
Father  and  their  Father,  to  my  God  and  their  God.  Remember 
my  love  to  ray  dear  wife.  She  will  be  a  sorrowful  widow ;  but  let 
her  not  mourn  too  much,  for  it  is  well  with  me."  His  wife  was  the 
Mary  Fisher  who  was  so  cruelly  used  at  Boston,  and  who  after- 
wards travelled  to  Adrianople,  and  had  an  interesting  interview 
with  the  Turkish  Snltan. 

It  has  been  mentioned  that  George  Fox,  William  Penn,  li()l)ort 
Barclay  and  otlier  Friends  went  over,  on  religious  service,  to  Hol- 
land, and  travelled  into  Germany  in  1677.  From  the  a(;counts 
given  by  G.  Fox  and  William  Penn—  the  latter  of  whom  published 
a  Journal  of  hi.-  travels  and  labors  on  tliat  occasion  —  the  niiiuher 


506  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

of  niembeis  in  Holland  appears  to  have  been  quite  considerable. 
The  Friends  from  England  all  attended  a  General  Meeting  of  men 
and  women,  held  in  x4msterdani ;  of  which  William  Penn  says, 
"  The  Lord,  who  is  setting  up  his  own  Kingdom,  by  his  own  power, 
owned  us  with  his  blessed  presence,  and  opened  us  in  that  wisdom 
and  love,  that  all  things  ended  with  peace,  great  concord  and  com- 
fort;  many  things  being  spoken,  especially  by  our  dear  friend 
George  Fox,  that  were  of  good  service,  and  I  hope  will  dwell  with 
them  forever." 

At  that  meeting  it  was  agreed,  "  That  henceforth  a  Yearly  Meet- 
ing be  hehl  at  Amsterdam  ;  unto  which  Friends  in  the  Palatinate, 
Hamburg,  Lubeck  and  Frederickstadt,  &c.,  be  invited ;  of  which 
meeting  there  shall  be  given  notice  to  the  Friends  of  the  Yearly 
Meeting  at  London  ;  to  be  kept  always  on  the  Fifth  day  of  that 
week,  which  is  fully  the  third  week  following  after  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing in  London."  Through  the  instrumentality  of  these  Friends,  co- 
operating with  others  assembled,  a  code  of  Discipline  was  adopted, 
and  Monthly  and  Quarterly  Meetings  set  up  in  diiferent  parts  where 
Friends  were  settled:  thus  bringing  the  Society  in  that  country  into 
a  similar  organization  and  government  to  those  which  had  been  es- 
tablished in  Great  Britain  and  America. 

Letters  being  received  from  the  few  Friends  living  at  Dantzic, 
in  Poland,  setting  forth  the  cruel  treatment  they  were  suffering  from 
the  civil  authorities,  Wm.  Penn  prepared  an  address  to  the  King  of 
Poland  on  their  behalf;  explaining  to  him  the  Christian  faith  held 
by  Friends,  and  earnestly  entreating  him  to  give  the  subject  his 
.serious  consideration  and  action  ;  "That  we  may  no  longer  lie  under 
these,  not  only  unchristian,  but  unnatural  severities ;  but  receive 
that  speedy  and  effectual  relief,  which  becometh  Christian  j\tagis- 
trates  to  give  to  their  sober  and  Christian  people."     1677. 

This  remonstrance  does  not  a})pear  to  have  obtained  relief  for 
the  sufferers.  The  Magistrates  of  Dantzic,  finding  that  imprison- 
ment did  not  induce  the  three  of  their  fellow-citizens  who  had  em- 
braced the  principles  of  Friends  to  give  them  up,  or  make  them 
willing  to  promise  they  would  not  again  meet  together  for  the  pur- 
pose of  Divine  worship,  ordered  that  they  should  be  banished  be- 
yond sea ;  and  that  if  they  should  return,  they  should  be  kept  in 
the  House  of  Correction,  "  or  punished  with  some  other  hard  punish- 
ment." Pursuant  to  this  decree,  the  three  Friends  were  put  on 
board  a  ship  and  sent  to  England. 

But  this  severity,  exercised  without  knowing  or  endeavoring  to 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  507 

ascertain  what  tlie  principles  were,  which  those  innocent  men  had 
embraced  ;  or  what  other  eftect  those  principles  would  exercise  on 
their  conduct  and  conversation,  than  inducing  thera  to  withdraw 
from  attendance  on  the  priests,  and  endeavor  to  worship  in  accord- 
ance with  the  dictates  of  their  own  consciences,  could  not  shut  out 
the  light  of  Truth,  in  that  dark  community  ;  and  several  more  of 
the  inhabitants  came  to  be  convinced,  and  met  together  to  hold 
their  religious  meetings.  The  rubble,  incited  by  the  absurd  reports 
spread  concerning  Quakers,  broke  into  the  house  Avhile  Friends 
were  holding  their  meeting;  abused  those  found  there,  took  away 
their  hats  and  other  things  they  could  carry  off,  and  became  so 
riotous  that  the  Magistrates  arrested  all  the  Friends  present  —  six 
in  number  —  and  committed  them  to  jjrison. 

This  persecution  was  kept  up  for  years,  for  in  1678,  Stephen 
Crisp,  writing  from  Amsterdam,  states  "  At  Dantzic  the  Rulers  have 
sentenced  Friends  to  depart  in  eight  days,  or  to  be  led  out  [of  the 
city]  by  the  hangman  ;  and  have  brought  out  two ;  who,  when  the 
man  had  left  them,  went  to  a  Friend's  house  in  the  suburbs,  and 
after  some  time  to  their  own  houses ;  whence  they  were  brought  to 
prison  ;  and  we  expect  daily  to  hear  of  their  being  all  banished, 
that  will  not  give  security  not  to  come  to  meetings."  The  sufferings 
of  those  who  were  confined  in  the  "  House  of  Correction  "  must  have 
been  great,  as  they  represent  their  being  kept  chained  by  the  wrist, 
two  and  two  together,  fed  upon  bread  and  water,  and  allowed  no 
bedding  but  straw. 

In  16S5,  seven  years  later  than  the  letter  of  S.  Crisp,  the  epistle 
of  LondMii  Yearly  Meeting  contains  the  following:  "The  Lord  has 
been  pleased  to  influence  the  King  of  Poland  and  the  Magistrates 
of  Dantzic,  moderately  to  resent  the  applications  made  to  them  in 
behalf  of  the  said  suffering  Friends  and  brethren  ;  although  most 
of  them,  by  means  of  their  former  great  sufferings,  were  reduced  to 
so  low  a  condition  in  the  world,  that  they  are  not  yet  able  to  sup- 
port themselves  and  families." 

So  early  as  1662  a  few  persons  in  East  Friesland,  were  convinced 
of  the  doctrines  and'  testimonies  held  by  Friends ;  which  so  alarmed 
the  priests,  that  a  synod  was  convened,  which  presented  a  petition 
to  the  Court,  at  Lewardeu,  in  which  they  say,  "  Whereas  the  wicked 
sect  of  the  Quakers  are  found  in  these  United  Provinces,  and  also 
sprung  up  here  in  East  Friesland,  you  arc  desired  to  watch  against 
it  in  time,  that  that  devilish  error  might  not  creep  in  farther."  This 
called  forth  a  proclamation  forbidding  a  Quaker  to  come  into  the 


508  FRIENDS    IN     THE 

country,  under  pcnuilty  of  iniprisoninent  for  five  years  in  the  Kusp- 
liouse.  The  })ric.sts  were  authorized  to  examine  any  su.spected  per- 
son, and  a  reward  of  twenty-five  gilders  was  offered  to  any  one  who 
would  discover  a  Quaker.  This  law  led  to  many  inconveniences, 
affecting  the  peoi)le  generally;  it  became  unpopuhir,  and  after  a 
short  trial  was  repealed.  It  does  not  appear  that  other  oppressive 
measures  were  resorted  to  for  several  years;  but  about  1G72,  there 
being  a  small  nund^er  of  Friends  in  the  city  of  Embden,  the  civil 
authorities  tliere  began  to  treat  them  with  much  severity.  Some 
were  cruelly  beaten,  some  kept  shut  up  in  a  dungeon  and  allowed 
nothing  but  bread  and  water;  some  fined  beyond  all  they  possessed, 
and  some  were  banished. 

Stephen  Crisp,  who  labored  much  in  the  work  of  the  gospel  on 
the  continent  of  Europe,  states  that  the  first  person  who  endjraced 
the  principles  of  Friends  in  Embden,  was  a  physician,  named  John 
William  llasbert ;  and  he  gives  the  following  account  (jf  the  suf- 
ferings of  the  little  company  which  found  themselves  constrained  to 
stand  as  witnesses  for  the  truths  of  the  gospel  as  revealed  to  their 
spiritual  understanding.  "  At  first  they  sat  down,  about  ten  })ersons, 
in  Dr.  Hasbert's  house,  to  wait  upon  the  Lord ;  and  when  this  was 
noised  about  the  city,  the  wicked  One  stirred  up  the  priests  and 
rulers  against  them  ;  and  they  stirred  up  tlie  rude  and  ignorant 
jjcople  to  assault  them  ;  to  mock,  reproach  and  revile  them,  and  the 
rulers  fell  quickly  to  fining,  imprisoning,  threatening  and  banishing 
those  weak  and  tender  plants,  in  an  almost  unheard  of  manner. 
They  banished  some,  sixteen  or  twenty  times,  spoiling  them  of  all 
they  had,  save  their  clothes,  and  at  last  fell  upon  them  also;  taking 
away  their  coats,  boots,  gloves,  aprons,  &c.,  and  driving  them  through 
the  street,  almost  naked,  aboard  the  ships  that  were  to  carry  them 
away  :  all  which  and  much  more,  by  the  mighty  power  of  the  Lord, 
did  these  innocent,  harmless  lambs  bear  with  great  patience  and 
quietness,  and  were  not  dismayed  at  all  at  these  cruelties.  For  the 
Lord  had  regard  to  his  name,  and  to  their  innocent  cry,  and  sup- 
ported them,  and  doth  support  them  ;  and  they  have  found  it  true, 
that  those  who  wait  upon  the  Lord  renew  their  strengtli.  Blessed 
be  the  Lord  forever." 

William  Peun,  moved  by  the  accounts  received  in  England  at  that 
time,  ol'  the  grievous  hardships,  these,  his  fellow  professors,  wei'e  en- 
during, addressed  the  Council  and  Senate  of  Embden  ;  endeavoring 
to  inculcate  Christian  principles  of  charity  and  good-will,  and  to 
iufiuence  ihera  to  toleration  of  religious  freedom,  and  a  course  of 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  500 

treatment  of  tho.-o  wlio  differed  from  them  in  religious  faitli,  more 
in  consonance  with  the  commands  and  example  of  Christ  and  his 
apostles.  [1675.]  It  was  written  in  Latin  ;  and  when  in  that  city  two 
years  after,  W.  Penn  visited  the  President  of  the  Council  of  State, 
told  him  that  he  was  the  author  of  that  address,  and  reasoned  and 
pleaded  with  him  on  behalf  of  the  Friends  there.  He  says,  "  The 
President  w'as  astonished  to  see  what  manner  of  men  we  were ;  but 
after  a  little  time  he  comported  himself  with  more  kindness  than 
we  expected  at  his  hands."  He  expressed  much  opposition  to 
Friends,  but  before  they  parted,  he  told  W.  P.,  that  if  he  would 
again  write  a  remonstrance  to  the  Senate,  and  tell  them  what  he 
desired  them  to  do,  he  would  himself  present  it,  and  show  he  was 
not  so  much  an  enemy  to  Friends  as  they  thought. 

Persecution,    however,   though    occasionally   mitigated,   did   not 
cease  at  Erabden  for  some  years  ;  and  it  is  probable  tliat  it  would 
not  have  ceased,  even  when  it  did,  in  1G86,  had  it  not  been  found 
that  the  imprisonment,  banishment  and  other  punishments  inflicted 
for  religion's  salce,  on  a  class  of  citizens,  many  of  whom  were  master 
mechanics,  and  others  engaged  in  important  manufacturing  con- 
cerns, had  materially  lessened  the  trade  and  standing  of  the  city; 
and  that  it  was  probable,  if  continued  as  heretofore,  would  destroy 
its  former  prosperity  altogether.      Convinced  of  this,  the  Magis- 
trates resolved  not  only  to  revoke  their  intolerant  laws,  but  to  issue 
a  declaration  of  their  determination  to  grant  Friends  freedom,  and 
all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  other  citizens,  and  to  enjoy  the  re- 
ligion they  believed  to  be  required  of  them  to  maintain.    They  sent  a 
communication  to  that  effect  to  Friends  at  Amsterdam,  and  another 
of  similar  import  to  Friends  in  England;  manifesting  no  little  anx- 
iety to  induce  those  in  membership  with  them,  to  settle  in  Embden. 
Friends  of  Amsterdam  addressed  the  Rulers  at  Embden,  acknowl- 
edging this  act  of  Christian  liberality,  and  returning  thanks  therefor. 
The  same  course  of  persecuting  those  who  professed  with  Friends 
was  pursued  at  the  free  city  of  Hambui'g,  and  in  other  towns  in 
Germany;    where    William   Caton,   William  Ames,  George  Rolfe 
and  some  other  ministers  of  the  gospel,  had  labored  with  more  or 
less  success,  to  promulgate  the  pure,  spiritual  views  of  the  religion 
of  Christ,  which  they  had  themselves  found  to  answer  to  the  dic- 
tates of  his  Spirit  to  their  souls. 

In  that  age  of  bigotry  and  intolerance,  Holland  was  distinguished 
for  abstaining  from  enacting  laws  designed  to  interfere  with  the  right 
of  liberty  of  conscience ;  nevertheless,  as  has  been  already  related, 


510  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

the  Magistrates  sometimes  sanctioned,  or  at  least  connived  at  the 
infliction  of  illegal  abuse  of  innocent  persons;  who,  through  misrep- 
resentation, had  incurred  the  prejudice  and  hatred  of  the  lower 
classes  in  the  towns.  Thus,  at  different  times,  some  of  those  who 
professed  with  Friends  were  cruelly  treated,  either  by  persons  in 
authority,  who  abused  their  power  to  gratify  their  wounded  pride 
or  unsanctificd  zeal ;  or  by  the  rabble,  who,  in  blind  excitement, 
sought  to  destroy  what  they  did  not  comprehend,  but  sui)posed  to 
be  inimical  to  the  interest  of  their  religious  leaders. 

George  Fox,  with  two  or  three  Friends  who  accompanied  him, 
appears  to  have  travelled  pretty  extensively  in  Holland,  Friesland 
and  some  parts  of  Germany  ;  holding  meetings  with  those  who  pro- 
fessed with  Friends,  and  others,  being  obliged  however  to  depend 
on  an  interpreter  to  communicate  with  his  hearers. 

In  the  course  of  the  travels  of  William  Penn,  Robert  Barclay 
and  George  Keith,  in  Germany,  they  visited  Elizabeth,  Princess 
Palatine  of  the  Pvhine,  at  her  Court  at  Herwerden.  She  was  the 
oldest  daughter  of  Frederick  V.,  Elector  Palatine,  and  at  one  time 
King  of  Bohemia ;  her  mother  being  the  sister  of  Charles  I.  of 
England.  She  is  represented  to  have  been  a  woman  of  good  natural 
ca})acity,well  educated,  and  of  amiable  disposition  and  manners;  and 
to  have  governed  her  small  territory  with  good  judgment  and  much 
consideration  for  the  welfare  of  her  subjects.  Having  been  brought 
under  the  jwwer  of  religion,  she  manifested  strong  interest  in  others 
who  were  sincere  in  their  religious  convictions,  and  was  opposed  to 
interference  with  liberty  of  conscience.  Having  become  acquainted 
with  the  religious  tenets  of  Friends,  by  conversation  with  R.  Bar- 
clay and  Benjamin  Furly,  who  visited  her  in  1676,  and  with  women 
Friends  from  Amsterdam,  she  found  them  to  answer  to  the  convic- 
tions of  Truth  on  her  own  mind ;  and  she  not  only  gladly  received 
Friends  when  they  came  to  see  her,  but  in  her  letters  to  several  of 
the  more  prominent  members  among  them,  and  to  others  at  the 
English  Court,  she  unhesitatingly  expressed  her  high  estimation  of 
them,  and  her  disapproval  of  the  persecution  to  which  those  that 
held  them  were  subjected. 

The  Frien<ls  named,  having  requested  permission  to  have  a  re- 
ligious opportunity  with  her,  it  was  readily  granted  ;  she  having  in 
her  family  at  that  time  the  Countess  of  Homes,  her  intimate  friend, 
and  a  French  lady.  Of  this  interview,  William  Penn  thus  writes  in 
his  Journal :  "  I  can  truly  say  it,  and  that  in  God's  fear,  I  was  very 
deeply  and  reverently  affected  with  the  sense  that  was  upon  my 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  511 

spirit  of  the  groat  and  notable  day  of  tlie  Lord,  and  the  breaking 
in  of  liis  eternal  power  upon  all  nations ;  and  of  the  raising  of  the 
slain  Witness  to  judge  the  world  ;  who  is  the  Treasury  of  life  and 
peace,  of  wisdom  and  glory,  to  all  that  receive  Him  in  the  hour  of 
his  judgments,  and  abide  with  Him..  The  sense  of  this  deep  and 
sure  foundation,  which  God  is  laying  as  the  hope  of  eternal  life  and 
glory  for  all  to  build  upon,  filled  my  soul,  with  au  holy  testimony 
to  them,  which  in  a  living  sense  was  followed  by  my  brethren  ;  and 
so  the  meeting  ended  about  the  eleventh  hour." 

In  the  afternoon  they  held  another  meeting  with  them,  which  was 
also  so  remarkably  favored,  that  Wm.  Penn  says :  "  Well,  let  my 
right  hand  forget  its  cunning,  and  my  tongue  cleave  to  the  roof  of 
my  mouth,  when  I  shall  forget  the  loving-kindness  of  the  Lord,  and 
the  sure  mercies  of  our  God  to  us,  his  travailing  servants,  that  day." 

Subsequently,  on  their  return  towards  Holland,  these  Friends 
again  stopped  at  Herwerden,  and  upon  informing  the  Princess  of 
their  arrival,  they  were  again  gladly  received  by  her  and  her  friends. 
A  meeting  being  held  with  them  and  some  others  whom  they  had 
invited,  the  next  morning,  Wm.  Penn  states  in  his  Journal :  "About 
eight  the  meeting  began,  and  held  till  eleven,  several  persons  of 
the  city,  as  well  as  those  of  her  own  flimily,  being  present.  The 
Lord's  power  very  much  affected  them,  and  the  Countess  was  twice 
much  broken  wiiile  we  spoke.  After  the  people  were  gone  out  of 
the  chamber,  it  lay  upon  me  from  the  Lord,  to  speak  to  them  two, 
—  the  Princess  and  the  Countess  —  with  respect  to  their  particular 
conditions;  occasioned  by  these  words  from  the  Princess, '  I  am  fully 
convinced  :  but  Oh  !  my  sins  are  great.'  While  I  was  speaking,  the 
glorious  power  of  the  Lord  wonderfully  rose,  yea,  after  an  awful 
manner,  and  had  a  deep  entrance  upon  their  spirits ;  especially  the 
Countess,  so  that  she  was  broken  to  pieces:  God  hath  raised,  and 
I  hope  fixed,  his  own  testimony  in  them." 

The  next  day  they  had  a  parting  interview  in  the  chamber  of  the 
Princess,  which  was  equally  favored.  "Magnified  be  the  name  of 
the  Lord,  He  overshadowed  us  with  his  glory.  His  heavenly, 
breaking,  dissolving  power  richly  flowed  amongst  us,  and  his  min- 
istering angel  of  life  was  in  the  midst  of  us." 

George  Fox  having  written  a  letter  to  the  Princess  from  Amster- 
dam, she  returned  him  a  reply,  as  follows: 

Hertford,  30th  of  August,  1G77. 
"Dear  friend:  —  I  camiot  but  have  a  tender  love  to  those  that 
love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  to  whom  it  is  given,  not  only  to 


512  F  R  I  E  N  D  S    I  N    T  II  E 

believe  ill  Him,  but  also  to  sufler  for  Him  ;  tlieietbre,  your  letter  and 
your  friends'  visits  have  be^n  both  very  welcome  to  me.  I  shall  fol- 
low their  and  your  counsel,  as  far  as  God  will  attbrd  me  light  and 
unction  ;  remaining  still  your  loving  friend,  Elizabeth." 

The  Friends  mentioned,  who  had  been  diligently  lal)oring  on  the 
continent,  returned  to  England  in  the  Autumn  of  1677.  Hubert 
Barclay  had  preceded  the  others  a  short  time,  and,  when  again  in 
London,  he  (;oncluded  to  apply  once  more,  to  some  of  those  who 
had  the  authority  to  interfere,  on  behalf  of  Friends  in  Scotland. 
Accordingly,  he  sought  and  obtained  an  interview  with  the  Duke 
of  York,  and  having  ascertained  that  the  Duke  of  Lauderdale  was 
then  in  Scotland,  he  requested  the  Duke  of  York,  to  write  to  him 
in  such  terms  that  he  would  have  to  act  at  once  in  i'avor  of  those 
Avho  were  kept  prisoners.  It  was  characteristic  of  Barclay's  honest 
boldness  and  straight-forwardness,  that  he  told  the  Duke,  unless  he 
would  write  "  in  that  style  wherein  Lauderdale  might  understand 
that  he  was  serious  in  the  business,  and  did  really  intend  the  thing 
he  did  write  concerning,  should  take  effect,"  he  desired,  "  he  would 
excuse  himself  the  trouble"  of  writing  at  all.  The  Duke  took  his 
plain  dealing  in  good  part,  and  told  him  he  would  write  as  he  de- 
sired, for  himself  (R.  Barclay)  and  his  father,'  but  would  not  med- 
dle with  the  other  Friends  who  were  prisoners.  He  accordingly 
gave  Robert  the  desired  letter;  which  no  doubt  was  duly  delivered 
to  Lauderdale. 

At  what  time  after  this  Robert  Barclay  was  again  imprisoned  is 
not  clearly  narrated  ;  but  the  family  records  state,  that  some  time 
subsequent  to  his  return  home,  David  Barclay  and  his  son  were 
release'!  from  prison,  "  By  an  order  from  the  Court,  with  a  repri- 
mand for  meddling  with  either  of  them."  The  same  record  also 
mentions,  that  Robert  Barclay  afterwards  procured  the  liberation 
of  the  other  Friends,  who  were  detained  after  them. 

It  has  been  stated,  that  in  the  year  1666,  George  Fox,  under  a  sense 
of  Divine  requiring  and  direction,  had  been  engaged  in  setting  up 
Meetings  for  discipline  of  different  grades  and  authority,  through- 
out the  Society;  and  that  through  the  enlightening  influence  of  the 
same  Divine  wisdom,  certain  rules  and  regulations  had  been  adopted 
and  brought  into  action,  for  the  establishment  of  right  order  in  the 
church,  and  the  preservation  of  the  members  in  conduct  and  con- 
versation consistent  with  the  doctrines  and  testimonies  of  the  Gospel 
as  held  bv  Friends.     In  this  work  of  church  organization  and  gov- 


SEVEXTEENTII    CENTURY.  513 

ernment,  the  leading  members  in  different  parts  of  the  Society,  men 
eminent  fur  tlieir  devotion  to  the  cause  of  Truth,  and  their  deep 
insight  of  the  mysteries  pertaining  to  the  Kingdom  of  Chri.-t,  had 
been  more  or  less,  personally  engaged,  or  had  accorded  to  it  their 
full  sanction  and  support.  The  principles  of  chui'ch  government 
adopted,  recognized  unequivocally  and  as  indispensable  for  their 
j)roper  application,  the  Headship  of  Christ ;  and  a  distinguishing 
feature  was  the  uniform  inculcation  of  the  necessity  for  those  who 
were  engaged  in  carrying  them  into  practice,  to  wait  for,  and  act 
under  a  measure  of  his  holy  Spirit ;  in  accordance  with  the  Apos- 
tolic injunction,  to  bear  one  another's  burdens  and  so  fulfil  the  law 
of  Christ ;  and  that  if  a  man  be  overtaken  with  a  fault,  they  who 
are  spiritual,  should  restore  such  an  one  in  the  spirit  of  meekness. 
Fro.'u  the  testimony  handed  down  to  succeeding  generations,  this 
ecclesiastical  polity  and  administration  appear  to  have  tended 
greatly  to  the  preservation  and  edification  of  the  Society,  from  their 
first  introduction. 

But  although  the  Society  was  largely  kept  free,  by  continued  and 
severe  persecution,  from  nominal  professors,  who  were  unconvinced 
of  its  religious  tenets,  or  unwilling  to  suffer  for  them  ;  yet  there  were 
numbered  among  its  members  those  who,  unchanged  by  the  power 
of  the  religion,  to  the  truth  of  which  they  assented,  were  indisposed 
to  be  restrained  by  the  discipline  it  had  adopted  ;  and  who  desired  to 
ne  left  free  to  speak  and  to  act  in  accordance  with  what  they  claimed 
to  be  the  sense  of  right  and  wrong,  revealed  in  their  own  breasts ; 
without  reference  to  the  judgment  of  their  fellow-members,  either 
individually,  or  collectively,  as  a  church.  This  had  early  shown 
itself  in  the  case  of  John  Perrot  and  his  followers;  and  now,  un- 
deterred by  the  sad  coui'se  and  destructive  consequences  that  had 
followed  their  indulgence  in  this  ranting  spirit,  by  that  misguided 
party,  it  again  manifested  itself  in  the  north  of  England,  under  the 
leading  of  two  ministers,  named  John  Story  and  John  Wilkinson, 
who  were  mend)ers  of  Westmoreland  Quarterly  Meeting. 

From  tlie  accounts  preserved,  and  the  character  of  the  2:)ublica- 
tions  of  Wilkinson  and  Story,  or  their  abettors,  there  is  reason  to 
believe,  that  not  keeping  in  that  humility  and  watchfulness  which 
would  have  preserved  them  from  aspiring  after  great  things,  or  court- 
ing popularity,  these  two  men  took  offence  at  the  extension  of  counsel 
by  some  of  their  more  experienced  l)rethren,  who  were  anxious  for 
their  preservation  and  deepening  in  the  Truth  ;  and  allowed  secret 
envy  and  spiritual  pride  to  prompt  them  to  reject  and  denounce  the 
33 


514  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

care  of  the  church,  and  to  seek  to  buihl  themselves  up,  by  forming 
a  party  from  among  those  like-minded  with  themselves.  They  soon 
began  to  preach  doctrines  more  conformable  to  the  inclinations  of 
the  unregenerate  man,  tban  Friends  believed  the  gospel  of  Christ 
could  sanction,  and  which  consequently  were  more  agreeable  to 
those  who  were  unwilling  to  bear  the  daily  cross  in  the  practice  of 
self-denial.  Having  thus  drawn  a  number  to  unite  with  them,  they 
boldly  claimed  that  each  one  should  be  left  to  regulate  his  course 
by  the  Light  of  Christ  in  himself,  without  being  amenable  to  others. 
They  therefore  denounced  the  discipline  and  the  meetings  for  dis- 
cipline, as  encroachments  on  the  right  of  private  judgment,  similar 
to  that  practised  by  the  church  of  Rome ;  and  as  George  Fox  had 
been  mainly  instrumental  in  their  institution,  their  crimination  of 
and  invectives  against  him  were  loud  and  unsparing. 

The  first  steps  in  error  were  not  long  in  opening  the  way  for 
others;  and  as  they  became  more  and  more  alienated  from  Friends, 
and  lost  the  life  of  Truth,  these  dissatisfied  members  contended  that 
they  must  be  left  to  their  own  sense,  as  to  whether  it  was  required 
of  them  to  assemble  for  the  purpose  of  worship,  under  the  certainty 
of  incurring  the  penalty  of  abuse,  imprisonments  or  fines;  and  that 
a  like  personal  conviction  must  authorize  a  refusal  to  pay  tithes, 
&c.  They  clothed  their  opposition  to  the  authority  and  restraints 
of  the  church,  under  the  specious  pretext  of  contending  for  the 
sufiiciency  of  the  Light  of  Christ  in  the  soul,  to  guide  and  keep  it 
from  all  error,  as  well  as  to  lead  into  all  truth  ;  and  referred  to  the 
earlier  days  of  the  Society,  as  showing  there  was  no  need  for  church 
organization,  or  prescribed  rules,  to  regulate  the  conduct  of  those 
who  made  profession  of  the  same  principles.  Hence  they  declared 
that  George  Fox  and  other  members  who  stood  high  in  the  Society, 
and  had  originated  or  promoted  the  institution  of  the  discipline, 
were  thereby  usurping  authority  over  the  consciences  of  their  fel- 
low members,  and  seeking  to  lord  it  over  the  heritage  of  God. 

Friends  of  Westmoreland  Quarterly  Meeting  labored  abundantly 
and  affectionately  with  Wilkinson  and  Story,  to  convince  them  of 
the  error  into  which  they  had  fallen,  and  to  induce  them  to  be 
reconciled  to  those  who  were  really  their  best:  friends,  by  giving  up 
their  opposition  to  the  order  established  in  the  Society,  and  're- 
turning to  take  their  right  places  in  the  body.  But  they  treated 
these  Christian  efforts  with  contempt,  and  persisted  in  their  revolu- 
tionary course.  Seeing  that  this  state  of  feeling,  unless  removed, 
must  lead  into  an  open  breach.  Friends  of  that  Quarterly  Meeting 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  515 

drew  up  a  statement  of  the  case,  and  the  points  involved  in  con- 
troversy; and  requested  several  of  the  most  experienced  Friends  in 
the  adjoining  counties,  who  were  altogether  uniraplicated  in  what 
had  already  occurred,  to  sit  in  judgment  on  the  points  involved. 
Accordingly,  those  Friends  appointed  a  meeting  and  invited  all 
the  parties  to  be  present,  and  make  their  own  statements  and  ex- 
planations. The  meeting  was  held ;  but  Wilkinson  and  Story,  with 
their  adherents,  refused  to  be  present;  and  the  Friends  called  in  from 
other  counties,  adjourned  the  meeting  to  the  next  day,  and  went 
personally  around  to  the  several  malcontents,  urging  them  to  meet 
with  them  and  their  fellow  members  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting ;  in 
order  that  all  complaints  might  be  fully  investigated,  truth  cleared 
of  all  reproach,  and  harmony  restored. 

The  next  day  the  second  meeting  was  held  ;  but  the  disaffected 
again  refused  to  meet  with  them.  John  Burnyeat,  who  was  one  of 
the  Friends  called  in  as  referees,  in  his  account  of  the  matter,  says, 
"  So  we  gave  a  hearing  a  second  time  to  the  Friends  ;  and  then 
we  of  Yorkshire  and  Cumberland  withdrew,  and  among  ourselves 
viewed  the  whole  matter, —  for  it  was  in  writing, —  and  0{>ened  our 
hearts  one  unto  another.  And  waiting  upon  the  Lord,  there  fell  a 
weighty  concern  upon  us  for  the  Truth's  sake,  and  the  blessed  order 
thereof,  with  our  holy  testimony  we  had  been  raised  up  into,  which 
by  them,  had  been  slighted,  scorned  and  reproached,  so  that  we 
could  not  pass  it  by ;  but  in  the  power  of  the  Lord  God,  which  was 
dreadful  among  us,  we  gave  judgment  against  that  spirit,  which 
was  grown  so  high,  loose  and  fleshly,  as  thus  to  undervalue  the 
testimony  of  God,  and  the  Itringing  forth  of  his  holy  power  in  the 
churches  of  Christ;  by  which  all  may  be  kept  sweet,  clean  and  in 
good  order.  And  when  we  had  cleared  ourselves  in  the  rising  and 
springing  up  of  the  Word  of  Life,  and  drawn  up  our  testimony  in 
writing,  we  gave  it  unto  Friends  there,  and  so  departed."  These 
two  meetings  were  held  in  1675. 

Uninfluenced  by  the  Christian  labor  and  concern  of  their  fellow 
members,  unless  it  was  to  make  them  more  litigious  and  determined 
to  have  their  own  way,  this  dissatisfied  party  went  on  in  opposition 
to  and  railing  against  Friends  who  stood  firm  and  upright  in  the 
Truth.  The  latter,  sincerely  desirous  to  rescue  them  from  the 
spirit  of  contention  and  confusion  into  which  they  were  so  obviously 
betrayed,  and  finding  that  the  disaffection  was  spreading  into  other 
parts  of  the  Society,  in  1676,  made  another  efl'ort  to  remove  the 
cause  of  difficulty,  by  aj)pointing  another  meeting  in  Yorkshire ;  to 


516  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

which  they  were  invited.  At  it,  four  days  were  spent  in  endeavor- 
ing to  convince  them,  that  as  each  nieniher  was  enlightened  l)y  a 
measure  of  tlic  same  Holy  Spirit,  it  will  lead  all  who  are  faithful 
to  its  openings  and  requirings,  into  tlie  same  path  of  self-denial  ; 
the  maintenance  of  the  same  gospel  truths,  and  the  unity  and  fel- 
lowship of  Christ's  disciples  ;  and  they  that  walk  in  the  Light  as 
He  is  in  the  Light,  will  have  fellowship  one  with  another.  It  was 
urged  that  God  was  a  God  of  order  in  all  the  churches,  and  his. 
Spirit  required  nothing  inconsistent  with  itself;  therefore  the  church 
acting  collectively  under  the  influence  of  the  same  Spirit  that 
governed  the  members  individually,  would  require  nothing  of  the 
members  contrary  to  the  will  of  its  holy  Head.  The  church  has 
power  to  establish  such  rules  and  regulations  as  will  not  only 
prevent  disorder  and  scandal  among  its  members,  but  also  guard 
them  I'rom  violating  those  principles  and  testimonies,  for  the  sup- 
port and  promulgation  of  which  they  were  voluntarily  associated 
together.  It  is  the  exclusive  prerogative  of  the  Almighty  to  en- 
lighten and  regulate  the  conscience,  and  man  is  accountable  to  Ilim 
alone  for  his  convictions  of  what  is  right  and  what  is  wrong ;  but 
in  his  outward  conduct  and  conversation,  he  is  amenable  not  merely 
to  civil  government,  but  to  the  religious  society  or  church  in  which 
he  holds  membership,  and  whose  character  and  standing  are  impli- 
cated by  his  deportment.  If  not  satisfied  with  the  doctrines  it 
holds  or  the  discipline  it  adopts,  he  is  not  obliged  to  remain  a  mem- 
ber ;  and  if  he  voluntarily  sanctions  doctrines  inconsistent  with  the 
faith  of  the  church,  or  violates  its  testimonies  or  the  rules  it  has 
enacted,  it  has  the  authority  to  declare  him  no  longer  a  member. 

There  being  a  large  number  of  eminent  ministers  and  others  at 
this  meeting  [1676],  many  testimonies  were  borne  against  the  sj)irit 
that  was  leading  into  se})aration  ;  and  earnest  entreaty  was  made  that 
those  who  had  been  caught  with  it,  might  be  willing  to  submit  to 
the  judgment  of  the  Church,  and  be  restored  to  unity  and  oneness 
with  their  brethren;  the  former  judgment  given  against  them  being 
confirmed.  But  though  both  Wilkinson  and  Story  seemed  touched 
by  the  Christian  love  and  uprightness  of  Friends,  and  expressed 
some  sorrow  for  having  "  given  cause  of  offence  to  the  Church  of 
God,"  the  change  in  their  views  and  feelings  was  not  deep  enough 
to  humble  them,  so  as  to  induce  them  to  retrace  the  steps  they  had 
taken,  and  give  up  their  separate  meetings.  The  Yearly  Meeting 
in  that  year,  therefore,  being  brought  under  deep  religious  concern 
on  their  account,  addressed  an  epistle  to  those  two  members  spe- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  517 

ciully,  as  leaders  iu  the  separation,  and  another  to  their  followers  ; 
in  both  which,  expostulation  and  entreaty  were  again  employed  to 
bring  them  out  of  their  error,  and  back  into  the  bosom  of  the 
Church.  Some  honest-hearted  members,  who  had  been  deluded 
by  the  profession  of  Wilkinson  and  Story,  that  all  they  wanted 
was  to  return  to  the  princij)les  and  practices  of  Friends  in  the 
beginning,  and  secure  liberty  for  each  one  to  act  in  accoi'dance 
with  his  own  conviction  of  duty,  came  to  see  wherein  they  were 
deceived,  humbly  confessed  their  error,  and  gladly  returned  among 
Friends.  Tiiis  separation,  nevertheless,  continued  to  give  trouble 
to  Friends  for  several  years ;  but  the  spirit  of  division  and  self- 
dependence  rife  among  these  discontented  persons,  in  the  course  of 
time  worked  its  legitimate  result,  and  those  who  came  not  back  to 
Friends,  fell  to  pieces,  and  dwindled  away.  In  the  course  of  the 
controversy,  [167G-7]  William  Penn  wrote  "A  Brief  Examination 
of  Liberty  Spiritual,"  and  Robert  Barclay,  "  The  Anarchy  of  the 
Ranters."  George  Fox  wrote  an  epistle  against  separations,  and 
Thomas  Ell  wood,  George  Whitehead,  and  other  Friends,  in  like 
manner  exposed  the  errors  of  the  seceders,  and  defended  the  truth 
and  the  Society. 

Among  the  deep  trials  which  Friends  were  thus  introduced  into 
by  false  brethren,  about  this  time,  w'as  one  arising  from  the  apostasy 
of  Jeffery  Bullock  ;  who,  having  fallen  away  from  faith  in  the  gospel 
as  held  by  the  Society,  promulgated  the  anti-Christian  notion,  that 
the  Grace  of  God  which  bringeth  salvation,  having  appeared  unto 
all  men,  it  rendered  inoperative,  and  destroyed  any  benefits  resulting 
from  the  coming  and  sufferings  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 

As  usual  with  those  who  bring  in  false  doctrine,  and  attempt  to 
have  it  substituted  for  that  held  by  Friends,  he  claimed  the  right 
to  sow  his  anti-Christian  sentiments  within  the  pale  of  the  Society; 
took  offence  at  being  opposed  and  rebuked  by  some  of  those  who 
.stood  firmly  for  the  faith  held  by  it,  and  persisted  in  his  disbeliev- 
ing and  disorganizing  course;  drawing  a  few  followers  after  him. 
Labor  proving  unavailing  for  his  recovery,  he  was  disowned  by  the 
Quartc'i-ly  Meeting  to  which  he  belonged.  The  testimony  of  dis- 
own men  t  is  long,  setting  forth  tlie  error  of  J.  Bullock,  and  the 
Christian  doctrine  of  Friends.  The  following  extracts  will  show 
its  character : 

"  For  the  clearing  of  the  precious  truth  of  God,  professed  by  us, 
his  people  called  Quakers,  from  the  occasion  of  stumbling  and 
reproach,  given  by  Jeffery  liullock's  pernicious  doctrine,  in  affirm- 


518  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

ing  that  he  neither  expects  justification  nor  comleinnation  by  that 
Christ  that  died  at  Jerusalem:  These  are  to  certify  all  Friends,  and 
friendly  people  whom  it  may  concern,  that  we  testify  a.i^ainst  this 
doctrine  as  stated  by  him,  as  both  pernicious  and  anti-Christian, 
and  contrary  to  plain  Scriptures,  and  ihe  condant  tesfimoiiij  fiith- 

fidhj  home  amongst  us  from  the  beginning"  &c.,  &c 

"And  further,  we  cannot  own  any  such  doctrine  or  words  (by 
whomsoever  spoken)  as  tend  to  undervalue  the  sufferings,  death, 
and  blood  of  Christ.  For  not  only  a  reconciliation  was  made  and 
declared  through  his  death,  but  all  his  sufferings,  and  his  being 
the  one  universal  Offering  and  Sacrifice,  did  contribute  to  man's 
redemption,  and  the  salvation  of  all  that  triihj  believe  in  his  Name  ; 
though  without  the  Avashing  of  regeneration,  and  being  born  again 
of  the  living  Word  and  Spirit  of  Life,  none  do  really  partake  of 
eternal  salvation,  or  that  redemption  which  is  obtained  tlirough  the 
blood  of  Christ,  who  gave  Himself  for  us,  that  He  might  redeem  us 
from  all  iniquity." 

Some  years  after  [1686]  J.  Bullock  came  to  see  the  delusion  into 
which  he  had  fallen,  and  published  "  Several  Testimonies  against 
that  evil  spirit  by  which  he  had  been  led  to  oppose  the  truth  and 
people  of  God." 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Increase  and  Siiffei-ing  of  Friends  in  Ireland — J.  Baidcs'  Service  in  Ireland 

—  Disorders  among  some  Members  —  Catharine  Norton  —  Wm.  E(hnnnd- 
son  and  otlier  Friends  shut  up  in  a  Dungeon  — W.  E.  before  the  Bishop's 
Court — ^  Account  of  J.  Banks  —  Account  of  Benj.  Bangs —  "  Popish  Plot" 

—  Friends  persecuted  as  "  Popish  Recusants"  —  G.  Fox  addresses  Parlia- 
ment—  Friends  petition  the  King  and  Parliament — Efforts  to  relieve 
Friends  frustrated  —  Fires  of  Persecvition  rekindled — "VVni.  Dewsbury  in 
Jail  —  Sufferings  of  Friends  at  Bristol  — Prisons  filled  —  Wishes  of  the 
Mayor  and  Citizens  disregarded  by  the  Persecutors  —  Faithfulness  of  the 
Women  and  Children  —  Case  of  Isaac  Dennis,  a  ])ersecuting  Jailer  —  Gen- 
eral Persecution  and  Faithfulness  —  Epistles  of  Encouragement  —  Epistle 
of  G.  Fox. 


FRIENDS  continued  to  increase  in  niunbcr  in  Ireland,  although, 
like  their  brethren  in  other  places,  they  were  exj)osed  to  much 
suffering;  chiefly  on  account  of  tithes,  though  they  were  not  unfre- 
quently  persecuted  on  account  of  faithfully  supporting  other  testi- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTUllY.  519 

mouies.  Their  unwillinguess  to  take  an  oath  somethnes  subjected 
them  to  much  loss.  Ou  this  account  they  addressed  the  Lord- 
Lieuteuaiit  and  Council,  in  1673,  stating  "  That  whereas  they  durst 
uot,  on  any  account,  take  an  oath,  as  being  forbiddeu  by  Christ, 
wicked  men  laid  hold  on  this,  their  conscientious  scruple,  to  ensnare 
and  defraud  them,  by  causing  them  to  be  subpoenaed  into  Chancery, 
where  their  answers,  without  an  oath,  would  not  be  admitted.  For 
instance,  in  the  county  of  Wexford,  Thomas  Holme,  having  about 
£200  due  to  him  from  one  Captain  Thornhill,  for  which  judgment^ 
was  obtained  against  him  in  common  law,  was  subpoenaed  into 
Chancery  by  Thornhill,  where  he  well  knew  Thomas  could  uot 
answer  on  oath  ;  and  so  this  Friend  lost  his  debt."  Several 
instances  of  similar  iniquitous  action  are  given  ;  in  one  of  which 
the  Friend  not  only  lost  a  considerable  sum  due  him,  but  was 
subjected  to  an  additional  ^oss  of  £70,  before  he  could  get  rid  of 
the  exactions  of  his  debtor.  This  cause  of  suffering  continued  in 
Ireland  for  many  years. 

William  Penn  paid  a  visit  to  Friends  in  Ireland,  and  by  his 
influence  obtained  the  release  of  many  of  his  brethren  who  were  at 
that  time  imprisoned.  lu  1671  John  Banks  made  a  general  reli- 
gious visit  to  Friends  throughout  that  nation,  and  was  instrumental 
in  convincing  many,  of  the  doctrines  he  preached,  and  in  establish- 
ing some  meetings.  When  in  Dublin,  he  felt  it  laid  upon  him  to 
go  to  Wicklow,  and  have  a  meeting  with  the  inhabitants  there :  no 
Friend  having  yet  held  a  meeting  in  that  place.  On  his  arrival, 
notice  was  spread  that  an  English  Friend  would  hold  a  meeting 
there  the  next  day  ;  which,  coming  to  the  ears  of  the  priest  of  the 
place,  he  applied  to  the  Governor  of  the  Castle  to  prevent  the 
meeting  being  held.  When  John  and  the  Friends  with  him  were 
about  leaving  the  house  where  they  had  lodged,  to  go  to  the  meet- 
ing, their  landlady  entreated  them  not  to  attempt  to  go  along  the 
street,  for  there  was  a  guard  of  musketeers  waiting  to  take  him  ; 
at  the  same  time  kindly  offering  to  show  them  a  back  way.  But 
John  Banks  told  her,  though  "  I  accept  of  thy  love,  I  must  not  go 
any  private  way ;  for  I  have  a  testimony  to  bear  for  the  Lord,  in 
love  to  the  people."  They  got  to  the  place  of  meeting  unmolested; 
but  so  soon  as  the  meeting  was  settled,  the  soldiers  came  in,  and  their 
commander  required  John  to  go  before  the  Governor.  U[)on  J.  B. 
asking  to  see  his  warrant  for  arresting  him,  he  held  up  his  halberd, 
saying,  "This  is  my  warrant." 

The  Governor  had  with  him  his  wife,  the  priest,  and  some  others, 


520  r  R I  K  N  D  s   r  n  t  ii  f 

aiul  wiu-n  ,]o\n\  Banks  entered,  the  {)riest  said  to  tlie  Governor, 
"Sir,  tills  is  the  deceiver,  this  is  the  deluder  tliat  is  come  from  Eng- 
hind  to  deltide  the  peo])]e ;  I  hope  you  will  do  justice  and  execute 
the  law."  The  Governor  made  no  reply,  and  J.  Banks  stood  still 
until  the  jiriest  had  i'ully  unbui-dened  himself  of  his  invectives. 
He  then  said,  addressing  the  priest,  "Thou  sayest  I  am  a  deceiver 
and  a  deluder."  The  priest  cried  out  with  violence,  "So  thou  art, 
so  thou  art."  "  Have  patience,  continued  John,  and  let  thy  modera- 
tion appear,  and  hear  what  I  have  to  say  in  my  own  vindication  ; 
for  I  will  not  admit  thy  assertion  as  proof  I  have  had  patience  to 
hear  thee  :  art  thou  a  minister  of  Christ?  "  "  Yes,"  said  the  priest, 
"  I  am."  John  replied,  "  But  if  I  prove  thee  a  liar,  as  by  the  wit- 
ness of  these  people  thou  art,  in  charging  me  with  what  thou  canst 
bring  no  proof  for,  thou  art  out  of  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  and  of 
consequence  no  minister  of  his:  therefore  thou  a>'<  a  deceiver  and 
a  deluder  of  the  people."  The  priest  made  no  reply ;  and  many 
people  having  by  this  time  crowded  into  the  room  where  they  were, 
John  took  the  opportunity  to  explain  to  them  and  the  Governor, 
what  were  the  religious  principles  held  by  Friends,  and  con(!luded 
by  exhorting  them  to  sobriety  and  watchfulness.  Nevertheless, 
the  Governor  committed  him,  and  two  of  the  Friends  with  him,  to 
the  prison. 

The  jailer  was  very  friendly,  and  allowed  the  Friends  the  use  of 
a  room,  and  all  who  wished  it,  to  come  into  them.  So  they  held  a 
meeting,  and  John  Banks  preacded  so  convincingly,  that  several 
embraced  the  doctrines  of  Friends,  and  in  time,  joined  with  them 
in  membership.  The  three  were  kept  in  pi-ison  but  three  days. 
After  being  liberated,  John  went  into  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  on 
his  return  to  Dublin,  he  received  a  letter  from  AVicklow,  stating 
the  people  there  were  desirous  he  would  hold  another  meeting  among 
them.  He  felt  free  to  comply  with  their  request,  and  a  meeting 
was  held  without  interruption,  and  so  many  joined  with  Friends, 
that  a  regular  meeting  was  established  in  the  town. 

1674.  Friends  in  Ireland  did  not  escape  the  troubles  occasioned 
by  persons  arising  among  them  who  run  into  excesses,  and  others 
who  were  unwilling  to  live  under  the  daily  cross  and  know  it  to  keep 
them  in  the  strait  and  narrow  way,  in  which  the  disciple  of  Christ 
must  v.alk.  Persecution  had  for  a  while  been  very  fierce  at  Cork, 
and  many  Friends  had  suffered  there  severely  for  the  cause  and 
testimony  of  Truth  ;  nevertheless,  both  there  and  in  Dublin,  several 
nominal  members  adopted  the  notions  of  Muggleton,  and  ran  into 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CEX'TURY.  521 

looseness  of  conduct,  bringing  discredit  and  much  trouble  on  the 
Society.  Williiiin  Ednuindson,  who  had  been  absent  for  some  time 
in  America,  on  religious  service,  returned  in  1674;  and  he  says, 
"  AVhen  I  landed  I  went  to  Cork,  to  the  Province  Meeting,  which 
was  at  hand,  and  pi'esently  found  there  was  cause  for  ray  spirit  to 
be  pressed  to  hasten  over  for  the  preservation  of  the  church's  peace; 
some  being  gone  into  the  loose,  foolish  imaginations  of  Muggleton, 
and  others,  both  of  England  and  of  this  nation,  into  the  liberty  of 
their  wills  and  carnal  afiections,  from  the  cross  of  Christ  and  self- 
denial  ;  which  caused  great  trouble  and  difference  among  Friends, 
both  in  Cork  and  Dublin,  and  in  several  other  places.  We  had 
much  exercise  before  we  got  things  brought  into  order  and  settled ; 
but  the  Lord's  power  was  with  us,  and  went  over  all.  He  still  gave 
an  understanding  to  place  judgment  in  the  right  line ;  praises  to  his 
name  forever." 

In  1678,  a  woman  Friend  named  Catharine  Norton,  visited  the 
northern  parts  of  Ireland,  in  the  work  of  the  ministry.  She  was  a 
native  of  Ireland,  of  a  good  family  named  McLaughlin,  and  had 
received  her  education  at  Londonderry.  When  sixteen  years  of 
age,  she  had  emigrated  to  Barbadoes,  and  there  married.  When 
George  Fox  and  the  Friends  who  accompanied  him  were  in  that 
Island,  she  was  convinced  at  one  of  the  meetings  held  by  them,  em- 
braced the  truth,  as  held  by  Friends,  in  all  sincerity  and  persever- 
ance;  and. becoming  firmly  established  in  the  truths  of  the  gospel 
and  a  life  consistent  therewith,  she  received  a  gift  in  the  ministry, 
and  was  made  an  able  minister  of  the  new  covenant.  When  on  this 
religious  visit  to  her  native  country,  she  preached  in  some  places,  as 
at  Lurgan,  on  a  market-day,  in  the  Irish  language.  She  held  some 
public  disputes,  with  those  who  sought  to  prevent  the  spread  of  the 
principles  held  by  Friends,  and  her  services  are  represented  to  have 
been  "  to  the  satisfaction  and  edification  of  Friends."  Rutty,  in  his 
"  Rise  and  Progress,"  speaks  of  her  as  "  Well  qualified  for  the  service, 
being  of  sound  judgment,  large  in  testimony,  of  good  utterance,  had 
of  her  own  to  distribute,  and  did  not  make  the  gospel  chargeable." 

In  1682,  Benjamin  Bangs,  a  minister  from  England,  in  good 
esteem  for  his  religious  life  and  services,  spent  nearly  a  year  in 
travelling  among  Friends  in  Ireland ;  and  we  learu  from  him 
that  at  that  time  he  attended  one  hundred  and  eighty  meetings  of 
Friends  on  tlie  Island. 

William  lOdniund.-on  in  the  vear  KiS'i,  with  his  friend  Robert 
Jack.-on,  under  tin-  pi-o.-ecutidn   in   the  lJisli()j)s'  Court,  by  a  jjriest 


V. 


522  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

named  Lloyd,  wlio  liad  become  curate  for  George  Clapliam,  the 
notorious  persecutor  of  Friends  —  now  a  lunatic  —  had  been  excom- 
municated, and  confined  in  a  dungeon;  where  none  but  the  worst 
nuilefactors  were  usually  shut  up.  Here  the  two  Friends  were  kept 
twenty  weeks.  During  this  time  their  friends  did  not  fail  to  visit 
them  frequently  in  their  dismal  abode,  and  William  says,  "  We  had 
many  precious  good  meetings."  These  two  Friends  being  tenants 
of  the  Lord  of  Ely,  he  heard  of  the  suffering  they  were  enduring, 
and  applied  to  the  Bishop  to  have  them  released,  and  the  latter 
ordered  that  they  should  appear  at  his  Court  at  Kildare.  Of  the 
conference  at  this  Court,  William  gives  a  full  account,  from  which 
the  following  is  taken.  "  Accordingly  we  came,  and  there  were  the 
Bishop  and  about  ten  or  twelve  priests,  the  Lord  of  Ely  and  his 
steward,  with  several  other  persons  of  account  in  the  world,  and  a 
great  concourse  of  people.  One  Dean  Sing,  was  Chancellor  of  the 
Court :  Johu  Burnyeat  and  Anthony  Sharp  accompanied  me,  yet 
W'eut  not  in,  but  stood  at  the  door  where  they  could  both  see  and 
hear  us.  The  Bishop  began  to  discour.se  with  me  concerning  tithes 
which  I  was  unwilling  to  enter  upon,  being  sensible  of  my  own  weak- 
ness ;  but  he  urged:  then  the  Lord,  by  his  Divine  Spirit,  gave  me 
wisdom  and  understanding,  and  brought  Scripture  into  my  memory 
fluently ;  so  that  I  proved  tithes  to  be  ended,  and  that  it  was  anti- 
Christian  either  to  pay  or  receive  them  in  these  gospel  times  ;  which 
was  opened  so  clear  to  the  understandings  of  the  peoi)lQ,  that  there 
seemed  to  be  great  satisfaction  in  the  Court.  Then  Dean  Sing  stood 
up  before  them  all  and  said,  if  he  had  known  me  as  well  before  as 
he  did  now,  I  should  not  have  suffered  ;  with  several  other  expres- 
sions of  kindness."  The  Court  questioned  the  prisoner  respecting 
ministry,  faith  and  Divine  worship,  on  all  which  points  he  says, 
"My  understanding  was  clear,  ripe  and  ready,  through  the  assist- 
ance of  the  Lord's  blessed  Spirit,  to  answer;  "and  so  fully  and 
clearly  did  he  show  forth  the  Christian  ground  upon  which  Friends 
rested  their  testimony  against  tithes  and  formal  worship,  and  their 
dissent  from  the  "Church  of  England,"  that  the  Bishop  enjoined 
him  to  give  him  w'hat  he  had  then  said,  in  writing;  dismissed  the 
two  Friends  until  the  next  Court,  and  ordered  the  Sheriff  to  let 
them  have  their  liberty  in  the  meanwhile.  At  the  next  Court  the 
Bishop  offered  to  absolve  them  ;  but  William  let  him  know  they 
would  not  come  under  any  of  their  ceremonies,  and  so  spoke,  that 
the  Bishop  at  last  "  Bid  God  make  us  good  Christians,  and  wrote 
to  the  Sheriff  to  discharge  them ;  "  which  was  done. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  52o 

Among  the  Friends  who  were  frequently  and  extensively  engaged 
in  visiting  the  meetings  and  members  in  Irehnid  was  Jolin  Banks,  who 
has  been  already  mentioned.  He  was  born  in  Cumberland,  England, 
and  received  so  good  an  education  that  at  fourteen  years  of  age  he 
kept  a  school,  and  read  the  Scriptures  and  "  a  homily  "  to  the  people 
who  came  to  hear  him,  on  the  First-day  of  the  week.  He  also  prac- 
tised singing  psalms  and  praying;  for  which,  however,  he  says,  he 
"  had  no  liking."  On  one  occasion  a  man  who  was  considered  a 
great  scholar,  but  intemperate,  told  this  youthful  officiator,  that  he 
read  very  well,  but  he  did  not  i)ray  in  the  right  form,  and  that  he 
would  write  to  him  and  teach  him  how  to  pray  ;  which  he  did.  But 
when  John  had  read  over  the  prepared  supplication,  he  says,  "  I 
was  convinced  of  the  evil  thereof,  by  the  Light  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
which  immediately  opened  to  me  the  words  of  the  apostle  Paul 
concerning  the  gosj)el  he  had  to  preach;  that  he  had  it  not  from 
man,  neither  was  he  taught,  but  by  the  revelation  of  Jesus  Christ. 
In  answer  to  which  it  arose  in  me,  '  But  thou  hast  this  prayer  from 
man,  and  art  taught  it  by  man  ;  and  he  one  of  the  worst  of  many.' 
So  the  thread  of  the  Lord  fell  upon  me,  with  which  I  was  struck  to 
my  very  heart,  and  I  said  in  myself, 'I  shall  never  pray  in  this 
wise.'  "  Receiving  an  inward  intimation  to  go  to  a  meeting  of  those 
called  Quakers,  he  went ;  and  such  was  the  efiect  produced,  that  he 
refused  to  receive  any  of  the  compensation  provided  for  him,  on 
account  of  liis  clerical  services.  Previous  to  his  going  to  this  meet- 
ing, however,  he  remarks,  "  It  pleased  the  Lord  to  reach  my  heart 
and  conscience  by  his  pure,  living  Spirit,  in  the  blessed  appeai'ance 
thereof,  in  and  through  Jesus  Christ ;  whereby  I  received  the  knowl- 
edge of  God,  and  the  way  of  his  blessed  truth,  by  myself  alone  in 
the  fields,  before  I  ever  heard  any  one  called  a  Quaker  })reach, 
and  before  I  was  at  any  of  their  meetings.  But  the  First-day  that 
I  went  to  one,  the  Lord's  power  so  seized  upon  me  in  the  meeting, 
that  I  was  made  to  cry  out,  in  the  bitterness  of  my  soul,  in  a  true 
sight  and  sense  of  my  sins  ;  which  appeared  exceeding  .sinful.  On 
the  same  day,  as  I  was  going  to  an  evening  meeting  of  God's  people, 
scornfully  called  Quakers,  by  the  way  I  was  smitten  to  the  ground, 
with  the  weight  of  God's  judgment  for  sin  and  iniquity,  which 
fell  heavy  upon  me,  and  I  was  taken  up  by  two  Friends.'  "  Being 
now  given  uj)  to  allow  the  Light  of  Christ  Jesus  to  shine  into  his 
dark  heart,  his  sins  were  set  in  order  before  him,  and  brought  to 
judgment.  He  observes,  "As  I  travelltnl  under  the  ministration  of 
condcmnaticm  and  judguK-nt  for  .■^in  and  transgression,  great  was  the 


524  F  R  I  E  X  D  S     I  X    T  1 1  E 

warfare  I  had  with  the  enemy  of  my  soul ;  who,  through  his  subtlety, 
sought  to  betray  me  from  tlie  simplicity  of  the  trutli,  and  to  per- 
suade me  to  despair,  as  though  there  was  no  mercy  for  me.  Yet  in 
some  small  measure,  I  knew  the  Lord  had  shown  mercy  to  me, 
which  he  mixed  with  judgments  for  my  sins  past.  But  the  ex- 
perience I  had  gained  in  the  travail  of  my  soul,  and  the  faith  be- 
gotten of  God  in  my  heart,  strengthened  me  to  withstand  the  enemy, 
and  his  subtle  reasonings.  I  overcame  the  wicked  One,  through  a 
diligent  waiting  in  the  Light,  and  keeping  close  to  the  power  of 
God;  waiting  upon  Him,  in  silence,  among  his  people;  in  which 
exercise  my  soul  delighted."  Again,  he  says,  "  My  prosperity  in 
the  Truth,  I  always  found,  was  being  faithful  to  the  Lord  in  what 
He  manifested,  though  in  but  small  things  ;  unfaithfulness  in  which, 
is  the  cause  of  loss  and  hurt  to  many  in  their  growth  in  the  Truth." 
And  further,  "  Thus  I  came  clearly  to  see  that  it  was  not  safe  for  me 
to  sit  down  satisfied  with  what  I  had  passed  through,  or  the  victory 
I  had  already  obtained  ;  but  to  travel  on  in  faith  and  patience,  and 
watch  diligently  in  the  Light  of  Jesus  Christ,  where  the  true  powei 
is  still  received.  For  notwithstanding  the  many  deliverances,  and 
strength  and  victory  I  had  experienced,  the  Lord,  accorbing  to  the 
greatness  of  his  wisdom,  was  pleased  to  make  me  sensible  of  my 
own  weakness,  and  that  there  was  no  strength  to  stand,  nor  j)lace 
of  safety  for  me  to  abide  in,  but  in  His  power;  and  under  a  sense 
thereof  I  was  humbled,  bowed  and  laid  low." 

Thus  keeping  in  the  school  of  Christ,  and  submitting  to  his  disci- 
pline, John  Banks  became  deeply  versed  in  the  things  that  belonged 
to  salvation,  and  in  the  mysteries  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ;  and  in 
course  of  time  was  entrusted  with  a  gift  in  the  ministry ;  in  the  ex- 
ercise of  which  he  became  eminent.  One  more  extract  from  his 
Journal  is  worthy  of  close  consideration  to  all  in  the  present  day. 
"  Oh  !  the  comfort  and  divine  consolation  we  were  made  partakers 
of  in  those  days;  and  in  the  inward  sense  and  feeling  of  the  Lord's 
power  and  presence  with  us,  we  enjoyed  one  another,  and  were  near 
and  dear  one  to  another.  But  it  was  through  various  trials  and 
deep  exercises,  with  fear  and  trembling,  that  thus  we  were  made 
partakers.  Blessed  and  happy  are  they  who  know  what  the  truth 
has  cost  them,  and  hold  it  in  righteousness." 

As  John  Banks  was  not  only  a  deeply  experiencedservant  of  Christ, 
but  one  who  was  well  versed  and  extensively  engaged  in  promulgat- 
ing the  religious  faith  of  Friends,  the  following  short  extracts  from 
his  "Testimony  concerning  his  faith  in  Christ,"  and  that  of  Friends, 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  525 

may  properly  have  a  place  here:  "I  believe  in  the  same  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  for  remission  of  sins  and  the  salvation 
of  the  soul ;  even  He  which  was  conceived  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  born 
of  the  Virgin  Mary,  who  made  a  good  confession  before  Pontius 
Pilate,  and  was  crucified  without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem  ;  dead  and 
buried   and  rose  again  the  third  day,  and  ascended  into  glory,  far 

above  all  heavens,  that  He  might  fill  all  things,"  &c 

"  But  blessed,  praised  and  magnified  be  the  worthy  name  of  the 
Lord  our  God  forever,  who  hath  opened  and  cleared  our  under- 
standings by  his  power;  whereby  we  know  Him  in  whom  we  do  be- 
lieve ;  which  is  not  to  believe  in  the  Light  within,  distinct  from 
Christ;  as  if  people  could  believe  in  the  Light  and  not  in  Christ. 
But  we  believe  in  both  as  one;  knowing  and  being  clear  in  our 
understanding,  that  no  separation  can  be  made  betwixt  Christ  and 
the  Light  that  comes  from  Him ;  which  shines  in  the  hearts  of  all 
true  believers,  and  shines  in  the  darkness  of  unbelievers,  and  there- 
fore the  darkness  cannot  comprehend  it.  So  we  as  truly  believe  in 
the  same  Christ,  who  laid  down  his  body  and  took  it  up  again,  as 
well  as  in  his  Light  within  ;  and  we  have  benefit  to  salvation  by  the 
one  as  well  as  by  the  other,  and  of  both,  they  being  one;  and  we 
are  willing  to  lay  hold  of  every  help  and  means,  God,  in  and 
through  Jesus  Christ,  has  ordained  for  our  salvation." 

167L  Another  Friend  mentioned  as  having  labored  extensively 
in  Ireland  is  Benjamin  Bangs  ;  who,  born  in  Norfolk,  England,  came 
up  to  Loudon  with  the  man  to  whom  he  had  been  bound  as  an  ap- 
prentice, and  continued  residing  there  for  some  years.  He  was  one 
of  the  "wardsmen"  summoned  by  Sir  John  Robinson,  Lieutenant 
of  the  Tower,  to  unite  with  the  soldiers,  when  he  ordered  the  de- 
struction of  Friends'  meeting-house  at  Ratcliff.  Speaking  of  the 
transactions  of  that  day,  B.  Bangs  remarks,  "  Those  who  appeared 
in  arms,  had  orders  to  let  all  the  Quakers  come  in  that  wouhl,  but 
to  suffer  none  to  go  out  until  the  Justices  came  ;  who  when  they  ap- 
proached, treated  the  Quakers  with  very  rough  language ;  calling 
them  rogues  and  rebels  for  meeting  there  contrary  to  law,  and  began 
to  take  their  names.  After  this  was  done,  they  were  permitted  to 
go  out;  and  they  not  pulling  off  their  hats  to  the  Justices,  the  rude 
])cople  in  the  yard  pluckc-d  them  off  and  tiirew  them  over  the  wall ; 
iKit  they  who  were  friends  to  them  [the  (Quakers]  saved  what  they 
could,  and  restored  them  to  the  owners ;  others,  who  had  a  mind  to 
mak<!  a  prey,  got  a  good  liat  and  left  a  bad  one."  Being  one  of  the 
guard  sent  with  three  Friends  committed  to  the  New  prison,  one  of 


526  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

tlioin  addrcs^ine;  him,  said,  "  Thou  hast  an  innocent  countenance,  and 
dost  not  look  like  a  persecutor."  "  No,"  Benjamin  replied,  "  it  was 
much  contrary  to  my  inclination  :  "  the  Friend  added,  "  We  believe 
thee  and  freely  forgive  thee."  This,  he  says,  produced  tenderness 
of  heart  towards  Friends.  But  he  had  no  thought  of  taking  part 
with  this  suffering  people;  and  his  mother,  who  had  joined  Friends, 
having  written  to  him,  desiring  him  to  frequent  the  mc^etings  of 
Friends,  it  so  offended  him,  that  at  first  he  would  not  read  the  whole 
letter  through.  But,  he  says,  on  the  First-day  following,  "  I  went  to 
take  a  walk  under  the  arches  in  Covent  Gardcm,  and  after  a  little 
time,  a  solid  concern  came  over  my  mind,  and  this  arose  in  my 
thoughts,  '  What  is  the  matter  that  thou  canst  not  read  thy  mother's 
letter?'  with  that  I  went  and  sat  down  on  a  large  stone,  and  read 
the  letter  with  pleasure,  and  it  arose  in  my  mind  to  go  to  a  meeting. 
The  enemy  of  all  righteousness  suggested, '  Thou  knowest  not  where 
a  meeting  is ; '  but  it  very  intelligibly  opened  to  ray  understanding, 
Go  down  to  Charing-eross,  and  there  thou  shalt  see  some  of  that 
people ;  follow  them."  He  went,  saw  five  or  six  persons  whom  he 
recogTiized  to  be  Friends  ;  he  followed  them,  and,  he  says,  "Their 
habit,  with  their  solid  behavior,  affected  me." 

In  the  meeting,  though  he  remarks  he  could  not  keep  his  thoughts 
fixed  on  the  preaching,  yet  he  came  in  measure  to  see  his  own  lost 
condition,  and  was  "  made  sensible  that  there  was  a  spiritual  war- 
fare to  be  passed  through,  and  that  no  staidness  of  mind  could  be 
attained  to,  till  the  inward  enemies  of  the  soul  came  to  be  destroyed," 
and  that  it  was  required  of  him  to  get  into  inward  retirement.  So 
great  was  the  effect  produced  upon  him  by  the  impressions  made 
ou  his  mind  in  that  meeting,  that  one  of  his  near  friends,  observing 
his  great  seriousness,  inquired  what  had  taken  place ;  and  on 
Benjamin  narrating  the  circumstances,  he  remarked  "He  had  never 
heard  anything  like  it;  it  must  be  something  supernatural,  or  it 
could  never  have  had  such  an  effect  upon  you.  And  he  was  so  far 
reached  and  convinced,  that  he  soon  after  forsook  his  former  pro- 
fession, and  joined  himself  to  the  Quakers."  It  is  further  stated  by 
Benjamin  Baiigs,  "Several  young  men,  who  heard  of  the  manner 
of  my  conviucement  —  I  think  through  the  young  man  who  was  my 
companion  —  were  so  reached  and  affected  therewith,  ami  seeing 
my  grave  and  solid  behavior,  who  they  heard  had  before  been 
very  wild,  that  they  came  also  to  embrace  the  Truth ;  so  that  I  was 
made,  very  early,  an  instrument  for  the  convincement  of  several." 

But  some  time  after,  letting  in  the  temptation  to  believe  that  he 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  527 

■was  so  firmly  established  "he  would  never  do  anything  disagreea- 
ble to  the  Truth,"  the  arm  of  preservation  and  defence  was  with- 
drawn ;  and  he  so  far  lost  his  good  estate  as  to  grow  careless,  and  to 
satisfy  himself  with  the  belief,  that  as  he  now  knew  how  to  attain 
to  the  knowledge  he  had  so  longed  for,  he  might  take  more  liberty, 
and  be  more  in  earnest  at  a  future  time.  He  indulged  in  this, 
until  he  "became  ashamed  to  meet  his  friends  in  the  street;"  but 
he  states  that  at  a  certain  time,  "  As  I  sat  at  work,  the  Avord  of  the 
Lord  came  to  me,  '  This  is  thy  day  ;  harden  not  thy  heart;'  which 
so  struck  me,  that  I  trembled."  He  was  now  brought  to  see  how 
he  had  fallen  away ;  and  he  goes  on :  "  My  exercise  was  very 
great ;  my  tongue  is  too  short  to  express  it,  and  my  pen  to  describe 
it;  and  the  way  to  get  back  to  what  I  once  enjoyed,  I  found  by 
experience  to  be  very  narrow.  For  if  I  took  a  wrong  step,  either 
by  word  or  a  vain  thought,  my  inward  Instructor  made  it  manifest 
that  it  did  not  belong  to  me ;  I  had  something  else  to  do." 

By  close  watchfulness  and  implicit  obedience  to  the  manifesta- 
tions of  the  Light  of  Christ,  he  was  favored  to  bear  the  baptisms 
necessary  for  his  purification  ;  and  came  t(i  know  what  it  was  to  be 
truly  grafted  into  Christ,  the  living  Vine;  and  he  makes  the 
acknowledgment,  "  It  is  good  for  me  that  I  have  been  thus  afllicted  ; 
for  now  I  know  something  of  what  it  is  to  buy  the  truth  ;  for  it  had 
cost  me  but  little  before." 

Notice  has  been  taken  of  the  condition  of  political  parties  in 
England,  and  of  the  spread  and  embittering  of  dissatisfied  feeling 
among  the  people  at  large ;  produced,  in  part,  by  the  prevalent 
sense  that  by  the  foreign  policy  pursued  by  the  King  and  his  coun- 
sellors, the  country  was  occupying  a  low  and  humiliating  position 
among  the  nations ;  in  part  by  forebodings  of  some  scheme  being- 
designed,  to  undermine  the  constitutional  rights  of  the  citizens,  and 
destroy' all  civil  liberty;  and  perhaps  more  than  anything  else,  by 
the  hatred  and  fear  in  the  great  body  of  the  people,  of  the  Romish 
religion,  and  the  suspected  secret  machinations  of  the  Papist  re- 
cusants, to  obtain  the  free  exercise  of  their  religion,  and  once  more 
seize  the  reins  of  governments  In  this  state  of  discontent  and  un- 
certainty, the  whole  nation  was  startled  and  thrown  into  violent 
ferment,  by  the  revelations  of  one  Titus  Oates,  a  degraded  clergy- 
man in  the  "Church  of  Eiighmd."  He  is  said  to  have  once  pro- 
fessed the  Komisli  faith,  and  to  have  passed  some  portion  of  his 
life  in  a  college  of  the  Jesuits  on  the  continent.     In  1G78,  he  boldly 


528  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

declared  that  he  had  become  acquainted  Avitli  a  carefully  concocted 
plan,  devised  by  the  hierarchy  at  Rome,  and  having  its  ramifica- 
tions throughout  the  country ;  to  bring  into  action  the  means,  by 
which  the  whole  power  and  all  the  places  of  honor  and  profit  iu 
the  government,  were  to  be  secured  by,  and  kept  in  the  possession 
of,  the  Papists.  He  asserted  that  the  profuse  shedding  of  blood 
was  to  be  no  obstruction  to  carrying  out  the  designs  of  the  jdotters  ; 
and  that  they  stood  ready  at  the  first  opportunity  to  rise,  and  by 
massacre  or  any  other  means,  wholly  to  overturn  the  present  con- 
dition of  the  nation. 

Some  circumstances  occurring  at  the  time,  supposed  to  corrob- 
orate this  tale  of  a  "  Popish  Plot,"  the  nation  became  distracted 
with  an  insane  terror  and  credulity.  Nothing  seemed  too  bad  or 
too  incredible  not  to  be  eagerly  accepted  by  the  excited  populace, 
as  part  and  parcel  of  the  Jesuitical  conspiracy  prepared  for  their 
destruction;  and  Parliament,  participating  in  the  general  hallu- 
cinatian,  insisted  upon  the  Duke  of  York  being  excluded  from  the 
Privy  Council  ;  gave  expression  to  their  jealousy  of  the  influence 
of  the  Queen,  and  impeached  the  High  Treasurer ;  who  had  re- 
ceived money  from  the  French  monarch.  A  new  ftest  Act  was 
passed,  and  a  proposition  made  to  exclude  the  Duke  of  York  from 
the  throne.  The  King,  fearing  lest  an  investigation  would  lie  gone 
into  that  would  lead  to  a  knowledge  of  transactions,  which  he  was 
particularly  desirous  to  keep  concealed,  in  the  First  month  of  1679, 
dissolved  the  Parliament;  which  had  been  in  existence  almost  ever 
since  his  restoration,  nearly  eighteen  years;  leaving  the  whole  nation 
in  an  unreasoning,  passionate  ferment,  and  the  officers  appointed  to 
administer  the  laws,  subject  to  the  contagious  excitement  that  was 
hurrying  the  populace  into  the  wildest  excesses. 

Friends,  of  course,  had  nothing  to  do  with  these  political  turmoils, 
nor  with  the  supposed  Popish  plot,  that  was  so  deeply  agitating  the 
nation ;  but  it  was  made  a  means  for  increasing  the  power  of  their 
enemies,  and  multiplying  their  sufl^erings.  However  violently  par- 
ties opposed  each  other,  and  however  implacable  their  hatred  of 
each  other,  they  seemed  to  unite,  as  on  common  ground,  in  the  per- 
secution of  the  Quakers.  In  addition  to  former  pretended  causes 
for  punishment,  many  of  the  ribald  informers  and  corrupt  Magis- 
trates, now  boldly  accused  them  of  being  Popish  recusants ;  and 
maliciously  enlisted  the  prejudices  and  ])assions  of  the  people  on 
that  subject,  to  inflict  on  defenceless  Friends  the  havoc  of  goods  and 
personal  suffering,  they  were,  in  measure,  restrained  from  meting 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  529 

out  on  the  dreaded  Catholics.  Nor  was  it  this  class  only  that  took 
advantage  of  the  excited  state  of  tlie  people  to  add  to  the  sufferings 
of  Friends ;  for  some  who  were  of  account  in  the  "  estal)lished 
church,"  took  much  pains  to  spread  the  impression,  that  though 
the  Quakers  might  not  be  Papists,  yet  they  were  plotters  against 
tlie  government.  To  meet  and,  if  possible,  prevent  the  effect  in- 
tended to  be  produced  by  this  calumny,  George  Fox  put  forth  a 
declaratiou  as  follows  ;  addressed  more  particularly  to  the  new  Par- 
1  lament. 

"  It  is  our  principle  and  testimony,  to  deny  and  renounce  all 
plots  and  plotters  against  the  King,  or  any  of  his  subjects ;  for  we 
have  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  by  which  we  have  the  mind  of  Christ,  who 
came  to  save  men's  lives,  and  not  to  destroy  them  :  and  we  would 
have  the  King  and  all  his  subjects  to  be  safe.  Wherefore  we  do 
declare,  that  we  will  endeavor,  to  our  power,  to  save  and  defend 
liim  and  them,  by  discovering  all  plots  and  plotters,  which  shall 
come  to  our  knowledge,  that  would  destroy  the  King  or  his  sub- 
jects :  this  we  do  sincerely  offer  unto  you.  But  as  to  swearing  and 
fighting,  wliich  in  tenderness  of  conscience  we  cannot  do,  ye  know 
that  we  have  suffered  these  many  years  for  our  conscientious  refusal 
thereof.  And  now  that  the  Lord  hath  brought  you  together,  we 
desire  you  to  relieve  us,  and  free  us  from  those  sufferings:  and  that 
ye  will  not  put  upon  us  to  do  those  thuigs,  which  we  have  suffered 
so  much  and  so  long  already  for  not  doing ;  for  if  you  do,  ye  will 
make  our  sufferings  and  bonds  stronger,  instead  of  relieving  us." 

In  1680,  Friends  presented  to  the  King  and  Parliament  a  brief 
relation  of  the  sufferings  they  had  undergone,  since  the  restoration 
of  the  King ;  showing,  that  beside  all  the  grievous  imprisonments 
which  had  been  inflicted  on  over  ten  thousand  of  them,  the  havoc 
made  of  their  property,  &c.,  two  hundred  and  forty-three  of  their 
members  had  died  in  prison ;  several  of  whom  came  to  their  death 
from  the  inhuman  beatings  they  had  received,  when  meeting  to 
worship  their  Almighty  Father  in  heaven.  They  also  set  forth  the 
iniquitous  prosecutions  they  were  subjected  to,  in  the  Exchequer,  as 
Popish  recusants;  whereby  two-thirds  of  the  estate  of  the  Friends 
thus  prosecuted,  were  seized  in  the  King's  name,  though  it  was  well 
known  they  were  Protestant  Dissenters.  The  exorbitant  fines,  &c., 
imposed  by  tlie  Bishops'  Courts,  were  likewise  shown,  as  also  other 
unjust  proceedings.  William  Penn,  George  Whitehead  and  Wil- 
liam Mead,  went  before  a  committee  of  the  House,  and  clearly  de- 
monstrated the  truth  of  the  statements  made,  and  the  inhumanity 
34 


530  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

of  the  course  pursued  towards  their  harmless  brethren  ;  so  tliat  Sir 
Christopher  Miisgrave,  himself  a  zealous  Churchman,  expressed  his 
disgust  at  the  treatment  Friends  received ;  saying,  "  The  prisons 
were  filled  with  them,  many  of  them  had  been  excommunicated  for 
small  matters,  and  that  it  was  a  shame  and  scandal  for  their  Church, 
to  use  the  Quakers  so  hardly  on  every  trivial  occasion." 

As  Friends  did  not  partake  in  the  popular  feeling  of  hostility 
towards  the  Roman  Catholics,  and  were,  on  principle,  oi){)osed  to 
the  harsh  measures  pursued  towards  them  on  account  of  their  reli- 
gion, they  were  careful,  while  thus  exhibiting  the  injustice  of  pun- 
ishing them  [Friends]  as  "  Popish  recusants,"  to  make  known  like- 
wise their  disapproval  of  the  persecution  of  the  Catholics.  Thus  in 
his  speech  before  the  Committee  of  the  House,  "William  Penn  makes 
use  of  the  following  language: 

"I  would  not  be  mistaken.  I  am  far  from  thinking  it  fit,  that 
Papists  should  be  whipped  for  their  consciences,  because  I  exclaim 
against  the  injustice  of  whipping  Quakers  for  Papists.  No;  for 
though  the  hand  pretended  to  be  lifted  up  against  them,  hath,  I 
know  not  by  what  direction,  lit  heavily  upon  us,  and  Ave  complain, 
yet  we  do  not  mean  that  any  should  take  a  fresh  aim  at  them,  or 
that  they  must  come  in  our  room.  We  must  give  the  liberty  we  ask, 
and  cannot  be  false  to  our  principles,  though  it  were  to  relieve  our- 
selves ;  for  we  have  good-will  to  all  men,  and  would  have  none  suffer 
for  a  truly  sober  and  conscientious  dissent  on  any  hand.  And  I 
humbly  take  leave  to  add,  that  those  methods  against  persons  so 
qualified,  do  not  seem  to  me  to  be  convincing,  or  indeed  adequate  to 
the  reason  of  mankind,  but  this  I  submit  to  your  consideration." 

A  Bill  was  reported  to  the  House,  releasing  Protestants  from  the 
penalties  of  certain  laws  relating  to  Non-conformists,  and  exempt- 
ing others  from  similar  penal  statutes ;  on  condition  of  their  sub- 
scribing a  declaration  of  allegiance,  and  assembling  witii  oi)en  doors. 
But  the  Presbyterians,  claiming  to  be  included  within  the  Estab- 
lished Church,  so  that  they  might  participate  in  its  emoluments, 
proposed  such  amendments  to  or  alterations  in  the  Bill,  that 
though  it  was  committed,  it  was  not  perfected  or  passed.  Both 
Houses,  however,  passed  an  Act  exempting  Protestant  Dissenters 
from  the  penalties  imposed  by  the  Acts  of  Klizabeth,  against  Popish 
recusants ;  though  it  was  strongly  opposed  by  the  Bishops,  in  the 
House  of  Lords.  AVhen  it  was  to  have  been  presented  to  the  King 
for  his  signature,  it  was  suddenly  missing;  having  been  secreted  by 
the  "  Clerk  to  the  Crown,"  it  was  said,  by  Charles'  direction. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  n       531 

The  King,  wlio  bad  come  to  the  determination  to  rule  by  his  own 
absolute  power,  informed  Parliament  that  he  was  about  to  prorogue 
them ;  and  both  Houses  at  once  passed  resolutions,  that  the  Acts 
against  Popish  recusants  ought  not  to  be  used  against  Protestant 
Dissenters ;  and  that  the  prosecution  of  the  latter  was  weakening 
the  Protestant  interest,  and  giving  encouragement  to  Papists.  The 
laws,  however,  were  not  changed.  This  Parliament  was  soon  after 
dissolved,  and  another  elected,  which  assembled  at  Oxford;  but  it 
manifesting  the  same  kind  of  feeling,  and  the  same  determination  to 
exclude  the  Duke  of  York  from  succession  to  the  throne,  the  King, 
in  a  passion,  dissolved  it;  and  siding  entirely  with  the  party  which 
had  received  the  title  of  Tory,  in  opjjosltiou  to  the  other  now  called 
Whig,  the  measures  taken  were  more  the  product  of  party  hate  and 
animosity,  than  for  the  ease  of  the  people,  or  bettering  the  condition 
of  the  country.  The  Bishops  and  high-churchmen  generally  sided 
with  the  tories,  and  uiiblushingly  supported  the  arrogant  assump- 
tions of  the  King  and  Court ;  while  the  latter,  turned  out  of  office 
every  one  suspected  of  not  favoring  the  tyrannical  measures  now 
pursued,  in  order  to  retain  and  extend  the  power  usurped. 

Friends  in  London,  owing  to  the  moderate  sentiments  and  kindly 
feelings  of  the  then  Mayor  and  Sheriff,  had  for  the  last  year  been 
permitted  to  escape  the  keen  edge  of  persecution ;  but  the  Court, 
by  its  unjustifiable  intei-ference,  had  those  officers,  contrary  to  the 
wishes  of  the  citizens  as  expresed  by  a  vote,  turned  out  of  place, 
and  succeeded  by  others  prepared  to  do  its  bidding.  In  a  little 
time  after,  the  King  took  away  the  charter  of  the  city,  and  would 
not  restore  it,  without  a  stipulation,  that  thereafter  he  should  have 
a  veto  in  the  appointment  of  its  chief  officers.  Soon  the  fire  of  per- 
secution was  again  kindled  against  Friends  there,  and  many  were 
made  to  suffi^r  deeply  from  it,  The  informers,  who  in  most  places 
had  become  so  detestable  to  the  people  that  they  were  either 
ashamed  or  afraid  to  pursue  their  nefarious  trade,  now  returned  to 
their  prey ;  and  were  gladly  welcomed  by  the  party  desirous  to 
profit  by  their  insolence  and  depravity.  Several  of  the  clergy  en- 
listed in  the  infamous  service  themselves  ;  first  disturbing  or  break- 
ing up  meetings,  and  then  giving  information  of  the  presence  of 
I)ersons,  whom  and  whose  families  they  assisted  to  ruin,  by  fines  and 
imprisonments. 

George  Whitehead,  who  was  charged  with  being  a  Jesuit,  ap- 
peared to  be  an  ol)ject  of  their  implacable  hate.  Again  and  again 
he  was  fined  as  a  preacher  among  the  (Quakers ;  so  that  in  a  com- 


532  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

parativrly  short  time,  he  liad  goods  takcMi  from  liim  valued  at 
nearly  £7') ;  but  by  an  appeal  ajfaiiist  two  of  the  seizures,  which 
were  so  illegally  made,  that  the  decision  had  to  be  in  his  favor,  he 
recovered  a  little  over  £11,  out  of  about  £50  worth  of  goods  that 
had  been  seized  and  sold  ;  the  balance  remaining  in  the  hands  of 
the  informer  and  iNIagistrates. 

William  Dewsbury,  who  had  been  for  a  short  time  out  of  i)rison 
and  living  at  his  own  home,  was  once  more  taken  up,  upon  the 
charge  of  being  a  Jesuit  and  connected  with  the  Popish  plot,  and 
sent  to  his  old  quarters  in  Warwick  jail ;  and  although  the  notori- 
ous Oates  gave  a  certificate  that  neither  he  nor  any  other  Friend, 
was  in  any  way  connected  with  the  i)]ot,  and  that  William  was 
entirely  innocent  of  the  charges  brought  against  him,  his  enemies 
found  means  to  gratify  their  ill-will  towards  him.  He  was  kept  shut 
up  in  prison,  until  liberated  by  the  proclamation  of  King  James  II. ; 
about  six  years  after  his  committal.  It  was  during  the  time  of  this 
last  imprisonment  in  Warwick  jail  —  wdiich  made  up  about  nineteen 
years  that  he  was  confined  in  that  wretched  abode  —  that  he  lost  by 
death  a  little  grandchild,  named  ISIary  Samm  ;  who  had  continued 
with  him  in  his  bonds  ;  waiting  upon  him,  and  contributing  not  a 
little  to  his  enjoyment.  She  was  but  little  over  twelve  years  of  age, 
and  the  account  given  by  her  grandfather,  of  her  religious  exercises 
and  expi'essions,  during  her  last  illness,  shows  her  to  have  been 
remarkably  mature  in  religious  understanding. 

The  necessity  to  observe  brevity  will  not  admit  of  entering  into 
many  particulars  of  the  sore  persecution,  now  unrelentingly  en- 
forced against  Dissenters,  by  corrupt  officials,  throughout  Eng- 
land, Scotland,  and  Ireland  ;  of  which,  as  usual,  Friends  bore  the 
severest  part.  It  is  probable  that  Friends  were  made  to  feel  it  the 
more  keenly,  because  of  it  becoming  known,  that  in  the  elections 
which  had  necessarily  occurred  on  the  dissolution  of  Parliament, 
they  had  pretty  generally  cast  their  votes  in  favor  of  candidates 
opposed  to  the  Court  and  high-church  party;  and  William  Penn 
had  taken  an  active  part,  both  by  pen  and  personal  influence,  to 
have  his  friend  Algernon  Sidney  returned  ;  who  was  specially  dis- 
liked by  the  party  in  power;  in  which,  however,  he  was  disap- 
pointed. 

As  on  former  occasions,  Friends'  meetings  were  now  generally 
broken  up  by  armed  bands  ;  the  meeting-houses  taken  from  them, 
obliging  them  to  meet  together  in  the  streets,  or  in  other  places,  as 
near  to  them  as  they  were  allowed  to  come;  personal  violence  was 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  533 

continually  resorted  to,  while  fines  and  imprisonments  were  the  lot 
of  the  more  conspicuous  among  them.  Still,  they  were  borne 
above  it  all,  and  kept  faithful  to  their  testimony,  being  supported 
by  Divine  power ;  and,  as  George  Whitehead  says,  comforted  by 
the  inward  assurance  that  the  Lamb  and  his  followers  should  finally 
liav^e  the  victory.  At  Bristol  their  persecution  was  particularly 
persistent,  barbarous,  and  I'egardless  of  all  form  of  law. 

The  three  principals,  most  conspicuous  in  the  inhuman  treatment 
meted  out  to  Friends  in  that  city  at  that  time  [1682]  were  the 
Sheriff,  named  Knight,  an  Alderman,  named  Olyffe,  and  an  At- 
torney named  Helliar.  These,  with  their  subordinates,  appear  to 
have  reached  an  extraordinary  depth  of  wickedness,  and  to  have 
given  unrestrained  license  to  their  evil  j)assions.  They  first  laid  a 
fine  of  £5  on  one  of  Friends'  meeting-houses,  under  pretence  that  it 
was  required  to  defray  the  expense  of  the  "  trained  bands;"  and  as 
it  was  not  paid,  they  took  the  seats,  forms,  chairs,  &c.,  out  of  the 
house,  and  encouraged  the  rabble  to  break  the  windows,  &c.  Find- 
ing Friends  continued  their  meeting  there,  they  attacked  them  while 
assembled  ;  beat  some  of  them  and  sent  some  to  Newgate.  Ihey 
broke  down  the  galleries,  and  carried  off  the  partitions ;  then  took 
possession  of  the  house,  and  boarded  up  the  doors.  Having  thus 
disposed  of  one  of  the  meeting-houses,  they  proceeded  to  enact  the 
same  destruction  at  the  other ;  raising  such  a  riot  by  the  mob  they 
enlisted  in  the  service,  that  the  whole  neighborhood  was  in  an 
uprcKir  ;  to  the  terror  of  the  peaceable  inhabitants;  for  which  they 
endeavored  to  make  Friends  responsible.  Whenever  Friends 
assembled  for  Divine  worship,  they  were  assailed  in  tlie  most  brutal 
manner,  both  men  and  women  suffering  alike  from  the  violence  and 
insolence  of  the  low  men  and  boys,  who  served  the  higher  oflScers, 
generally  led  on  by  Helliar;  while  the  most  abusive  and  often  ob- 
scene language,  was  poured  out  upon  them.  Fines  were  levied 
uj)on  them  without  stint,  and  the  jails  crowded  almost  to  suffoca- 
tion. A  widow,  named  Elizabeth  Batho,  had  her  house  seized,  the 
windows  broken,  her  goods  thrown  out,  and  she  obliged  to  give 
place  to  another  tenant,  whom  the  self-authorized  trio  put  in.  The 
goods  seized  for  the  fines  levied,  were  generally  of  two  or  three 
times  more  value  than  the  sum  demanded ;  and  the  Sheriff'  s<dd 
them  in  obscure  places,  where  those  who  coveted  them  could  get 
them  at  a  mere  nominal  price.  From  seven  Friends  they  took 
goods  worth  over  £100  in  five  days'  time;  and  there  was  no  possi- 
bility of  obtaining  redress.     Fifty  of  the  members  were  prosecuted 


534  TRIEXDS     IX    TITE 

as  "Popish  recusants,"  for  the  purpose  of  l)riiiijiii(,f  tlicm  uiidor  the 
sentence  of  premunire.  The  Sheriff  and  Alderman  Olyffe  sent 
men  and  women  to  jail,  at  their  own  option,  without  regard  to  trial 
or  law ;  until  the  rooms  into  which  they  were  crowded,  became  so 
full,  they  had  not  sufficient  space  to  hold  the  necessary  beds ;  and 
the  atmosphere,  from  want  of  proper  ventilation,  became  poisonous. 
The  prisoners  represented  their  suffering  condition  to  the  Mayor ; 
stating  there  were  nine  beds  in  one  room  of  thirteen  feet  square. 

The  Mayor  and  Aldermen  genenvlly  disapproved  of  the  barbarous 
course  pursued  towards  Friends,  and  were  desirous  to  afford  them 
relief;  but  their  good  intentions  were  frustrated  by  the  Sheriff, 
Knight ;  who,  knowing  that  he  would  be  approved  and  supported 
by  those  in  power  at  Court,  refused  to  comply  with  the  direction  of 
the  Mayor;  not  only  in  regard  to  affording  relief  to  the  prisoners, 
but  also  as  to  stopping  the  disposing  of  goods  seized,  in  alehouses ; 
and  the  private  convictions,  and  commitments  privately  made, 
according  to  the  will  of  one  Sherifi'and  one  Alderman. 

The  commitments  to  prison  still  going  on,  some  of  the  citizens 
accompanied  the  other  Sheriff  of  tlie  city,  to  inspect  the  condition 
of  the  prisoners;  who  published  a  certificate,  in  which  they  say  that 
eighty-five  of  those  in  jail  "  were  of  the  ])eople  called  Quakers, 
who  were  unreasonably  thronged  to  four,  five,  six,  seven  and  nine 
beds  in  a  room  ;  many  necessitated  to  lie  on  the  ground,  in  a  filthy 
place,  which  had  been  a  dog-kennel,  to  the  hazard  of  their  lives," 
&c.  This  statement  producing  no  change,  two  Friends  went  up 
to  London,  and  with  George  Whitehead  were  admitted  before  the 
King  and  Council;  where,  though  some  members  of  the  Council 
endeavored  to  prevent  any  notice  being  taken  of  their  statement,  its 
exhibition  of  the  illegality  as  well  as  cruelty  of  the  proceedings  at 
Biistol,  was  so  clear,  that  an  order  was  issued  to  the  Magistrates  of 
that  city,  to  allow  the  prisoners  better  accommodations;  whereupon 
some  of  them  were  taken  out  of  Newgate,  and  shut  up  in  anotlun- 
place.  But  the  three  confederate  persecutors  cared  little  for  this 
intervention  ;  they  soon  filled  up  the  places  that  had  been  vacated 
in  Newgate,  and  gave  ground  for  the  same  complaints  of  the  noi- 
someness  of  the  quarters,  as  were  heard  before.  Four  physicians 
of  the  city  now  visited  the  prison  ;  and  afterwards  certified  that  it 
was  so  full  and  noisome,  and  the  prisoners  so  straitened  for  room  to 
rest,  as  had  a  tendency  to  suffocate  and  destroy  them. 

Like  the  former  testimony,  this  had  no  effect  on  the  men  who 
were  equally  regardless  of  justice  and  humanity  ;  they  kept  up  their 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  535 

outrages  on  the  Frieuds  who  wftfe  left  to  assemble  at  their  religious 
meetings;  and  finding  that  those  who  were  crammed  within  the 
prison  walls,  continued  to  devote  part  of  their  time  to  performing 
the  duty  of  Divine  worship,  Knight,  Helliar,  and  the  jailer,  named 
Isaac  Dennis,  broke  violently  upon  them  while  thus  engaged  ;  drove 
them  out  of  the  room,  put  irons  upon  one  of  them,  and  thrust  him 
into  the  place  usually  reserved  for  condemned  felons.  On  one  such 
occasion,  while  Friends  were  holding  their  meeting  in  the  common 
hall,  Knight  seized  a  Friend  who  had  spoken  a  few  words,  and 
threw  him  headlong  down  the  stairs  ;  and  he,  narrowly  escaping 
with  his  life,  was  thrust  into  the  felons'  apartment. 

When  the  Quarter  Sessions  was  held  at  Bristol,  the  Magistrates 
who  were  favorable  to  Friends,  discharged  the  greater  part  of 
them,  on  their  promise  to  appear  at  the  next  sessions ;  but  in  the 
course  of  a  short  time,  Knight  and  Helliar  had  sent  the  most  of 
them  back  to  their  old  quarters.  Finding  that  when  the  men  were 
nearly  all  incarcerated,  the  women  continued  to  hold  their  meet- 
ings, they  resolved  to  sweep  them  off  also;  and  quickly,  the  women 
Friends  were  shut  up  in  prison  with  their  husbands,  brothers,  and 
sons ;  so  that  it  was  not  long  before  one  hundred  and  sixty  Friends 
were  locked  up.  Among  the  women  were  Barbara  Blaugdone  and 
Catharine  Evans,  of  both  of  whom  notice  has  been  taken  before. 

The  parents  being  thus  prevented  from  maintaining  a  public  tes- 
timony to  the  indispensable  duty  of  assembling  for  Divine  worship, 
the  children,  undismayed  by  the  persecution  inflicted  on  their  near- 
est and  dearest  caretakers,  came  together  regularly  at  the  place 
appointed,  and  held  the  meeting  with  decorum  and  solidity;  bear- 
ing with  becoming  patience,  the  ribald  jests  and  derision  lavished 
on  them.  Being  under  the  age  that  would  have  exposed  them  to 
the  lash  of  the  law,  they  were,  nevertheless,  not  exempted  from 
the  illegal  and  cowardly  efforts  of  the  vindictive  persecutors,  when 
they  found  that  taunts  and  jeers  had  no  effect  to  deter  them  from 
keeping  up  the  meeting.  Some  were  put  in  the  stocks  and  kept 
there  for  hours ;  and  some  were  severely  whip]>ed  with  whale- 
bone whips.  Helliar  sent  eleven  boys  and  four  girls  to  Bridewell ; 
and  when  they  were  brought  before  the  Deputy  Mayor  the  next 
morning,  flattery  and  threats  were  freely  used,  in  order  to  induce 
them  to  give  up  tlieir  meeting;  but  not  being  moved  by  either,  they 
were  sent  back  to  jail ;  Helliar  charging  the  jailer  to  procure  a  new 
cat-o'-nine-tails  for  use  on  the  morrow.  But  the  Magistrates  inter- 
fered to  prevent  the  whipping;  though  lielliar,  to  gratify  his  cruel 


536  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

disposition,  strongly  urged  it.  The  jails  soon  became  so  crowded  that 
no  more  could  be  got  into  them  ;  the  spotted  fever  broke  out  among 
the  prisoners,  of  which  three  Friends  died,  and  no  redress  or  abate- 
ment of  suffering  could  be  obtained  ;  unless  at  the  price  of  sacrificing 
religious  principles.  That  this  almost  incredible  l)igotry  and  ma- 
lignity were  approved  at  Court,  is  proved  by  the  fact,  that  the  King 
rewarded  Knight,  the  Sheriff,  who  was  the  leading  spirit  in  the  im- 
placable persecution,  wnth  such  dignity  as  the  order  of  Knighthood 
could  confer  on  such  a  man. 

The  jailer  at  Newgate,  in  Bristol,  Isaac  Dennis,  has  been  men- 
tioned, and  it  seemed  as  though  an  evil  spirit  might  have  taken 
possession  of  him  and  his  wife;  so  continued  and  outrageous  was 
the  cruel  treatment  they  inflicted  on  the  Friends  placed  under 
their  custody.  Their  ingenuity  was  taxed  to  add  injury  to  their 
bonds,  and  to  throw  every  obstacle  they  could,  in  the  way  of  the 
relief  they  sought,  and  such  as  was  occasionally  proffered.  He 
refused  to  allow  the  nursing  and  comforts  which  the  relatives  or 
friends  of  the  sick  were  solicitous  to  bestow  ;  positively  denied  there 
was  any  fever  in  the  jail,  and  assured  the  Magistrates,  when  in- 
quiry was  made  of  him,  there  was  abundance  of  room  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  those  in  the  prison  ;  afterwards  declaring,  that 
all  he  wanted  was  to  have  no  fewer  packed  in  a  room  than  would 
allow  of  his  closing  the  door.  But  the  measure  of  his  iniquity  was 
filled  up,  and  on  being  taken  sick,  his  anguish  of  mind  was  inde- 
scribable. He  proclaimed  aloud,  that  "  he  had  sinned  out  the  day  of 
Grace  ;  there  was  no  help,  and  no  hope  for  him."  Yet  he  requested 
some  of  the  Friends  to  pray  for  him  ;  and  they  tried  to  impress  upon 
him,  that  as  he  was  brought  to  a  sense  of  his  manifold  sins,  he 
might  hope  it  was  evidence  that  he  was  not  entirely  cast  off;  but  in 
his  despair,  he  replied,  "  I  thank  you  for  your  good  hope,  but  I  have 
no  faith  to  believe  ;  "  and  he  sank  into  death  in  this  awful  condition. 

Though  the  persecution  of  Friends  at  Bristol  was  carried  on  by 
men  of  more  brutal  and  obdurate  hearts  than  some  others,  yet  it 
may  be  received  as  a  type  of  that  which  prevailed  throughout  the 
kingdom,  during  the  years  1681,  1682,  1683  and  part  of  1684. 
Notwithstanding  its  severity.  Friends  continued  almost  universally 
fiiithful  in  support  of  the  testimonies  of  the  gospel  for  which  they 
were  called  to  make  a  good  confession  before  many  witnesses  ;  though 
there  were  some  few  among  them  who  made  shipwreck  of  faith  and 
a  good  conscience ;  and  it  is  probable  that  others  may  have  been  in- 
duced, by  the  bonds  and  afflictions  abiding  them  at  home,  to  emi- 


SEVENTEENTH    CEXTUKY.  537 

grate  to  Kew  Jersey  or  to  Pennsylvania.  Many  epistles  of  counsel, 
comfort  and  encouragement  were  written  by  George  Fox,  William 
Dewsbury,  George  Whitehead  and  other  eminent  members  in  the 
Society,  to  their  sufieriug  brethren  ;  and  it  was  a  remarkable  cir- 
cumstance, obtaining  notice  at  the  time,  that  so  many  of  these  dedi- 
cated servants  and  ministers,  escaped  imprisonment,  and  were  ac- 
tively engaged  in  going  from  place  to  place,  visiting  those  in  bonds  ; 
administering  to  their  necessities,  and  laboring  to  build  them  up  on 
the  most  holy  faith,  and  to  confirm  them  in  accepting  with  all  joy 
the  privilege  of  not  only  believing  in  Christ,  but  of  being  counted 
worthy  to  suffer  for  him. 

In  the  epistle  written  by  George  Fox,  he  exhorts  his  brethren, 
"  Take  care  that  all  your  offerings  be  free,  and  of  your  own,  that 
has  cost  you  sometliing ;  so  that  ye  may  not  offer  of  that  which  is 
another  man's,  or  that  ye  are  entrusted  withal  and  not  your  own." 
And  he  reminds  them  that  in  former  times  of  great  suffering,  how 
great  a  care  was  on  the  minds  of  Friends  on  that  account.  That 
where  any  had  goods  Avhich  they  had  bought  on  credit,  and  had  not 
yet  paid  for  them,  they  felt  constrained  to  go  to  their  creditors,  and 
inform  them  that  as  they  [the  debtors]  were  liable  to  have  at  any 
time  all  that  they  had  taken  from  them,  they  desired  to  return  such 
goods  as  had  not  been  paid  for ;  for  they  w'ould  not  have  any  man 
to  suffer  for  them  ;  neither  would  they  by  suffering,  offer  up  any- 
thing but  what  was  really  their  own,  or  what  they  were  able  to  pay 
for.  And  thus  many  received  their  goods  again,  which  "  wrougj^it 
a  very  good  savor  in  the  hearts  of  many  people ;  seeing  such  a 
righteous,  just  and  honest  principle  in  Friends."  He  enjoins  that 
this  course  may  continue  to  be  observed,  and  then  suffering  for  the 
testimony  of  Jesus  will  bring  a  blessing. 

Other  Non-conformists  were  very  generally  suppressed ;  their 
ministers  when  caught  officiating  in  their  private  meetings,  being 
subjected  to  heavy  fines  and  imprisonment,  from  which  some  of 
them  suffered  severely.  Sewel,  who  may  be  considered  a  contempo- 
rary historian,  says,  "  All  other  Protestant  Dissenters  were  now  sup- 
pressed ;  for  they  were  restrained  from  exercising  any  public  wor- 
ship ;  and  some  there  were,  who,  in  tiieir  nocturnal  meetings,  would 
pray  God,  that  it  might  please  Him  to  keep  the  Quakers  steadfast, 
that  so  tliey  miglit  be  as  a  wall  about  tl-.eni,  in  order  that  other  Dis- 
senters might  not  be  rooted  out.  And  yet  these,  to  render  the 
Quakers  odious,  formerly  luul  been  very  active  in  setting  them  forth 
in  very  ill  colors.     But  the  said  people  continued  now  so  valiant, 


538  FRIEXDS    IN    THE 

and  without  faintinp:,  tluit  some  of  their  persecutors  liave  been  heard 
to  say,  that  the  Quakers  could  not  be  overcome,  and  that  the  devil 
himself  could  not  extirpate  them.'' 

In  1683,  George  Fox  paid  a  second  visit  in  Holland.  He  had 
been  spending  some  time  in  London  and  its  vicinity,  "Laboring  in 
the  work  of  the  Lord,  being  frequent  at  meetings,  and  visiting 
Friends  that  were  prisoners,  or  that  were  sick  ;  and  in  writing  bookd 
for  the  spreading  of  truth,  and  opening  the  understandings  of  the 
people  to  receive  it."  After  attending  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  that 
city,  which  he  says  was  "A  blessed,  weighty  one,  wherein  Friends 
were  sweetly  refreshed  together;  for  the  Lord  was  with  us  and 
opened  his  heavenly  treasures  amongst  us,"  he  embarked,  with  sev- 
eral other  ministering  Friends,  and  was  at  the  Yearly  Meeting  in 
Amsterdam.  Upon  getting  through  with  his  service  in  that  country, 
which  occupied  but  a  few  wrecks,  he  returned;  and  going  to  Loudon, 
his  health  being  feeble,  and  there  being  much  to  be  attended  to  for 
the  service  of  the  Society  that  required  being  near  the  Court,  he 
and  his  wife  spent  mauy  mouths  in  that  city ;  during  which  time 
he  was,  as  usual,  assiduously  employed  in  promoting  the  welfare 
of  others  and  of  the  good  cause. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Triumph  of  the  King  and  Church  Party — Death  of  Charles  II. — Accession  of 
James  II.  —  Petition  and  Statement  of  Friends  —  Attempt  of  tlie  Duke  of 
Monmouth  —  Release  of  Friends  from  Imprisonment — Examiiuuion  into 
the  Conduct  of  Informers  —  Their  Iniquity  Exposed  —  Epistle  of  G.  Fox  — 
Death  of  D.  Barclay  and  of  Anne  Whitehead — Liberty  of  Conscience  Granted 

—  Acknowledgment  of  Gratitude  by  Friends  —  K.  Barclay's  efforts  to  relieve 
Friends  in  Scotland — End  of  Persecution  in  Scothnd — R.  Barclay  in  Public 
Aflairs— Attacked  by  a  Highwayman— Death  of  R.  Barclay — Testimonials 

—  Defection  towards  King  James  —  Imprisonment  of  Bishops — William, 
Prince  of  Orange,  invited  to  take  the  Throne  —  William  and  Mary  declared 
King  and  Queen  —  Wm.  Penn  at  the  Court  of  King  James  —  Wm.  Penn 
arrested  —  Death  of  W.  Dewsbury. 

''pHE  Court  and  High  Church  party  had  now  triumphed  over  all 
-L  opposition.  The  rabid  excitement  following  the  discovery  of 
the  Popish  plot  had  passed  away,  and  advantage  had  been  taken  of 
the  reaction   that  succeeded,  to   brand  zeal  against  Popery  as  the 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  iSO 

spirit  of  faction.  The  constitution  of  England  hud  become  a  dead 
letter.  The  liberties  and  rights  of  the  people  were  delivered  up  to 
the  Crown.  The  Rye-house  plot — as  it  was  called  —  had  given  the 
tories  an  opportunity  to  gratify  their  hatred  and  revenge  on  some 
of  those  they  deemed  their  most  dangerous  enemies ;  and  some  of 
the  noblest  blood  in  the  nation  had  been  poured  out  on  the  block. 
The  Bishops,  and  nearly  all  their  clergy,  sided  with  the  Court,  and 
employed  the  pulpit  to  inculcate  the  doctrine  of  the  divine  right  of 
Kings,  and  the  obligation  of  unresisting  obedience  to  whatever  he 
[the  King]  required.  This,  Avith  the  advocacy  of  conformity  to  "  the 
church,"  and  the  right  and  expediency  of  rooting  out  all  Dissenters, 
was  the  main  burden  of  their  weekly  teaching.  Many  of  the  clergy 
were  commissioned  as  Magistrates,  in  order  to  facilitate  the  collection 
of  their  tithes,  and  more  speedily  and  surely  to  punish  those  who 
did  not  pay,  or  who  absented  themselves  from  "the  church."  The 
small  party  of  clergy  denominated  "low  churchmen,"  who  were 
known  to  be  averse  to  the  arrogant  assumptions  and  slavish  opinions 
of  their  more  courtly  brethren,  and  opposed  to  the  furious  persecution 
of  the  Non-conformists,  were  denounced  as  betrayers  of  the  church; 
and  everything  in  church  and  State  seemed  prepared  for  passive  obe- 
dience, when  Charles  should  be  succeeded  by  his  Romanist  brother. 

This  event  came  sooner  than  was  expected.  In  the  Second  month 
of  1685,  Charles,  in  the  midst  of  his  corrupt  Court,  was  seized  with 
a  disease,  that  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  days  terminated  his 
profligate  life.  In  his  last  hours  lie  showed  his  want  of  faith  in  the 
prelates  that  approached  his  bed — one  of  whom  summoned  courage 
to  say,  "  It  is  time  to  speak  out,  for,  Sir,  you  are  about  to  appear 
before  a  Judge  who  is  no'respecter  of  persons," — by  giving  little  or 
no  heed  to  what  they  had  to  say,  and  refusing  to  partake  of  the  bread 
and  wine  which  they  urged  upon  him  as  the  Lord's  supper.  He, 
however,  when  asked,  said  he  was  sorry  for  what  he  had  done 
amiss,  and  allowed  the  absolution  they  professed  to  give,  to  be  pro- 
nounced over  him.  But  soon  after  they  were  sent  out  of  his  room 
by  the  Duke  of  York,  and  he  gladly  received  the  services  of  a 
Popish  priest ;  confessed  to  him,  and  obtained  his  absolution  ;  swal- 
lowed with  great  difficulty  the  bi'ead  he  gave  him,  and  fixed  his 
dying  gaze  on  the  crucifix  he  presented  ;  thus,  though  a  practical 
skeptic  while  living,  dying  a  member  of  the  Romish  cluirch. 

Before  noticing  the  progress  of  events  among  Friends  during  the 
brief  resign  of  James  II.,  it  may  be  well  to  notice  the  death  of  Isaac 
Penington  and  his  wife.     After   his   release   from    the   prison  at 


540  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

Reading,  Isaac  had  been  poniiitted  to  remain  quietly  at  bis  bonie  at 
Woodside,  wbere  he  employed  bis  time  in  lieli)ing  Friends  in  their 
meeting,  in  the  neighborhood,  and  in  promoting  the  cause  of  Truth 
by  the  use  of  his  pen.  In  1G79,  with  his  wife,  he  went  on  a  visit 
into  Kent,  where,  after  spending  some  time,  he  was  seized  with  his 
last  sickness,  which  in  a  few  days  terminated  his  life.  His  sorrow- 
ing widow  survived  him  about  three  years;  dying  at  Worming- 
hust,  tlie  residence  of  her  daughter,  Gulielma  Penu,  tlie  wife  of 
William  Penn. 

1G85.  It  is  one  of  the  remarkable  instances  illustrating  the  fickle- 
ness of  popular  opinion,  and  the  inconsistency  with  which  mere 
worldlings  act,  that  the  Duke  of  York,  against  whom,  as  a  Catholic, 
there  had  been,  but  a  short  time  before,  such  determined  hostility 
.s'.iown  by  Parliament  and  the  people,  that  he  had  been  obliged  to 
withdraw  himself  from  notice,  and  retire  into  Scotland,  succeeded 
his  brother  on  the  throne,  as  James  II.,  amid  the  acclamations  of 
nearly  all  classes,  without  riot  or  the  exhibit  of  any  rebellious  feel- 
ing. He  at  once  threw  aside  the  privacy  with  which  he  had  here- 
tofore attended  on  the  religious  rites  of  the  Romish  Church  ;  had  a 
new  pulpit  erected  at  the  Court,  for  a  Popish  priest;  and  on  the  ad- 
vent of  wdiat  is  called  "  Passion  Week,"  he  had  mass  publicly  cele- 
brated at  Westminster.  Nevertheless,  he  declared  that  he  was  de- 
termined to  protect  the  "Church  of  England" — of  which  he  was 
the  official  head  — and  maintain  the  liberties  of  the  peoi)le.  Con- 
gratulatory addresses  were  sent  to  him  from  most  parts  of  the  King- 
dom ;  those  from  Oxford  and  Cambridge  being  no  less  servile  than 
others  that  indulged  in  greater  adulation.  Some  historians  have 
recorded  one,  wliich  is  represented  as  coming  from  tb.e  Quakers; 
couched  in  curt  and  uncouth  expressions ;  such  as  they  supposed 
corresponded  with  Friends'  plainness  of  speech.  It  was  fictitious, 
and  probably  designed  to  cast  odium  on  the  Society. 

The  first  address  made  by  Friends  to  King  James,  was  presented 
more  than  a  month  after  he  ascended  the  throne.  It  was  called 
forth  by  a  sense  of  duty  to  seek  relief  Irom  the  grievous  sufi'ering 
they  had  been  subjected  to,  almost  ever  since  their  rise  as  a  distinct 
body  of  Christian  professors,  and  which  they  continued  to  endure. 
This  Address  was  accompanied  by  a  petition  to  the  Sovereign  and 
Parliament,  for  the  extension  of  clemency  and  help  ;  and  the  follow- 
ing passages  from  the  latter  give  some  insight  of  the  unmerciful 
treatment  that  Friends  had  been  long,  and  were  then,  undergoing. 
It  shows,  "  That  of  late,  above  one  thousand  five  hundred  of  the  said 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  541 

people,  both  men  and  women,  having  been  detained  prisoners  in 
England,  and  part  of  them  in  Wales,  (some  of  Avhich,  being  since 
discharged  by  the  Judges,  and  others  freed  by  death,  through  their 
long  and  tedious  imprisonment,)  there  are  now  remaining,  according 
to  late  accounts,  al)out  one  thousand  three  hundred  eighty  and 
_  three;  above  two  hundred  of  them  women.  Many  under  sentence 
of  prenuinire,  both  men  and  women,  and  more  than  three  hundred 
near  it-  not  for  denying  the  duty,  or  refusing  the  substance  of  al- 
legiance itself,  but  only  because  they  dare  not  swear  ;  many  on  writs 
of  excommunication  and  fines  for  the  King,  and  upon  the  act  for 
banishment :  besides,  above  three  hundred  and  twenty  have  died  in 
prison,  and  prisoners,  since  the  year  1660  ;  near  one  hundred  whereof, 
by  means  of  this  long  imprisonment,  as  it  is  judged,  since  the  ac- 
count delivered  to  the  late  King  and  Parliament,  in  1680;  thereby 
making  widows  and  fatherless,  and  leaving  them  in  distress  and 
sorrow  :  the  two  last  hard  winters'  restraint,  and  the  close  confine- 
ment of  great  numbers  in  divers  jails,  unavoidably  tending  towards 
their  destruction,  their  healths  being  evidently  impaired  thereby." 

"Besides  these  long-continued  and  destructive  hardships  upon 
the  persons  of  men  and  women,  as  aforesaid,  great  violences,  out- 
rageous distresses,  and  woful  luivoc  and  spoil,  have  been  and  still  are, 
frequently  made  upon  our  goods  and  estates,  both  in  and  about  this 
city  of  London,  and  other  parts  of  this  nation,  by  a  company  of  idle, 
extravagant,  and  merciless  informers,  and  their  prosecutions  upon 
the  Conventicle  Act;  many  being  convicted  and  fined,  unsummoned 
and  unheard  in  their  own  defence.  As  also  on  qui  tarn  writs,  at  the 
suit  of  informers,  who  prosecute  for  one-third  part  for  themselves, 
and  on  other  processes,  for  twenty  pounds  a  month,  and  two-thirds 
of  estates  seized  for  the  King ;  all  tending  to  the  ruin  of  trade, 
husbandry,  and  farmers,  and  the  impoverishing  of  many  industrious 
families ;  without  compassion  shown  to  widows,  fatherless,  or  deso- 
late :  to  some,  not  a  bed  left  to  rest  upon  ;  to  others,  no  cattle  to  till 
their  ground,  nor  corn  for  bread  or  seed,  nor  tools  to  work  withal  :  the 
said  informers  and  Sherifi"s  bailiffs  in  some  places  being  outrageous 
and  excessive  in  their  distresses  and  seizures,  breaking  into  houses, 
and  making  great  waste  and  spoil.  And  all  these  and  other  severi- 
ties done  against  us  by  them,  under  pretence  of  serving  the  King 
and  the  Church,  thereby  to  force  us  to  a  conformity,  without  inward 
conviction  or  satisfaction  of  our  tender  consciences,  wherein  our 
peace  with  God  is  concerned,  which  we  are  very  tender  of."     Ap- 


542  FRIEXDS    IN    THE 

pended  to  tliis  petition  was  a  list  of  the  number  of  Friends,  prisoners 
at  that  time,  iu  forty  of  the  counties  of  England  ;  amounting  to  one 
thousand  four  hundred  and  sixty. 

Action  on  this  just  and  aifecting  representation,  of  the  barbarous 
manner  in  whic  an  innocent  and  peaceable  people,  under  a  pro- 
fessedly Christian  government,  were  persecuted  on  account  of  adher- 
ence to  their  scriptural  faith,  as  well  as  petitions  from  other  Non-con- 
formists for  relief,  was  prevented  by  the  attempt  of  the  Duke  of 
Monmouth,  to  obtain  possession  of  the  throne  ;  in  consequence  of 
which,  the  Parliament  was  prorogued,  and  the  whole  attention  of 
the  King  and  Court  directed  to  the  suppression  of  the  insurrection. 
When  that  was  accomplished,  much  time  was  occupied  in  wreaking 
vengeance  on  those  implicated  in  the  unsuccessful  invasion  and  out- 
break ;  so  that  the  "  bloody  assize  "  under  the  presidency  of  the 
brutal  and  sanguinary  Jeffreys,  is  one  of  the  very  dark  stains  on 
English  history.  As  the  Duke  of  Argyle,  who  had  taken  an  active 
part  in  this  effort  to  drive  James  from  the  throne,  was  a  Presby- 
terian ;  and  it  was  supposed  that  the  representatives  of  the  Puritans 
were  generally  inimical  to  the  house  of  Stuart,  the  laws  against  them, 
in  common  with  other  Dissenters,  were  now  much  more  rigorously 
enforced ;  and  not  only  in  Scotland,  where  they  were  hunted  and 
shot  down  by  the  notorious  Claverhouse  and  his  savage  dragoons ; 
but  in  England,  they  were  made  to  feel,  much  more  severely  than 
before,  the  hatred  and  malice  of  their  enemies. 

But  the  Parliament  had  given  great  offence  to  James,  who  had 
appointed  several  Papists  in  different  offices,  by  calling  in  question 
his  authority  to  absolve  any  from  the  action  of  penal  laws  ;  and  also 
by  calling  on  him  to  put  in  execution  the  laws  against  all  who  were 
not  members  of  the  "  Established  Church."  Himself  a  Roman 
Catholic,  it  was  not  to  be  expected  that  he  would  be  instrumental 
in  punishing  others  for  making  profession  of  the  religion  he  pub- 
licly acknowledged  as  the  only  true  one  ;  and  whatever  his  motives 
may  have  been,  he  had  always  avowed  himself  averse  to  persecution 
for  religious  belief.  There  was,  therefore,  some  ground  for  the 
expectation  entertained  by  many,  that  liberty  of  conscience,  in 
regard  to  forms  of  religion,  would  be  granted. 

Friends,  ever  on  the  alert  to  extricate  themselves  from  the  grasp 
of  the  merciless  men  who  were  making  them  their  prey,  appointed 
some  of  their  number  to  wait  upon  the  King,  and  renew  their  soli- 
citations for  the  release  of  their  brethren  and  sisters,  from  the 
noisome  prisons  and  dungeons  where  they  were  shut  up,  and  where 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CEXTURY.  543 

they  liad  been  kept  clo.sely  immured,  some  for  five,  some  for  teu 
and  some  for  fifteen  years  or  more.  Their  persevering  efforts  were 
crowned  with  success.  On  the  loth  day  of  the  Third  month, 
168G,  a  warrant  was  issued  by  the  King  to  the  Attorney-General, 
commanding  that  those  Quakers  who  had  been  convicted,  or  were 
in  process  of  conviction  of  premunire,  for  not  swearing,  for  not  com- 
ing tofe  churcli ;  or  who  had  been  returned  into  the  Exchequer  and 
in  cliarge  for  twenty  pounds  per  mensem;  or  were  lying  in  prison 
upon  writs  de  excommunicato  capiendo,  should  be  forthwith  dis- 
charged from  jail ;  and  that  all  fines,  forfeitures,  or  sums  of  money 
charged  upon  any  of  those  commonly  called  Quakers,  be  stopped  and 
discharged  ;  and  a  nolle  prosequi  be  entered  in  all  cases  where  it  may 
be  necessary  to  carry  the  intention  of  this  warrant  into  execution. 
Friends  took  immediate  steps  to  have  this  warrant  duly  executed; 
and  in  a  little  time,  nearly  fifteen  hundred  of  their  members  came 
forth  from  their  prison-houses,  once  more  to  enter  on  the  enjoyment 
and  the  duties  of  life  and  liberty. 

Encouraged  by  the  disposition  manifested  by  the  King  and  his 
Council,  Friends  persevered  in  their  eflforts  to  have  other  of  their  re- 
maining grievances  redressed ;  for  though  the  royal  mandate  had 
relieved  so  many  from  imprisonment,  the  laws  against  "  Non-con- 
formists "  and  "  Popish  recusants,"  were  still  in  force,  and  informers 
had  not  slackened  their  nefarious  employment.  Accordingly  a 
statement  of  numerous  instances  of  the  perjuries,  illegal  robberies, 
and  embezzlements  committed  by  informers,  and  Magistrates  in 
league  with  them,  was  drawn  up,  and  signed  by  a  number  of  Friends; 
who  stated  they  were  prepared  to  prove  the  charges  they  made. 
The}'  petitioned  for  the  appointment  of  a  Commission  to  examine 
into  their  allegations,  in  the  presence  of  those  so  charged.  The 
statement  was  favorably  received,  [1686]  and  the  petition  granted ; 
Commissioners  being  appointed,  who  notified  the  Friends  of  the  time 
for  meeting,  and  summoned  the  informers  named.  At  the  first 
meeting,  the  complainants  Avith  their  witnesses  numbered  over  fifty, 
and  the  informers  in  the  outset  sought  to  discourage  and  harass 
them  by  their  vulgar  abuse  and  ribald  invectives  ;  especially  directed 
against  George  Whitehead  ;  who  had  long  been  a  special  object  of 
their  malice,  and  a  victim  of  their  plundering,  and  who  now  con- 
ducted the  proceedings  for  Friends.  But  the  Friends  went  on  unde- 
terred, quietly  reporting  the  circumstances  attending  the  respective 
cases,  and  producing  the  proof  of  the  correctness  of  their  ciiarges. 

Thirty-four  cases  were  investigated,  and  the  most  flagrant  perjury, 


544  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

illegal  violence,  and  exorl)itant  seiznres  and  carting  away  of  goods, 
chattels,  &c.,  which  were  never  fully  accounted  for,  were  irrefragahly 
proved  ;  so  that  the  informers  could  make  no  defence.  In  numer- 
ous cases  warrants  had  been  granted  by  Magistrates,  to  levy  on  the 
personal  effects  of  individuals,  for  each  offence  said  to  have  been 
committed  at  a  specified  time ;  the  Magistrate  charging  ten  pounds 
for  every  such  warrant :  thus  making  his  fees  in  some  cases  ivinount 
to  fifty  pounds. 

The  Connnissioners  adjourned  for  ten  days.  Tlie  informers  hoping 
to  prevent  some  of  the  Friends  most  actively  engaged  in  the  exam- 
ination, from  proceeding  farther  in  it,  went  to  Grace-church  Street 
meeting,  and  had  four  of  them  arrested  and  taken  before  the  Lord 
Mayor;  where  they  were  detained  until  late  at  night,  waiting 
to  hear  the  charges  against  them.  Their  accusers  not  appearing, 
the  Mayor  directed  they  should  be  bound  by  recognizance  to  appear 
at  the  sessions,  and  to  be  of  (/ood  behavior  in  the  meantime.  This 
they  refused  to  do,  as  it  implied  they  had  done  some  wrong,  which 
they  denied.  He  then  drew  a  mittimus  to  send  them  to  prison  ;  but 
on  reflection  —  probal)ly  sensible  tliere  was  a  different  feeling  towards 
the  Quakers  at  Court,  than  had  reigned  for  so  long  a  time  —  he  dis- 
charged them,  upon  their  promise  to  appear  at  the  assizes.  When 
they  appeared  at  the  sessions,  there  was  no  evidence  against  them, 
and  they  were  discharged. 

At  the  next  sitting  of  the  Commissioners,  a  lawyer  attempted  to 
defend  the  informers ;  but  the  further  cases  produced  were  so  out- 
rageously illegal,  and  the  evidence  so  overwhelming,  that  he  was 
soon  silenced  ;  and  the  C'ommissioners  told  Friends  they  need  go  no 
further,  as  they  were  fully  convinced  of  the  truth  of  their  allega- 
tions, and  would  report  accordingly.  Nevertheless,  when  George 
Whitehead  got  to  see  the  report  they  had  drawn  up,  he  found  it 
very  defective;  in  not  stating  the  perjuries,  the  robberies,  and  the 
illegal  extortions  committed  by  the  informers  ;  and  he  remonstrated 
against  the  evident  intention  to  ])alliate  their  course.  They  con- 
sented to  make  some  alteration ;  but  one  of  them  told  hira  they 
found  tliey  had  a  critical  business  on  hand,  for  they  had  received  a 
message,  from  "  one  who  stood  high  in  the  Church,"  to  beware  not 
to  lessen  the  power  of  the  informers,  for  they  were  of  great  service 
to  the  Church.  The  report  being  presented,  it  was  referred  to  the 
Lord  Chancellor,  with  direction  to  have  such  illegal  proceedings 
corrected,  and  to  see  that  testimony  should  be  taken  from  none 
but  those  of  reputal)le  character.     Beside  this,  the  King  let  it  be 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  545 

known,  that  it  was  his  wish  to  liave  a  stop  put  to  the  work  of  the 
informers,  and  that  they  shouhl  be  discountenanced  by  Judges  and 
Magistrates,  On  a  succeeding  application  to  the  King,  it  was 
further  ordered,  that  a  nolle  prosequi  be  entered  in  the  Courts,  to 
stay  proceedings  against  Friends  under  indictments  as  "  Popish 
recusants,"  and  to  forbear  pursuing  any  process  against  those 
whose  names  were  given,  or  others  under  similar  suits.  As  the 
character  of  the  Acts  and  the  penalties  attached,  applicable  to  such 
cases,  were  excessively  severe;  the  latter,  under  some  circum- 
stances, involving  the  loss  of  life  as  well  as  of  all  estate;  although 
it  was  an  entire  perversion  to  apply  them  to  Friends ;  yet  this 
order  of  the  King  was  a  great  relief;  rescuing  many  who  had  been 
unjustly  prosecuted,  as  "  Popish  recusants,"  from  imprisonment  and 
the  confiscation  of  their  estates.  [1G86.]  One  Friend,  Richard 
Vicris,  had  been  condemned  to  death,  under  those  laws;  but  upon 
the  removal  of  his  case,  by  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  to  the  Court  of 
the  King's  Bench,  he  was  liberated  by  proclamation. 

When  the  Yeai'ly  Meeting  assembled  in  London,  in  this  year 
(1686),  there  was  great  rejoicing ;  there  being  many  Friends  in 
attendance  —  some  of  them  eminent  ministers  —  who  had,  for  years, 
been  prevented  from  assembling  with  their  brethren,  by  being 
imprisoned ;  and  who,  now,  by  the  good  providence  of  the  Divine 
Master  they  were  endeavoring  to  serve,  in  simplicity  and  sincerity, 
vere  once  more  permitted  to  unite  with  their  fellow-professors,  in 
harmonious  labor  for  the  honor  of  Truth,  and  in  returning  thanks- 
giving and  praise  to  Him  for  his  merciful  interference  for  their 
deliverance. 

George  Fox,  ever  watchful  to  pi-omote  the  cause  of  Truth,  and 
to  incite  Friends  to  a  close  adherence  to  the  pure  and  spiritual 
doctrines  they  professed,  and  a  life  and  conversation  consistent 
therewith,  fearful  lest  the  freedom  from  sufi'ering,  might  betray 
some  into  lukewarmness  and  carelessness,  respecting  the  religious 
duties  incumbent  upon  them,  addressed  them  in  the  following 
words  of  caution  and  counsel : 

"Friends:  —  The  Lord,  by  his  eternal  power,  hath  opened  the 
heart  of  the  King  to  open  the  prison-doors,  by  which  about  fifteen 
or  sixteen  hundred  are  set  at  liberty;  and  hath  given  a  check  to 
the  informers ;  so  that  in  many  j)laces  our  meetings  are  pretty 
quiet.  So  my  desires  are,  that  both  liberty  and  sufferings,  all  may 
be  sanctified  to  his  })eople ;  and  Friends  may  prize  the  mercies  of 
the  Lord  in  all  things,  and  to  Him  be  thankful,  who  stilleth  the 
35 


546  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

raging  waves  of  tlie  sea,  and  allayeth  the  storms  iuid  tempests,  and 
maketh  a  calm.  And  tlieretbre  it  is  good  to  trust  in  the  Lord,  and 
cast  your  care  upon  Him,  who  careth  for  you.  For  when  ye  were 
in  your  jails  and  prisons,  then  tl)e  Lord  did,  by  his  eternal  arm  and 
power,  uphohl  you,  and  sanctified  them  to  you  ;  and  nnto  some  he 
had  made  tliem  as  a  sanctuary  ;  and  tried  his  peoph^,  as  in  a  fur- 
nace of  afl^iction,  both  in  prisons  and  spoiling  of  goods.  And  in 
all  this  the  Lord  was  with  his  people,  and  taught  them  to  know 
that  the  earth  is  the  Lord's,  and  the  fulness  thereof;  and  that  He 
is  in  all  places;  who  crowneth  the  year  with  his  goodness. —  Psalm 
Ixv.  Therefore  let  all  God's  people  be  diligent  and  careful  to 
keep  the  camp  of  God  holy,  pure  and  clean  ;  and  to  serve  God, 
and  Christ,  and  one  another,  in  the  glorious,  peaceable  gospel  of 
life  and  salvation  ;  which  glory  shines  over  God's  camp;  and  his 
great  Prophet,  and  Bishop,  and  Shepherd  is  among  or  in  the  midst 
of  them,  exercising  his  heavenly  offices  in  them ;  so  that  you  his 
people  may  rejoice  in  Christ  Jesus,  through  whom  you  have  peace 
with  God.  For  He  that  destroyeth  the  devil  and  his  work,  and 
bruises  the  serpent's  head,  is  all  God's  people's  heavenly  foundation 
and  rock  to  build  upon ;  which  was  the  holy  prophets'  and  apos- 
tles' rock  in  days  past,  and  is  now  a  rock  of  our  age ;  which  rock 
and  foundation  of  God  standeth  sui'e.  And  upon  this  the  Lord 
God  establish  all -his  people.     Amen.  George  Fox. 

"  London,  the  25th  of  the  Seventli  nioiilh,  1686." 

In  this  year  died  David  Barclay  of  Ury,  who,  as  has  been  before 
mentioned,  from  a  noted  warrior,  became  a  peaceable  and  spiritu- 
ally-minded Friend,  suffering  cheerfully  the  malice  and  abuse  of 
those  who  hated  him  for  his  religion's  sake.  In  the  course  of  his 
last  illness  he  uttered  many  expressions,  giving  evidence  of  the 
heavenly  state  of  his  mind,  and  his  preparation  for  entering  into 
those  joys  prepared  for  the  righteous.  "  I  shall  now  go  to  the  Lord, 
and  be  gathered  to  many  of  my  brethren  who  are  gone  before  me." 
"The  Lord  is  nigh."  "The  perfect  discovery  of  the  Day-Spring 
from  on  high,  how  great  a  blessing  it  hath  been  to  me  and  my 
family."  "  The  Truth  is  over  all."  At  the  last  he  poured  out  his 
soul  in  praise  and  j)rayer :  "  Praises  to  the  Lord !  Let  now  thy  ser- 
vant depart  in  peace.  Into  thy  hands,  O  Father,  I  commit  my  soul, 
spirit  and  body.  Thy  will,  O  Lord,  be  done  on  earth,  as  it  is  done 
in  heaven;"  and  thus  breathed  his  last,  in  the  seventy-sixth  year 
of  his  age. 


SEYEXTEENTir    CENTURY.  547 

Aune  Whitehead  also  deceased  in  this  year.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Anue  Downer,  and  she  was  one  of  the  first  of  those,  who  were 
convinced  in  the  city  of  London,  of  the  principles  of  Truth  as  held 
by  Friends.  She  never  swerved  from  a  practical  exemplification  of 
the  religion  she  professed,  and  was  ever  laborious  and  watchful  to 
serve  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  those  who,  like  herself,  had  espoused 
it ;  going  at  one  time  two  hundred  miles  on  foot  to  minister  to  the 
necessities  of  G.  Fox  and  other  Friends,  then  in  prison  in  Launces- 
ton.  She  was  a  widow  when  she  was  married  to  George  White- 
head. Her  ministry  was  sound  and  edifying,  being  the  means  of 
convincing  many.  Near  her  close  she  said  to  those  about  her  dying 
bed,  "  There  is  no  cause  for  you  to  be  troubled  or  concerned,  for  I 
am  well  and  in  peace.**  "  God  knoweth  my  integrity,  and  how  I 
have  been,  and  walked  before  him."  "  I  have  done  with  all  things 
in  this  life,  and  have  nothing  that  troubles  me,  but  am  in  true  peace 
and  ease  every  way." 

In  1687,  the  King  issued  a  general  declaration  of  liberty  of  con 
science  to  all  his  subjects,  ordering  the  penal  laws  concerning  eccle- 
siastical affairs,  not  to  be  executed.  This  was  taking  the  same  step 
his  brother  had  been  obliged  to  retrace ;  claiming  the  right  from 
the  prerogative  of  the  Crown,  irrespective  of  the  action  of  Parlia- 
ment. Probably  having  in  view  the  exaltation  into  power  of 
members  of  the  Romish  church,  the  King  had  broken  with  the 
high-church  party;  strongly  and  loudly  censuring  the  cruel 
and  unchristian  policy  so  long  pursued  by  the  "  Church  of  Eng- 
land "  towards  Non-conformists.  Convinced  that  the  hierarchy, 
who  ever  had  their  eye  on  the  emoluments  of  the  "  church,"  would 
exert  the  great  influence  they  wielded,  to  retain  their  position,  and 
persecuting  power  they  had  long  possessed,  and  strained  to  its 
utmost  limit,  James  resolved  on,  and  by  some  means,  did  effect, 
such  a  change  in  the  Judges,  that  a  sufiicient  number  of  those  who 
continued  to  hold  the  oflice,  gave  a  judgment  in  favor  of  the  absolute 
dispensing  power  of  the  Crown,  especially  in  ecclesiastical  affairs. 
The  "  Test  Act,"  was  therefore  virtually  abrogated,  and  the  way 
opened  to  advance  Papists  to  offices  of  honor,  profit  and  influence. 
Both  Court  and  Churcii  — now  placed  in  antagonism  to  each  other 
—  became  desirous  to  conciliate  the  Dissenters ;  and  hence  inter- 
ference with  them  in  their  religious  exercises  came  to  a  stop. 

Altliough  Friends  in  London  had  j)reviously  expressed  to  the 
King  their  acknowledgment  of  gratitude  for  the  exemption  from 


548  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

persecution  lie  liad  secured  for  them,  the  Yearly  Meeting,  in  1687, 
prepared  an  address  to  him;  expressing  "The  humble  and  grateful 
acknowledgment  of  his  peaceable  subjects  called  Quakers,  in  this 
kingdom,  for  release  from  the  spoil  and  suffering  they  had  so  long 
endured."  A  committee  was  appointed  to  present  it  ;  which  was 
done,  and  it  was  pi'operly  received  ;  its  reading  to  the  King  and 
Council  bemg  preceded  by  a  speech  from  William  Penn.  This  dis- 
tinguished Friend  had  much  influence  in  the  Court,  and  there  is  no 
doubt  the  regard  for  him,  felt  by  the  King,  was  favorably  exerted 
to  induce  his  Sovereign  to  assist  those  to  whom  he  was  closely  united 
in  religious  fellowship. 

It  has  been  mentioned,  that  some  time  after  the  return  of  Robert 
Barclay  from  London,  in  1677,  where  he  hlld  applied  to  the  Duke 
of  York  in  order  to  obtain  the  release  of  the  Friends  then  suffering 
greatly  in  prisons  in  Scotland,  he  himself  had  been  imprisoned,  with 
his  father ;  and  that  they  were  liberated  by  an  order  from  Court, 
which  also  foi'bade  further  meddling  with  them.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  that  King  James,  then  Duke  of  York,  used  his  influence 
and  authority  to  allay  or  arrest  the  persecution  of  Friends  in  Scot- 
land ;  which  Archbishop  Sharpe  had  done,  and  continued  to  do,  all 
in  his  power  to  promote  and  increase  in  its  violence  and  severity, 
with  the  hope  of  extirpating  the  "  Quakers."  R.  Barclay  did  not 
cease  in  keeping  the  Duke  informed  of  the  grievous  sufferings  of  his 
friends  and  fellow-countrymen  ;  and  it  is  probable  that  through 
this  means  he  had  been  induced  to  interfere  secretly  on  their  be- 
half. The  last  disturbance  of  Friends'  meeting  in  Aberdeen,  and 
imprisonment  of  the  principal  Friends  in  attendance,  was  in  the 
Ninth  month  of  1679.  The  latter  were  detained  but  a  few  hours  ; 
and  active  persecution  for  holding  their  meetings,  ceased  at  that 
time  in  Scotland.  The  testimony  is  left  upon  record,  that  through- 
out the  whole  time  the  effort  was  kept  up  in  that  country  to  drive 
Friends,  by  the  force  of  bodily  suffering,  by  ruinous  fines,  and 
accumulated  impositions,  from  attending  their  meetings  for  divine 
worship,  or  to  sacrifice  their  religious  principles  in  other  respects, 
their  meetings  were  constantly  held  at  the  appointed  times,  and  the 
number  of  members  increased.  When  the  greater  })art  of  the  men 
were  in  prison,  the  women  Avith  the  children  held  the  meetings  with 
unflinching  constancy,  and  no  settled  meeting  on  any  occasion 
ceased  to  be  regulaidy  held. 

It  was  remarkable,  that  the  three  "  ministers"  in  Aberdeen,  who 
had  exerted  themselves  against  Friends  more  furiously  and  implac- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  549 

ably  than  any  others,  all  lost  their  positions  about  the  same  time ; 
one  dying,  and  the  others  being  deposed  and  ordered  to  give  up 
preaching.  Meldrum,  who,  of  the  three,  was  pei'haps  the  most 
bitter,  and  utterly  regardless  of  the  suffering  he  inflicted,  could 
never  after  obtain  permission  to  ofiiciate  as  a  minister.  In  view  of 
the  tragic  death  of  Archbishop  Sharpe — whom  Burnet,  Cruickshank, 
and  other  historians  characterize  as  one  of  the  most  unprincipled 
and  liypocritical  men  of  that  age  —  the  closing  paragraphs  in  the 
address  of  Robert  Barclay  to  hira,  which,  as  stated  before,  was 
delivered  when  Friends  were  patiently  bearing  the  affliction  he  was 
heaping  upon  them,  are  worthy  of  notice:  "So  the  God  of, truth, 
whom  we  serve  with  our  spirits  in  the  gospel  of  his  Son,  and  to 
whom  vengeance  belongs  (so  we  leave  it),  would  certainly,  hi  his 
own  time  and  way,  avenge  our  quarrel,  in  case  thou  should  prove 
inexorable  towards  us;  whose  dreadful  judgments  should  be  more 
terrible  unto  thee,  and  much  more  justly  to  be  feared,  than  the 
violent  assaults  or  secret  assassinations  of  thy  other  antagonists.  That 
thou  mayst  prevent  both  the  one  and  the  other,  by  a  Christian  mod- 
eration, suitable  to  the  office  thou  layest  claim  to,  is  the  desire  of 
thy  soul's  well-wisher,  R.  B."  In  the  third  month  of  1679,  as  the 
Archbishop  was  passing  over  a  moor,  in  his  coach  and  six,  he  was 
waylaid  by  six  "  covenanters,"  who  dragged  him  from  his  carriage, 
and  brutally  murdered  him,  reminding  him  as  they  dealt  the  fetal 
blows,  that  he  was  an  apostate,  a  betrayer,  and  a  jiersecutor. 

Although  it  is  anticipating  the  regular  course  of  events,  this  may 
be  a  suitable  place  to  notice  some  of  the  few  circumstances  in  the 
closing  years  of  the  life  of  Robert  Barclay,  which  have  been  left 
on  record.  In  1682,  the  Earls  of  Perth  and  of  Melfort,  together 
with  the  other  proprietaries  of  New  Jersey,  in  North  America, 
elected  him  Governor  of  East  Jersey ;  gifting  him,  at  the  same 
time,  with  a  large  tract  of  the  land,  and  appropriating  five  thou- 
sand acres  more,  to  be  bestowed  as  he  might  see  proper.  King 
Charles  II. 's  letter,  confirming  the  appointment,  states  that  "  such 
is  his  known  fidelity  and  capacity,"  he  was  to  hold  the  govern- 
ment for  life ;  though  no  successor  should  have  the  office  for  more 
than  three  years. 

As  his  influence  with  James,  while  he  was  Duke  of  York,  was 
considerable,  it  appears  not  to  have  diminished  when  the  latter  was 
made  King  ;  and  that  influence,  so  far  as  it  went,  was  ever  improved 
for  the  benefit  of  Friends,  and  others  who  applied  to  him  when  in 
difficulty.     Thus  "  Sir  Eweu  Cameron,"  or  Cameron  of  Lochiel,  as 


550  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

he  was  called,  "  who  had  married  R.  Barclay's  sister,  having  hecome 
entangled  in  a  serious  difference  with  the  Duke  of  Gordon,  when 
other  means  had  failed  to  remove  it,  R.  Barclay  went  to  London, 
ohtained  an  interview  with  the  King,  and  had  the  whole  matter 
fully  laid  open  before  three  of  the  Scottish  Loi'ds,  who  consented  to 
act  as  arbitrators;  by  which  he  succeeded  in  ol)taining  a  satisfac- 
tory settlement  of  the  whole  dispute.  It  may  have  been  on  his 
return  home  from  London  on  this  occasion,  in  1683,  that,  while 
riding  through  Stonegatehole  in  Huntingdonshire,  the  party,  con- 
sisting of  his  brother-in-law,  G.  MoUeson,  a  merchant  of  Holland, 
himself  and  wife,  were  attacked  by  highwaymen.  The  merchant 
was  shot  through  the  thigh,  and  died  a  few  days  after;  G.  MoUe- 
son was  robbed  ;  but  when  the  highwayman  presented  his  })istol  at 
R.  Barclay,  Robert  took  him  calmly  by  the  arm,  saying,  "  How 
comes  thou  to  be  so  rude?  "  The  robber  trembled  so,  that  his  pistol 
dropped  to  the  ground,  and  he  made  no  further  attempt  to  take 
anything  from  him. 

In  1685,  he  went  up  to  London  ;  while  there,  participating  and 
sympathizing  with  his  friends,  in  their  trials,  and  the  efforts  they 
were  then   making  to  obtain  relief.     He  again  went  to  that  city  iu 

1687,  being  urgently  requested  so  to  do  by  George  Fox ;  who  was 
solicitous  to  obtain  whatever  influence  R.  Barclay  had  with  the 
King,  to  arrange  and  forward  measures  for  the  relief  of  Friends, 
and  of  Dissenters  generally.  It  is  probable  that  at  that  time  he 
attended   the  Yearly   Meeting.     His  last  visit  to  London,  was  in 

1688,  when  he  took  his  son  Robert  with  him,  then  in  the  seven- 
teenth year  of  his  age.  This  youth  had  already  become  so  firmly 
established  in  the  principles  and  practice  of  vital  religion,  that  his 
father  hesitated  not  to  introduce  him  at  Court,  where  he  was  much 
noticed.  During  the  time  he  was  iu  that  city,  which  was  several 
months,  R.  B.  had  frequent  interviews  with  the  King,  who  was  then 
in  much  trouble  on  account  of  the  state  of  affiiirs  in  the  nation. 

After  his  return  from  this  visit  to  the  metropolis,  he  appears  to 
have  remained  near  his  home,  laboring  in  the  work  of  the  ministry 
iu  his  own  and  neighboring  meetings.  In  1690,  he  accompanied 
James  Dickenson,  an  eminent  minister,  residing  in  Cumberland, 
England,  to  the  meetings  of  Friends  in  the  north  of  Scotlahd. 
Shortly  after  his  return  to  Ury,  he  was  seized  with  severe  illness 
attended  by  high  fever,  which  prostrated  him  at  once,  and  termin- 
ated his  life  iu  eight  or  nine  days.  James  Dickenson  was  with 
him  during  his  last  sickness,  and  bore  testimony  that  the  Lord's 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  551 

love  and  power  were  sweetly  manifested  to  and  in  hiin.  He  was 
fully  sensible  of  his  approaching  end,  desired  a  message  of  his  love 
to  be  given  to  all  his  friends,  particularly  to  dear  George  Fox ; 
saying,  "  God  is  good  still ;  and  though  I  am  under  a  great  weight 
of  sickness  and  weakness  as  to  my  body,  yet  my  peace  flows."  "  This 
I  know,  that  whatever  exercises  may  be  permitted  to  come  upon  me, 
they  shall  tend  to  God's  glory  and  my  salvation  ;  and  in  that  I 
rest."  He  died  on  the  third  of  the  Eighth  month,  1690,  in  the 
forty-second  year  of  his  age. 

The  death  of  this  accomplished  scholar,  and  deeply  experienced 
Christian,  was  felt  to  be  a  great  loss  to  the  Society.  Having  in 
early  life  received  the  inshining  of  the  Day-spring  from  on  high, 
he  closed  in  with  obedience  to  its  manifestations,  and  became  will- 
ing to  sell  all  that  he  had,  in  order  to  become  possessed  of  "the 
pearl  of  great  price  ;  "  and  under  the  leading  of  the  Spirit  of  Truth, 
he  turned  his  back  on  the  allurements  of  the  world,  and,  from 
full  conviction  of  the  scriptural  soundness  of  their  religion,  joined 
himself  to  the  persecuted  Quakers.  By  doing  his  heavenly  Father's 
will,  he  came  to  know  experimentally  of  the  doctrine  that  is  of  God, 
and  he  devoted  time,  talents,  and  all  his  many  acquirements,  to  its 
exposition  and  defence. 

George  Fox  gave  forth  "  A  testimony  concerning  our  dear  brother 
in  the  Lord,  Robert  Barclay,  who  was  a  wise  and  faithful  minister 
in  Christ,  and  wrote  many  precious  books  in  the  defence  of  the  truth, 
in  English  and  Latin,  and  after  translated  into  French  and  Dutch. 
He  was  a  scholar  and  a  man  of  parts,  and  underwent  many  calum- 
nies, slanders  and  reproaches,  and  sufferings  for  the  name  of  Christ; 
but  the  Lord  gave  him  power  over  them  all." 

William  Penn,  after  speaking  of  him  as  a  minister,  a  learned  man, 
and  of  his  domestic  and  social  relations,  says,  "  These  eminent  quali- 
ties, in  one  who  employed  them  so  serviceably,  and  who  had  not  lived 
much  above  half  the  life  of  man,  aggravated  the  loss  of  him,  es- 
pecially in  that  nation  where  he  lived."  And  in  reference  to  his 
"  Apology  for  the  true  Christian  Divinity,"  he  remarks,  "The  book 
slwws  so  much  for  us  and  itse/f  too,  that  I  need  say  the  less ;  but 
recommend  it  to  thy  serious  perusal,  Reader,  as  that  which  may 
be  instrumental,  with  God's  blessing,  to  inform  thy  understanding, 
confirm  tiiy  belief,  and  comibrt  thy  mind  about  the  excellent  things 
of  God's  Kingdom." 

Similar  testimonials  from  other  eminent  members  of  the  Society 
were  given,  showing  how  highly  Robert  Barclay  was  esteemed  as  a 


552  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

faitliful  servant  of  Christ,  and  a  writer  who  fairly  and  clearly  set 
forth  and  defended  the  doctrines  and  testimonies  of  the  Gospel  as 
held  by  Friends. 

It  has  been  stated  that  King  James  had  granted  liberty  of  un- 
molested worship  to  all  Non-conformists ;  previously,  however,  to 
so  doing,  aware  that  he  was  giving  great  offence  to  the  high  cliurch 
party,  by  thus  rescuing  their  prey  out  of  their  hands,  and  also  to  the 
great  majority  of  the  people,  by  the  favor  he  was  showing  to  the 
Roman  Catholics  ;  and  that  they  were  looking  with  anxious  expecta- 
tion towards  the  Prince  of  Orange  and  his  wife,  regarding  the  latter 
as  the  rightful  successor  to  the  throne;  he  took  the  necessary  means 
to  obtain  an  expression  of  the  sentiments  of  those  high  personages 
on  the  subject.  William  Peun,  who  was  about  to  visit  the  Conti- 
nent, was  deputed  by  him  to  see  the  Prince  and  his  wife,  in  order  to 
ascertain  their  feeling  and  wishes  in  reference  thereto.  Other  agents 
were  afterwards  employed.  But  when  James  found,  that  while  they 
freely  approved  of  toleration  to  all  Protestant  Dissenters,  and  the 
repeal  of  the  penal  laws  against  them,  they  were  altogether  opposed 
to  abrogating  or  suspending  the  laws  against  Papists,  he  took  offence 
at  it,  and  resolved  to  carry  out  his  OAvn  views,  regardless  of  the  Avishes 
or  opposition  of  the  high  church  party,  or  others.  The  declaration, 
unmodified,  was  therefore  published,  and  steps  were  taken  to  in- 
duce those  who  shared  in  the  elective  franchise,  to  give  their  votes 
for  such  candidates  for  Parliament  as  would  sanction  this  measure. 

The  Bishops  having  been  directed  by  an  Order  in  Council,  to  have 
the  declaration  read  in  all  their  Churches,  most  of  them  declined  to 
comply;  and  seven  of  their  number  waited  on  the  King,  with  an 
humble  representation  of  the  reasons  why  they  refused  to  obey  ; 
the  principal  being,  that  the  dispensing  power  of  the  King  had 
been  declared  void  by  Parliament.  Exasperated  at  their  recusancy, 
James  sent  them  to  the  Tower ;  where  they  were  kept  prisoners  for 
some  time;  their  incarceration  greatly  increasing  the  public  excite- 
ment and  discontent.     1688. 

The  doctrine  of  unlimited  obedience,  and  absolute  non-resistance 
to  the  King,  so  long  preached  by  the  Bishops  and  clergy,  was  now 
disavowed,  and  they  professed  a  willingness  that  the  liberty  con- 
ferred by  the  King,  should  be  granted  to  Protestant  Non-conform- 
ists. Their  previous  severities  having  been  publicly  called  to 
mind  by  some  one,  they  attributed  the  statement  to  Friends,  and 
declared,  "  That  the  Quakers  belied  them,  and  reported  that  they 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  553 

(the  Bishops)  had  been  the  cause  of  tlie  death  of  some  of  them." 
It  was  not  true  that  Friends  had  had  anything  to  do  with  the  alle- 
gation publicly  made  against  the  Bishops;  nevertheless,  Robert 
Barclay,  who  was  then  in  London,  visited  the  seven  in  the  Tower, 
and  while  assuring  them  that  Friends  were  not  the  authors  of  what 
had  been  published,  yet  gave  them  such  undeniable  proofs,  of  cases 
where  Friends  had  been  kept  in  jail  by  their  orders,  until  they 
died;  although  certificates  from  physicians  who  were  not  Friends, 
that  longer  detention  must  prove  fatal,  had  been  presented  them, 
together  with  applications  for  the  sick  prisoners  to  be  discharged, 
that  they  could  not  gainsay  it. 

The  imprisoned  BishojDS  being  tried,  were  acquitted ;  and  the  re- 
joicing of  the  populace  on  the  occasion,  was  heartily  responded  to 
l)y  the  troops ;  to  the  chagrin  of  the  King  and  Court.  Infatuated 
with  the  idea  of  the  sacredness  of  his  royal  prerogatives,  and  blindly 
bigotted  in  the  superstitious  faith  he  had  embraced,  James,  with 
undeniable  good  intentions  towards  those  whom  he  knew  had  been 
borne  down  by  both  the  Puritan  and  the  high  church  party,  pur- 
sued a  course,  so  favorable  to  Popery  and  adverse  to  Protestantism, 
that  he  alienated  the  affections  of  those  attached  to  the  "Established 
Church,"  or  to  the  Dissenters;  and  so  filled  the  minds  of  his  sub- 
jects with  a  fear  that  their  liberty  and  their  religion  were  to  be 
sacrificed,  in  order  to  erect  an  absolute  monarchy,  and  again  estab- 
lish Papal  supremacy,  that  many  of  the  more  influential  in  the 
kingdom  resolved  to  drive  him  from  the  throne,  and  put  it  in  jjos- 
session  of  the  Princess  of  Orange  and  her  husband. 

William  Henry,  Prince  of  Orange,  was  a  grandson  of  Charles  I. ; 
his  mother  being  Mary,  daughter  of  that  Sovereign  of  England. 
His  wife  was  the  daughter  of  James  II.;  their  marriage  having 
been  brought  about  by  Charles  II.,  in  the  hope  that  by  promoting 
this  connection  of  the  daughter  of  the  then  Duke  of  York,  with  the 
head  of  the  house  of  Nassau,  who  was  the  acknowledged  leader  of 
the  Protestant  alliance  on  the  Continent,  he  would  so  greatly  gratify 
his  subjects,  as  to  appease  their  discontent  with  his  own  disgraceful 
policy.  Notwithstanding  their  father's  predilection  for  Popery,  his 
daughters,  by  King  Charles'  express'  command,  had  been  educated 
in  the  Protestant  faith,  and  two  of  them  were  married  to  Protestant 
Princes.  Mary  was  the  eldest,  and  at  that  time  apparent  heiress 
of  the  Crown  of  England  ;  her  marriage  with  William  of  Orange, 
took  place  on  the  fourth  of  November,  1G77.  * 

Jt  is  n.ot  necessary  to  enter  far  into  the  political  events  of  the 


554  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

time  ;  but  it  may  be  stated,  that  the  Prince  of  Orange,  l)eing  invited 
by  the  leaders  of  the  malcontents  —  including  most  of  the  Bi.<hops, 
and  the  Universities — came  over  to  England  with  an  army  of  twelve 
thousand  men  ;  and  being  joined  by  a  large  number  of  those  who 
were  set  against  James,  by  his  rash  and  imi)olitic  conduct,  the  latter 
became  alarmed  for  his  personal  safety,  and  fled  to  France.    [1688. J 
When  it  is  borne  in  mind,  that  the  High  Church  party  had  been 
engaged  for  years,  in  preaching  the  "  Divine  right "  of  hereditary 
Kings,  and  —  while  boasting  of  their  own  unlimited  loyalty  —  de- 
clared that  any  resistance  to  this  sacred  right,  or  to  acts  emanating 
from  it,  was  contrary  to  the  Christian  religion,  and  damnable  ;  it  can 
be  considered  no  other  than  indubitable  evidence  of  a  deplorable 
lack  of  religious  principle,  and  indeed  of  common  morality,  that 
this  same  party,   through  its  chief  dignitaries  and   leaders,  when 
apprehensive  that  its  wealth  and  place  were  in  danger  of  being 
wrested  from  it,  was  among  the  first  to  enter  into  a  combination  to 
overturn  their  King's  power.     To  bring  another  Prince,  who  could 
not  then  claim  their  allegiance,  into  the  country ;  and  thus  give  rise 
or  strength  to  a  revolution,  which,  it  must  have  been  seen,  would 
almost  inevitably  drive  their  legitimate  Sovereign  from  the  throne. 
The  after  conduct  of  7nany  of  its  chief  members,  when  they  were 
disappointed   by  not  regaining  all  they  had  been   forced  to  relin- 
quish, further  confirms  the  conclusion,  that  self-interest  and  self- 
exaltation  were  the  primary  objects  kept  in  view  by  them. 

A  Convention  having  been  assembled,  it  was  resolved  into  a  Par- 
liament ;  which  declared  the  throne  vacant  by  the  King's  abdica- 
tion—though he  had  left  a  statement,  that  he  went  only  to  seek 
assistance  —  and  the  crown  was  offered  to  William  and  Mary.  The 
offer  being  accepted,  they  were  declared  King  and  Queen  of  Great 
Britain  ;  their  coronation  taking  place  in  the  Fourth  month  of  1689. 
During  the  time  of  contention  and  commotion  preceding  the  flight 
of  James,  Friends,  in  common  with  other  Non-conformists,  enjoyed 
immunity  from  suffering,  except  that  arising  from  their  testimony 
against  a  hireling  ministry ;  which  brought  them  under  the  exac- 
tions of  the  priests,  for  tithes  ;  and  the  losses  often  sustained  in  con- 
sequence of  their  refusing  to  take  an  oath.  One  of  their  number, 
however,  conspicuous  for  his  zeal  as  a  Friend,  and  his  intimacy  with 
the  King,  was  exposed  to  much  suspicion  and  calumny  ;  and  finally 
brought  into  no  little  trouble  by  the  part  he  was  supposed  to  have 
taken,  in  the  ifffairs  transacted,  and  the  influence  he  was  credited 
with  having  exerted,  to  promote  some  of  the  measures  of.  Court. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  555 

Allusion  is  made  to  William  Peun,  who,  as  has  been  mentioned, 
■was  commended  by  his  father,  on  his  death-bed,  to  the  good  offices 
of  the  then  Duke  of  York,  and  who  had  received  no  small  favor  at 
his  hands.     The  respect  and  kind  feeling  of  the  Duke  for  William 
Penn  appear  to  have  continued  after  he  became  King;  and  a  sense 
of  gratitude  and  Christian  interest,  in  measure,  bound  the  man  he 
had    befriended,  to    his    royal    benefactor.     He  W'as  almost  daily 
at  Court,  and    as    often,  his    interest  there  was  employed  on  be- 
half of   those  with    whom  he  was  united  in  religious  fellowship, 
or  of   others  who  solicited  his  aid ;  which  his  kindness  of  heart 
prompted  him  not  to  refuse.     His  house   in   Kensington  was  daily 
thronge<l  with  persons  who  sougl)t  his  mediation  to  promote  their 
interests,  or    desired    to  engage  him  to  present  their  petitions  or 
addresses  to  the  King.     He  j-eceived  all  with  courtesy,  and  aided 
those  he  could,  with  cheerfulness ;  and  no  one  ever  charged  him 
with  making  gain  of  his  position  or  influence.     Nevertheless,  in 
this  way,  it  is  probable,  he  appeared  in  cases  where  greater  pru- 
dence would  have  restrained  him  from  interfering.     Certainly  he 
made  many  and  bitter  enemies,  who  hesitated  not  to  proclaim  him 
to  be  a  Jesuit,  a  hypocrite,  and  an  enemy  to  the  Protestant  interest. 
Accustomed  to  calumny  as  a  Friend,  and  conscious  of  his  inno- 
cence, William  Penn  allowed  these  slanders  to  possess  the  public 
ear,  until    they  came  to  be  credited   by  many  who,  without  any 
particular  prejudice  against  him,  supposed  that,  like  other  emis- 
saries of  Rome,  he  was  in  league  with  the  King  in  trying  to  sub- 
vert the  religion  and  constitutional    liberties  of  the  nation.     At 
length  the  Secretary  for  the  Plantations,  who  knew  Penn  well,  and 
was  greatly  grieved  with  the  manner  in  which  he  was  traduced,  and 
fearful  of  the  ultimate  result  of  his  persistently  declining  publicly 
to  defend  himself,  addressed  him  by  letter;   reciting  the  charges 
industriously  circulated  against  him,  and  earnestly  requesting  he 
would  notice  and  refute  them.     To  this  letter  William  Peun  replied, 
taking  up  each  accusation  separately,  and  showing  the  untruth  and 
the  absurdity  of  all.     He  did  not  hesitate  to  acknowledge  the  grati- 
tude   and  kind  feeling  he  entertained  towards  King  James,  and 
that  on  some  occasions,  when  his  opinion  had  been  sought  on  mat- 
ters afll'cting  the  nation,  he  had  given  it;  l)ut  he  declared,  that  on 
all  such  occasions,  he  iiad  advocated  liberty  of  conscience,  and   the 
best  interest  of  Protestant  England  ;  and  he  challenged  any  one 
to  come  forward  and  show  to  the  contrary.     Notwithstanding  this 
explanation  of  his  intimacy  at  Court,  and  his  positive  denial  and 


556  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

refutation  of  the  many  false  stones  raised  about  him,  the  I'eeling 
produced  by  them  was  not  entirely  removed ;  and  in  the  last  month 
of  1688,  as  he  was  walking  in  Whitehall,  he  was  suddenly  sum- 
moned to  appear  before  the  Lords  of  the  Council.  Some  of  the 
Council,  who  were  inimical  to  him,  required  him  to  give  sureties 
for  his  appearance  on  the  first  day  of  the  next  term  of  Court. 
On  his  appearance  there,  his  case  was  postponed  until  the  next  ses- 
sion ;  when  there  appeared  to  be  no  accuser  or  accusation  against 
him,  and  he  was  declared  clear,  in  open  court. 

In  this  year  [1688]  died  that  devoted  and  eminent  servant  of 
Christ,  and  patient  sufferer  for  iiis  cause,  William  Dewsbury.  He 
was  among  those  who  were  released  from  long  confinement,  by  the 
intervention  of  King  James,  when  he  issued  his  warrant  for  the  dis- 
charge of  Friends,  and  the  suspension  of  the  penal  laws  against  them, 
on  their  first  application  to  him.  He  had  been  arrested  as  a  Jesuit, 
at  the  time  of  the  great  excitement  respecting  the  "  Popish  plot ;"  and 
though  it  was  shown  there  was  no  ground  for  the  accusation  made 
against  him,  the  vindictive  malice  of  his  persecutors,  and  the  unjust 
and  illegal  action  of  the  Magistrates,  induced  and  enabled  tlu-m  to 
keep  him  a  prisoner  during  all  the  time  that  elapsed  from  the  out- 
break of  the  terrible  popular  excitement  mentioned,  to  the  first 
year  of  the  short  reign  of  King  James.  Though  greatly  debili- 
tated, and  his  health  permanently  impaired,  by  his  long  confine- 
ment in  noisome  jails,  and  other  cruelties  inflicted  on  him  ;  so  that  it 
was  difficult  and  painful  for  him  to  walk,  he,  nevertheless,  after  liis  re- 
lease, visited  Friends  at  some  of  their  meetings.  But  finding  himself 
too  feeble  to  travel  much,  he  addressed  an  epistle  to  Friends  gener- 
ally, which,  he  says,  was  "  Given  forth  in  the  moving  of  the  peaceable 
spirit  and  word  of  reconciliation  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ :  to  whom 
are  my  prayers,  that  all  who  are  convinced,  may  wait  to  be  made  of 
the  number  of  the  slain  of  the  Lord,  and  conformable  to  Christ  in 
his  death.  That  they  may  witness  his  quickening  power  to  raise 
them  up  in  the  resurrection  of  life,  to  enter  into  the  gates  of  Ziou, 
and  dwell  in  the  city  of  New  Jerusalem:  peace  is  within  her  gates, 
and  quietness  among  all  that  have  their  habitation  therein,  liaving 
salvation  for  walls  and  bulwarks ;  and  [they]  are  blessed  of  the 
Lord,  and  preserved  by  Him,  to  the  honor  of  his  name  forever. 
Amen."  He  went  up  to  London,  to  attend  the  Yearly  Meeting,  in 
1688.  While  there,  he  preached  a  remarkable  sermon,  which  has 
been  handed  down  in  print.  It  is  said  the  congregation  he  addressed 
was  over  two  thousand.     Being  taken  ill,  he  was  unable  to  attend 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  557 

the  Yearly  Meeting,  but  sent  a  short  letter  to  it,  informing  of  the 
reason  of  his  absence.  He  was  favored  to  reach  his  home  by  short 
journeys,  and  lived  but  about  two  weeks  after.  A  few  days  before 
his  death,  several  Friends  being  present  in  his  chamber,  though 
very  Aveak,  he  addressed  them  very  fervently,  testifying  to  the 
power  of  the  religion  Friends  professed,  and  the  goodness  of  God 
as  manifested  to  them,  "  Therefore,"  said  he,  "  Friends,  be  faith- 
ful, and  trust  in  the  Lord  your  God :  for  this  I  can  say,  I  never, 
since  [his  convincement,]  played  the  coward;  but  joyfully  entered 
prisons  as  palaces ;  telling  my  enemies  to  hold  me  there  as  long  as 
they  could.  And  in  the  prison-houses  I  sang  praises  to  my  God, 
and  esteemed  the  bolts  and  locks  put  upon  me  as  jewels ;  and  in 
the  name  of  the  eternal  God,  I  always  got  the  victory.  For  they 
could  keep  me  no  longer  than  the  determined  time  of  my  God. 
.  .  .  .  My  departure  draws  nigh.  Blessed  be  my  God,  I  am 
prepared  ;  I  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  die,  and  put  off  this  corrupt, 
mortal  tabernacle,  this  flesh  that  has  so  many  infirmities.  But  the 
life  that  dwells  in  it  ascends  above  all,  out  of  the  reach  of  death, 
hell  and  the  gi'ave ;  and  immortality  and  eternal  life  are  my  crown 
for  ever  and  ever."  Thus  triumphantly  departed  this  aged,  deeply 
experienced,  and  suffering  follower  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  enter  on 
the  unceasing  enjoyment  of  those  heavenly  felicities  which  are  laid 
up  for  all  those  who  love  Him  and  his  appearing  in  their  hearts. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Act  of  Toleration  —  Friends  obtain  a  Modification  of  tlie  Language  —  Confes- 
sion of  Faith  —  S.  Crisp's  Address  to  Fi-iends —  Death  of  Alex.  Parker  — 
Little  persecution  in  Ireland  —  Warning  by  W.  Edniundson  —  War  — 
Raparees  —  Services  of  Wm.  Edmundson  for  his  Neighbors — Cruel  Treat- 
ment of  W.  E. —  Efforts  to  take  the  Life  of  W.  E.  —  Testimony  relative  to 
the  Faithfulness  of  Friends  in  Ireland  during  the  War — Increasing  Weak- 
ness of  G.  f^ox  —  Epistles  by  G.  Fox  —  Last  Sickness  and  Death  of  G.  Fox 
—  Death  of  J.  Burnveat  —  Death  of  Thomas  Salthouse. 

1 
^I'^HE  government  being  now  in  the  hands  of  a  King  and  Parlia-I 
-L  ment,  united  in  the  policy  of  maintaining  the  Protestant  reli- 
gion, one  of  the  first  subjects  that  occupied  the  attention  of  the 
latter,  was  so  to  modify  the  laws  in  relation  to  professors  of  difi'erent 
forms  of  that  religion,  as  would  strengthen  the  coalition  among 


1 


556 


FRIENDS    IN    THE 


refutation  of  the  many  false  stories  raised  about  him,  the  feelinj; 
produced  by  them  was  not  entirely  removed  ;  and  in  the  last  month 
of  1088,  as  he  was  walking  iu  Whitehall,  he  was  suddenly  sum- 
moned to  ap])ear  before  the  Lords  of  the  Council.  Some  of  the 
Council,  who  were  inimical  to  him,  required  him  to  give  sureties 
for  his  appearance  on  the  first  day  of  the  next  term  of  Court. 
On  his  appearance  there,  his  case  was  postponed  until  the  next  ses- 
sion ;  when  there  appeared  to  be  no  accuser  or  accusation  against 
him,  and  he  was  declared  clear,  in  open  court. 

In  this  year  [1688]  died  that  devoted  and  eminent  servant  of 
Christ,  and  patient  sufferer  for  his  cause,  William  Dewsbury.     He 
was  among  those  who  were  released  from  long  confinement,  by  the 
intervention  of  King  James,  when  he  issued  his  warrant  for  the  dis- 
charge of  Friends,  and  the  suspension  of  the  penal  laws  against  them, 
on  their  first  application  to  him.     He  had  been  arrested  as  a  Jesuit, 
at  the  time  of  the  great  excitement  respecting  the  "  Popish  plot ;"  and 
though  it  was  shown  there  was  no  ground  for  the  accusation  made 
against  him,  the  vindictive  malice  of  his  persecutors,  and  the  unjust 
and  illegal  action  of  the  Magistrates,  induced  and  enabled  them  to 
keep  him  a  prisoner  during  all  the  time  that  elapsed  from  the  out- 
break of  the  terrible  popular  excitement  mentioned,  to  the  first 
year  of  the  short  reign  of  King  James.     Tliough  greatly  debili- 
tated, and  his  health  permanently  impaired,  by  his  long  confine- 
ment iu  noisome  jails,  and  other  cruelties  inflicted  on  him  ;  so  that  it 
was  difficult  and  painful  for  him  to  walk,  he,  nevertheless,  after  his  re- 
lease, visited  Friends  at  some  of  their  meetings.    But  finding  himself 
too  feeble  to  travel  much,  he  addressed  an  epistle  to  Friends  gener- 
ally, which,  he  says,  was  "  Given  forth  in  the  moving  of  the  peaceable 
spirit  and  word  of  reconciliation  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ :  to  whom 
are  my  prayers,  that  all  who  are  convinced,  may  wait  to  be  made  of 
the  number  of  the  slain  of  the  Lord,  and  conformable  to  Christ  in 
his  death.     That  they  may  witness  his  quickening  power  to  raise 
them  up  iu  the  resurrection  of  life,  to  enter  into  the  gates  of  Zion, 
and  dwell  in  the  city  of  New  Jerusalem :  peace  is  within  her  gates, 
and  quietness  among  all  that  have  their  habitation  therein,  having 
salvation  for  walls  and  bulwarks ;  and   [they]  are  blessed  of  the 
Lord,  and  preserved  by  Him,  to  the  honor  of  his  name  forever. 
Amen."     He  went  up  to  London,  to  attend  the  Yearly  Meeting,  in 
1688.     While  there,  he  preached  a  remarkable  sermon,  which   has 
been  handed  down  iu  print.    It  is  said  the  congregation  he  addressed 
was  over  two  thousand.     Being  taken  ill,  he  was  unable  to  attend 


SEVENTEENTH    CEXTURY.  559 

sented  to  Parliament,  a  Declaration  of  the  faith  held  by  the  Society 
from  which  the  following  is  taken  : 

"Question. —  Do  you  believe  the  divinity  and  humanity  of  Jesus 
Christ,  the  eternal  Son  of  God  ?  or  that  Jesus  Christ  is  truly  God 
and  man  ? 

Answer. —  Yes,  we  verily  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  is  truly  God 
and  man,  according  as  Holy  Scriptures  testify  of  him  ;  God  over  all, 
blessed  forever ;  the  true  God,  and  eternal  life ;  the  one  Mediator 
between  God  and  man  ;  even  the  man  Christ  Jesus. 

Question. —  Do  you  believe  and  expect  salvation  and  justification 
by  the  righteousness  and  merits  of  Jesus  Christ,  or  by  your  own 
righteousness  or  w'orks? 

Answer. —  By  Jesus  Christ,  his  righteousness,  merits  and  works, 
and  not  by  our  own.  God  is  not  indebted  to  us  for  our  deservings, 
but  we  to  Him  for  his  free  Grace  in  Christ  Jesus ;  whereby  we  are 
saved  through  faith  in  Him,  not  of  ourselves;  and  by  his  grace  are 
enabled  truly  and  acceptably  to  serve  and  follow  Him  as  He  requires. 
He  is  our  all  in  all,  who  worketh  all  in  us  that  is  well-pleasing  to  God. 

Question. —  Do  you  believe  remission  of  sins  and  redemption, 
through  the  sufferings,  death  and  blood  of  Christ  ? 

Answer. —  Yes,  through  faith  in  Him  as  He  suffered  and  died  for 
all  men,  gave  himself  a  ransom  for  all,  and  his  blood  being  shed  for 
the  remission  of  sins ;  so  all  they  who  sincerely  believe  in  and  obey 
Him,  receive  the  benefits  and  blessed  effects  of  his  suffering  and 
dying  for  them.  They,  by  faith,  in  his  name,  receive  and  partake 
of  that  eternal  redemption  which  He  hath  obtained  for  us,  who  gave 
himself  for  us,  that  He  might  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity.  He  died 
for  our  sins,  and  rose  again  for  our  justification  ;  and  if  we  walk  in  the 
Light  as  He  is  in  the  Light,  we  have  fellowship  one  with  another, 
and  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  his  Son,  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin." 

The  Act  provided  that  Dissenters  should  hold  their  meetings  for 
worship,  &c.,  without  molestation,  the  doors  of  their  meeting-houses 
being  unfastened  ;  but  it  imposed  the  taking  of  an  oath  of  allegiance  ; 
which,  as  Friends  could  not  take  an  oath,  would  yet  have  excluded 
them  from  toleration.  But  the  manner  in  which  Friends,  from 
their  rise,  had  illustrated  their  conscientious  adherence  to  the  peace- 
able principles  they  professed  ;  and  the  religious  character  of  their 
scruples  against  swearing,  satisfied  many  of  those  who  did  not  unite 
with  them  in  their  belief,  that  no  danger  to  the  State  was  to  be  ap- 
j)rehended  from  their  declining  to  take  this  oath.  It  was  therefore 
finally  decided  to  accept  in  lieu  thereof,  the  following  declaration : 


5G0  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

"  I,  A.  B.,  do  sincerely  promise  and  solemnly  declare,  before  God 
and  the  world,  tliat  I  will  be  true  and  faithful  to  King  William  and 
Queen  Mary ;  and  I  do  solemnly  profess  and  declare,  that  I  do 
from  my  heart  abhor,  detest  and  renounce,  as  impious  and  heretical, 
that  damnable  doctrine  and  position,  that  Princess  excommunicated 
or  deprived  by  the  Pope,  or  any  authority  of  the  see  of  Rome,  may  be 
deposed  or  mui*dered  by  their  subjects,  or  any  other  whatsoever.  And 
I  declare  that  no  foreign  prince,  person,  prelate,  stale,  or  potentate, 
hath  or  ought  to  have,  any  power,  jurisdiction,  superiority,  ])re-emi- 
nence,  or  authority,  ecclesiastical  or  spiritual,  within  this  realm." 

Thus  Friends  —  in  common  with  other  Dissenters  —  were  legally 
tolerated,  and  two  of  the  principles  and  practices  connected  with 
their  religious  convictions  —  the  duty  of  publicly  assembling  for 
the  worship  of  the  Almighty,  and  the  obligation  to  obey  the  com- 
mand of  Christ  not  to  swear  —  which  unreasonable  and  wicked  men 
had  long  taken  advantage  of,  to  wrong  and  oppress  them,  were  no 
longer  causes  of  legal  offence  and  persecution  ;  though  the  latter 
still  exposed  them  to  wrong,  and  deprived  them  of  some  rights  which 
others  enjoyed.  The  oppressive  and  anti-Christian  yoke  of  tithes, 
however,  still  rested  heavily  upon  them  ;  one  clause  of  the  Act  of 
Toleration  specially  providing,  that  no  part  of  it  should  be  so  con- 
strued, as  to  exempt  any  Dissenters  from  paying  tithes,  or  other 
parochial  dues,  to  the  church  or  minister ;  nor  from  prosecution  in 
an  ecclesiastical  Court  or  elsewhere,  therefor.   [1689.] 

Friends,  however,  from  their  disuse  of  the  "  ordinances,"  as  they 
are  called,  escaped  some  exactions  to  which  other  Non-conformists 
were  still  liable.  The  provisions  of  the  Toleration  Act  were  such, 
that  it  did  not  altogether  relieve  other  Dissenters  from  the  pressure 
of  the  several  penal  laws  against  them  ;  all  of  which  remained  un- 
repealed. They  were  held  liable  to  be  called  on  to  give  assent  to 
the  canon  of  the  "Church  of  England,"  in  reference  to  the  ''Eu- 
charist," and  also  to  admit  the  truth  of  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the 
"thirty-nine  articles"  The  enjoyment  of  the  right  of  liberty  of 
conscience  in  relation  to  the  profession  and  practice  of  religion,  was 
therefore  far  from  being  established  ;  and  the  "State  Church  "  con- 
tinued to  hold  the  power  in  its  hands  to  oblige  all  to  contribute,  in 
some  way,  to  its  support. 

That  Friends  looked  upon  this  release  from  suffering,  which  they 
had  long  and  patiently  borne,  as  a  result  of  Divine  interposition  in 
promotion  of  the  Lord's  own  sacred  cause  of  truth  and  righteous- 
ness, there  can  be  no  doubt;  and  they  were  fully  aware,  that  to 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  561 

Tliin  were  to  be  ascribed  tbe  praise  and  gratitude  that  were  due. 
Thus  in  an  epistle  addressed  to  Friends,  by  Stephen  Crisp,  about 
that  time,  is  the  following:  "And,  Friends,  consider  of  the  great 
works  that  this  mighty  arm  of  the  Lord  hath  brought  to  pass  in 
the  general,  as  well  as  in  the  particular;  how  many  contrivances 
have  been  framed,  and  laws  and  decrees  made  to  lay  you  waste,  and 
to  make  you  cease  to  be  a  people,  and  how  have  the  wicked  rejoiced 
thereat,  for  a  season,  crying,  'Aha!  thus  would  we  have  it;  they 
are  all  now  given  up  to  banishments,  to  imprisonments,  to  spoils 
and  ruins;  now  let  us  see  if  that  invisible  Arm  they  trust  in  can 
deliver  them.'  O  Friends !  how  hath  your  God  been  your  sujjport 
in  the  midst  of  all  these  exercises!  and  when  He  hath  pleased,  how 
hath  He  quieted  the  sharpest  storms,  and  turned  back  the  greatest 
floods  and  torrents  of  persecution  that  ever  you  met!  and  how  hath 
He  confounded  his  and  your  enemies,  and  brought  confusion  upon 
the  heads  of  them  that  sought  your  hurt !  Were  not  these  things 
wrought  by  the  power  of  God?  Did  your  number,  your  policy, 
your  interest,  or  any  thing  that  might  be  called  your  own,  contrib- 
ute anything  to  these  your  great  preservations  and  deliverances? 
If  not,  then  let  God  have  the  glory,  and  acknowledge,  to  his  praise, 
these  have  been  the  Lord's  doings,  and  are  marvellous  in  our  eyes." 
Another  clause  in  this  epistle  indicates  the  trials  Friends  had  to 
endure  even  in  that  day,  from  "  false  brethren  ;  "  who  thought  the 
path  which  had  been  marked  out  for  them  by  the  Head  of  the 
Church,  was  too  strait  and  narrow ;  and  were  desirous  to  do  away 
the  offence  of  the  cross.  It  also  shows  that  faithful  Friends  adhered 
to  the  principles  which  they  had  seen,  in  that  Light  which  could 
not  deceive,  were  inseparable  from  the  gospel  in  its  purity,  and  to 
the  practices  resulting  from  them.  He  says,  "Again,  dear  Friends, 
consider  how  the  wicked  one  hath  wrought  in  a  mystery  among 
yourselves,  to  scatter  you,  and  to  lay  you  waste  from  being  a  people 
as  at  this  day;  how  many  several  ways  hath  he  tried;  raising  up 
men  of  perverse  minds,  to  subvert  and  to  turn  you  from  the  faith, 
and  from  the  simplicity  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord ;  and  to 
separate  you  from  that  invisible  Power  that  hath  been  your  strength, 
and  to  separate  you  one  from  another,  and  by  subtle  wiles  to  lead 
you  into  a  false  liberty  above  the  cross  of  Christ;  and  sometimes  by 
sowing  seeds  of  heresy  and  seditions,  endeavoring  to  corrupt  the 
minds  of  whom  they  could,  with  pernicious  principles ;  but  oh,  how 
have  their  designs  been  frustrated,  and  the  authors  thereof  con- 
founded and  brought  to  naught :  and  how  have  you  been  preserved 
36 


562  FRIEXDS    IN    THE 

as  a  flock  under  the  hand  of  a  careful  Shepherd,  even  unto  this 
day  ;  which  ministers  great  cause  of  thanksgiving  unto  all  the  feith- 
ful,  wlio  have  witnessed  the  working  of  this  preserving  power  in 
their  own  particulars." 

In  1689,  died  Alexander  Parker,  who  liad  long  been  looked  up 
to  as  a  judge  and  a  valiant  in  Israel.  He  was  a  man  of  noble 
presence,  strong  intellectual  endowments  and  good  education.  He 
was  born  in  Lancashire,  was  convinced  of  the  truth  as  held  by 
Friends,  early  after  George  Fox  began  his  labors  as  a  minister  of 
Jesus  Christ,  and  was  himself  soon  called  into  the  same  service. 
By  close  adherence  to  the  dictates  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ  to  his  soul, 
he  became  eminent  in  the  exercise  of  the  gift  he  had  received.  He 
travelled  much  with  George  Fox,  sharing  with  him  the  hardships 
and  cruel  treatment  to  which  he  was  exposed.  He  came  up  with 
him  to  London,  when  Colonel  Hacker  sent  him  to  the  then  Pro- 
tector, and  was  with  him  in  different  parts  of  Great  Britain ;  and 
also  in  Holland  in  1684.  After  his  marriage,  his  home  was  in 
London,  when  not  engaged  in  religious  service  in  other  places ;  and 
while  at  home,  his  time  and  attention  were  much  devoted  to  serving 
the  Society ;  which  led  him  frequently  into  interviews  with  mem- 
bers of  the  Privy  Council  and  of  Parliament.  Like  others  of  his 
fellow-professors,  he  suffered  frequent  imprisonments  and  much  cruel 
abuse,  but  he  was  sustained  by  the  invisible  Arm  of  Divine  power; 
and  when  he  had  filled  up  his  measure  of  service  and  of  suffering, 
he  quietly  and  peacefully  exchanged  the  toils  and  vicissitudes  of 
time  for  the  full  fruition  of  those  joys  which  are  eternal. 

Friends  in  Ireland,  though  exposed  to  suffering  on  account  of 
their  refusal  to  pay  tithes,  which  often  brought  them  under  the  op- 
pression of  rapacious  priests,  who  prosecuted  them  in  ecclesiastical 
Courts,  and  by  exorbitant  costs  and  fees,  made  great  havoc  of  their 
substance,  were  nevertheless  almost  free  from  the  enormous  spoil 
and  merciless  persecution,  inflicted  on  their  brethren  in  England 
and  Scotland  ;  through  the  instrumentality  of  unprincipled  inform- 
ers and  Magistrates.  While  other  Dissenters,  almost  universally 
throughout  that  Island,  deserted  their  meeting-houses,  and  either 
met  privately,  or  declined  altogether  to  hold  public  worship,  on 
account  of  the  Conventicle  Act,  Friends  continued  their  religious 
meetings  for  worsliip  and  discipline  as  heretofore  ;  and  though  occa- 
sionally disturbed,  the  former  were  largely  attended  by  others  than 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  563 

members,  and  thus  a  knowledge  of  the  truths  of  the  Gospel  con- 
tinued to  spread,  and  there  were  many  convinced  thereby.  In  1684, 
having  received  information,  that  many  Friends  in  England  had 
been  reduced  to  great  straits  by  the  ravenous  informers,  the  National 
Meeting,  actuated  by  that  sympathetic  love  one  for  another,  and 
mutual  interest  in  each  other's  well  being,  which  characterized  the 
membei's  of  the  Society  everywhere,  directed  voluntary  subscrip- 
tions to  be  raised  for  the  relief  of  their  suffering  fellow-professors; 
and  several  hundred  pounds  were  sent  over  to  England,  to  be  dis- 
tributed among  those  in  need. 

But  though  now  comparatively  exempt  from  persecution,  William 
Edmundson  had  a  sense  given  him  of  great  calamities  near  at  hand, 
and  says,  that  after  attending  the  National  Meeting,  in  1685,  he 
visited  Friends  in  the  North,  and  other  places ;  and  "  A  weighty 
sense  came  upon  my  spirit,  of  great  exercises  and  trials  approach- 
ing, which  would  try  us  all,  and  that  the  Lord  would  spread  the 
carcasses  of  men  on  the  earth,  as  dung.  So  in  the  Spirit  and  power 
of  the  Lord,  I  faithfully  and  plainly  warned  Friends  and  others  of 
it,  in  many  public  meetings;  and  often,  in  the  Lord's  movings,  ad- 
vised Friends  to  lessen  their  concerns  in  the  world,  and  be  ready  to 
receive  the  Lord  in  his  judgments,  which  were  at  hand ;  and  to  flee 
unto  Him  for  succor,  that  they  might  have  a  place  of  safety  in  Him." 

As  has  been  already  seen.  King  James,  in  his  scheme  for  gradu- 
ally introducing  Catholics  into  the  government,  manifested  a  will- 
ingness to  favor  all  Dissenters  from  the  Church  of  England  ;  and 
in  accordance  with  this  policy,  those  in  authority  in  Ireland,  ap- 
pointed some  Friends  in  different  places,  to  serve  as  Corporators,  or 
as  Magistrates.  This  brought  forth  from  a  General  Meeting  of 
Friends  there,  an  epistle  of  advice  to  those  who  had  consented  to 
serve  in  those  stations;  and  George  Fox,  being  informed  of  the 
circumstance,  addressed  a  letter  to  William  Edmundson,  in  which 
he  says,  "  As  for  those  Friends  of  Dublin,  Cork,  Limerick  and  other 
places,  that  have  taken  those  offices  of  Aldermen  and  Burgesses 
upon  them,  they  must  consider  and  be  wise;  for  if  they  keep  to 
Ti'uth,  they  can  neither  take  an  oath,  nor  put  an  oath  to  any  one ; 
neither  can  they  put  on  their  gowns,  and  strange  kind  of  habits; 
as  Friends  have  considei*ed  it  here,  when  they  talk  of  putting  them 
in  such  places."  He  also  reminds  them,  that  they  cannot  attend 
at  their  feasts,  nor  ynu  in  any  formalities,  &c. 

The  King  having  removed  his  brothei'-in-law,  the  Earl  of  Clareii- 
don,  from  the  office  of  Loi'd-lieutenant  of  Ireland,  bestowed  it  upon 


564  F  R  I  E  N  D  S    I  N    T  II  E 

the  Ear]  of  Tyrconnol,  a  liigoted  Papist;  wlio  soon  manifested  a 
determination,  by  his  displacements  and  appointments,  to  transfer 
the  various  offices  and  the  power,  from  the  Protestants  into  the 
hands  of  Roman  Catholics.  Not  only  those  in  command  of  the 
military,  but  Judges,  Magistrates,  and  other  civil  officers,  were 
Catholics ;  and  as  the  greater  part  of  the  inhabitants  belonged  to 
that  church,  and  had  been  much  oppressed  by  the  former  govern- 
ment, they  rejoiced  to  take  part  with  King  James,  in  his  contention 
for  the  crown,  and  to  embrace  the  opportunity  to  gratify  their  thirst 
for  revenge  and  plunder.  When  war  between  the  two  adverse  i)ar- 
ties  fairly  broke  out,  nearly  the  whole  Island  was  overrun  Avith  the 
hostile  armies.  Large  numbers  of  the  Irish  banded  together,  and 
under  the  name  of  Raparees,  became  the  terror  of  the  country. 
Unrestrained  by  military  law,  these  armed  guerillas  murdered,  often 
indiscriminately,  all  whom  they  wished  to  rob,  and  often  burned 
whatever  they  could  not  carry  off. 

During  this  season  of  awful  wickedness  and  calamity,  which  lasted 
over  two  years  [1688,  1690],  it  was  a  remarkable  circumstance,  that 
Friends  were  generally  favored  by  those  in  authority;  and  William 
Edmundson  continued  to  exert  no  little  influence  with  the  higher  offi- 
cers in  the  government.  In  many  parts  of  the  country,  they  never- 
theless suffered  grievously ;  so  that  it  was  estimated  that  in  the 
time  mentioned,  their  loss  iu  property  amounted  to  £100,000. 

William  Edmundson  having  been  instrumental  in  stopping  the 
plundering  by  some  of  the  Irish,  and  having  a  few  of  those  who  had 
been  engaged  in  it,  arrested  and  punished  ;  although  he  afterwards 
interceded  for  the  offenders,  and  obtained  their  I'elease,  with  the  res- 
toration of  the  horses  that  had  been  taken  from  them,  yet  the  ani- 
mosity of  many  of  the  common  soldiers,  and  the  subordinate  officers, 
was  greatly  excited  towards  him.  On  one  occasion,  in  1690,  a  com- 
pany from  the  army  of  King  William,  came  into  his  neighborhood, 
drove  off"  about  five  hundred  cattle  and  horses,  and  took  one  of  his 
neighbors,  named  Dunn,  who  had  been  a  soldier,  with  his  father  and 
brothers,  intending  to  hang  him.  William  being  requested  to  inter- 
fere on  behalf  of  this  poor  man,  and  also  of  those  who  were  robbed, 
went  after  the  soldiers,  and  overtaking  them  about  four  miles  off', 
interceded  Avith  the  officers,  to  give  up  their  prey.  He  says,  "  So 
with  much  discourse  and  arguments  to  this  purpose,  the  two  captains 
seemed  willing  to  release  all,  if  the  soldiers  could  be  prevailed  on. 
I  rode  with  them  to  the  head  of  the  party ;  but  they  were  very 
angry,  and  would  need  have  killed  the  Irish,  who  had  followed  for 


SEVEXTEEXTII    CENTURY.  565 

their  cattle.  Whereupon  I  quitted  my  horse  and  ventured  my  life 
among  the  rude  soldiers,  to  save  the  Irish  ;  and  with  much  ado,  and 
the  captains'  assistance,  got  them  moderated,  on  condition  to  give 
them  a  small  part  of  the  cattle,  to  release  the  rest.  Then  I  mounted 
my  horse,  and  sought  out  the  man  they  had  stripped  for  hanging. 
AVhen  I  found  him,  I  threw  him  my  riding  coat  to  put  on,  and  de- 
sired one  of  the  captains  to  assist  me  in  finding  him  that  had  taken 
his  clothes."  When  discovered,  AVilliam  spoke  to  the  soldier  in 
such  a  manner,  that  he  undressed  himself  and  returned  the  clothes 
to  their  rightful  owner;  and  finally,  William  succeeded  in  obtaining 
the  release  of  the  father  and  the  sons,  with  most  of  the  cattle. 

8peaking  of  the  National  Meeting  held  in  Dublin  in  1690,  to 
which  Friends  went  at  the  risk  of  their  lives,  William  says,  "  We 
had  a  heavenly,  blessed,  powerful  meeting,  and  Friends  were  more 
than  ordinarily  glad  one  of  another  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  who  had 
preserved  us  alive,  through  so  many  dangers,  to  see  one  another's 
faces  again." 

But  though  so  devoted  in  support  of  the  cause  of  Truth,  and  so 
serviceable  in  helping  others,  William  Edmundson  had  to  undergo 
great  suffering  himself  His  house  was  surrounded  on  the  23d  of 
the  9th  mouth,  1690,  by  a  large  band  of  Raparees,  who  set  fire  to 
it.  He  narrates,  "  When  we  could  stay  no  longer  for  the  fire,  I 
made  conditions  with  them,  and  opened  the  doors,  and  went  out ; 
but  they  soon  broke  their  conditions,  though  they  bound  themselves 
with  many  oaths.  They  took  what  plunder  they  could  get  from  the 
fire  ;  which  being  very  fierce,  destroyed  the  greater  part.  .  .  One 
of  them  at  my  request,  lent  me  an  old  blanket  of  my  own  to  wrap 
about  me,  and  they  took  away  all  my  cattle.  They  took  me  and  my 
two  sons  that  night  through  rough  places,  bushes,  mire  and  water  to 
the  knees  in  cold  weather  ;  where  our  bare  feet  and  legs  were  sorely 
hurt,  and  bruised."  Having  held  a  council  in  the  morning,  it  was 
resolved  to  shoot  William  and  hang  his  two  sons.  "Then  I  told 
them,  if  I  died  they  were  my  witnesses  I  was  innocent,  and  God 
would  revenge  my  blood.  .  .  .  Then  they  hoodwinked  my  two 
sons  to  hang  them,  and  having  prepared  two  fire-locks  to  shoot  me, 
they  came  to  hoodwink  me  also ;  but  1  told  them  they  need  not,  for 
I  could  look  them  in  the  face,  and  was  not  afraid  to  die."  At  this 
juncture  a  lieutenant  Dunn  came  up  —  he  was  one  of  the  brothers 
wlioni  W.  F.  had  rescued  from  a  company  of  soldiers,  as  related  — 
wlio  interposed,  and  took  the  father  and  sons  to  Athlone, about  twenty 
miles  ofl".     This  journey  they  were  forced  to  perfi)rm  without  other 


566  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

clothing  or  much  food.  At  Atlilone  they  were  near  being  murdered 
in  thestreet;  but  were  again  saved  from  death  by  a  man,  who  said 
he  knew  William,  and  that  he  was  a  righteous  man ;  and  who  had 
sufficient  influence  with  the  savage  rabble  to  prevent  their  deadly 
purpose.  When  brought  before  the  Governor  of  the  Castle,  and  Wil- 
liam had  made  himself  known  to  him,  tlie  former  wept  to  see  him  in 
such  a  case,  said  he  knew  him  well,  and  had  often  been  entertained 
at  his  house.  He  put  the  father  and  sons  under  the  care  of  an  offi- 
cer, and  had  them  supplied  with  bread,  meat  and  drink.  William 
continues,  "  We  lay  upon  the  bare  floor  wliich  was  very  cold  and  hard  ; 
we  wanting  clothes,  and  my  strength  being  much  spent,  I  was  not 
likely  to  continue  long,  if  the  Lord  had  not  provided  succor  for  me." 

Succor  came  through  a  Friend  named  John  Clibborn  ;  who,  hear- 
ing of  William  being  a  prisoner  at  Athlone,  went  there  at  the  risk 
of  his  own  life,  and  so  far  as  was  in  his  power,  contributed  towards 
relieving  his  necessities.  After  some  time,  this  Friend  prevailed  on 
the  Governor  —  who  was  desirous  to  release  William,  but  was  afraid 
of  the  Raparees  who  were  in  the  town  —  to  allow  him  to  take  him 
home  with  him.  William  found  that  the  Dunns,  whom  he  had  so 
greatly  befriended  at  the  risk  of  his  own  life,  having  joined  the 
Raparees,  were  become  his  bitter  enemies,  and  had  incited  the  armed 
band  to  make  this  attack  on  him.  One  of  the  sons,  who  was  a  lieu- 
tenant, having,  when  in  command  of  a  band  of  his  outlaws,  met 
William's  wife,  who  with  the  help  of  some  neighbors  was  removing 
the  leather,  &c.,  from  her  son's  tanyard,  they  seized  everything  they 
could  carry  away.  The  neighbors'escaped,  but  the  Raparees  caught 
William's  wife,  and  though  the  weather  was  cold,  and  she  far  ad- 
vanced in  years,  they  stripped  her  entirely  naked ;  in  which  con- 
dition she  was  obliged  to  walk  two  miles  before  she  could  find 
shelter.  From  this  barbarous  treatment  she  never  recovered,  but 
died  about  seven  months  after.  The  perfidious  and  ungrateful 
Dunns  met  a  quick  retribution,  being  killed  the  next  day  in  a  fight. 

William  Edmundson  continuing  a  considerable  time  at  the  home 
of  J.  Clibliorn,  a  Colonel  Bourk,  who  was  in  command  of  a  com- 
pany of  Irish,  stopping  there,  showed  great  kindness  towards  him, 
and  assured  him  he  would  procure  his  liberty  when  he  went  to 
Athlone,  for  he  believed  he  was  an  honest  man.  Accordingly,  when 
the  opportunity  presented,  he  interceded  so  effectually  with  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Athlone,  that  William  and  his  sons  were  set  at  liberty. 
William  returned  to  Mount  Melick  ;  his  dwelling-house,  on  his  farm 
at  Rosenallis,  having,  as  before  stated,  been  burned. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  567 

Part  of  the  Englisli  army  having  come  into  the  neighborhood  of 
Mount  Melick,  the  General  commanding  it,  hearing  how  greatly 
William  had  suffered,  sent  for  him  ;  and  after  conversing  with  him, 
ordered  him  to  accompany  him  to  Rosenallis  ;  and  on  arriving 
there,  a  garrison  was  quartered  in  the  town.  The  Catholics  of  the 
neighborhood,  imagining  that  William  had  been  the  means  of 
having  the  soldiers  stationed  there,  in  order  to  restrain  their  dep- 
redations, and  [)revent  them  from  harboring  their  friends,  became 
greatly  incensed  at  him.  They  resolved  to  be  revenged,  and  in 
order  to  gratify  their  vindictive  passions,  employed  several  Rap- 
arees  to  lie  in  wait  on  the  road  between  Mount  Melick  and  Rosen- 
allis, and  shoot  him  as  he  passed  along.  These  miscreants  having 
concealed  themselves,  two  of  the  neighbors  called  on  William,  pre- 
tending great  friendship  for  him,  and  earnestly  requesting  him  to 
go  to  Rosenallis,  in  order  to  use  his  influence  w-ith  the  officers 
there,  on  their  behalf;  as  they  stood  much  in  need  of  it.  Willing 
to  oblige  them,  he  would  have  gone,  but  was  hindered  by  something 
that  occurred.  Two  days  after,  they  came  again,  repeating  their 
request,  adding,  that  his  own  outhouses  were  being  destroyed.  But, 
William  says,  "  I  was  restrained  by  a  secret  Hand  that  knew  their 
evil  design,  and  would  not  suffer  me  to  fall  into  their  snare."  The 
next  morning  three  I'espeetable  men  travelling  on  the  road,  were 
murdered  by  these  ruffians,  who  then  fled  the  countiy,  and  most 
of  their  employers  or  abettors  followed  them. 

Rutty,  after  giving  several  instances  of  severe  suffering  endured 
by  Friends  in  Ireland,  and  the  manner  in  which  relief  was  often 
afforded,  states,  "  These  particulars  may  show  the  eminent,  prov- 
idential hand  of  the  Lord  over  Friends,  and  his  care  and  kindness 
to  preserve  them  in  the  midst  of  such  great  perils,  and  many  more 
might  be  instanced  ;  and  though  in  those  times,  many  of  the  Eng- 
lish neighbors  fell  by  the  hands  of  those  bloody  murderers,  yet  we 
know  of  but  four,  that  we  could  own  to  be  of  our  Society,  in  all  the 
nation,  that  fell  by  the  hands  of  cruelty ;  and  two  of  them  too  for- 
wardly  ventured  their  lives,  when  they  were  lost."  Speaking  of 
the  effect  those  severe  trials  had  upon  Friends,  he  remarks,  "  Friends 
generally  were  low  in  their  minds,  and  their  hearts  open  one  to 
another ;  so  that  those  who  had  something  left  were  willing  to  com- 
municate to  those  who  were  in  want,  and  Friends  that  were  driven 
from  their  dwellings,  did  generally  return  to  their  places ;  and  the 
National  Men's  Meeting  took  care  that  in  every  Quarter,  Friends 
should  be  supplied  for  the  present,  with  such  necessaries  as  time 


568  FRIEiVDS    IX    THE 

and  tlieir  ability  did  afford;  and  great  care  was  taken  in  Friends 
settling,  that  they  might  settle  near  together  for  the  benefit  of  meet- 
ings, to  serve  the  Lord."  Again,  in  referring  to  the  danger  to  life, 
through  which  Friends  were  obliged  to  go  to  their  religious  meet- 
ings, and  their  faithfulness  in  keeping  them  up,  he  adds,  "And  the 
Lord  was  pleased  to  accompany  tliera  in  their  meetir.gs,  with  his 
glorious,  heavenly  presence,  and  the  truth  gained  ground,  and 
Friends  came  more  into  esteem  than  formerly,  in  the  minds  of 
many,  both  rulers  and  people,  through  their  innocent,  wise  deport- 
ment in  the  fear  of  God."     [1G90.] 

George  Fox,  having  become  so  enfeebled  that  he  could  no  longer 
bear  to  make  long  journeys,  spent  the  greater  part  of  the  last  three 
years  of  his  life  in  and  around  London ;  where  he  found  the  most 
opportunity  and  convenience  for  serving  the  Society,  and  promoting 
the  spread  and  establishment  of  those  doctrines  and  testimonies,  into 
the  belief,  promulgation  and  support  of  which,  he  and  his  fellow- 
laborers  had  been  led,  by  the  unerring  Spirit  of  Truth.  During 
this  time,  when  not  otherwise  engaged,  he  continued  to  employ  his 
pen  ;  writing  many  epistles  and  exhortations  for  the  preservation  of 
the  members  in  the  practical  illustration  of  the  principles  they  pro- 
fessed, and  for  the  edification  of  the  Church.  He  was  particularly 
concerned,  that  Friends  should  not  be  caught  with  the  teaching 
of  those  who  had  not  experienced  in  themselves,  the  transforming 
w-orking  of  Divine  Grace,  the  Power  of  God  unto  Salvation.  In 
one  of  his  addresses,  he  says,  "Doth  not  all  that  which  is  called 
Christendom,  live  in  talking  of  Christ's  aud  of  his  Ajjostles'  words, 
and  the  letter  of  the  Scriptures?  and  do  not  their  priests  minister 
the  letter,  with  their  own  conception  thereon,  for  money  ?  though 
the  Holy  Scriptures  were  freely  given  forth  from  God  and  Christ, 
and  his  i)rophets  and  apostles.  Yet  the  Apostle  says,  2d  Cor.  iii, 
6:  'The  letter  killeth  ;  but  the  Spirit  giveth  life.'  The  ministers 
of  the  New  Testament  are  not  ministers  of  the  letter,  but  of  the 
Spirit,  and  they  sow  to  the  Spirit,  and  of  the  Spirit  reap  life  eternal. 
But  people  spending  time  about  old  authors,  and  talking  of  them 
and  of  the  outward  letter,  this  doth  not  feed  their  souls.  For  talk- 
ing of  victuals  and  clothes  doth  not  clothe  the  body,  nor  feed  it. 
No  more  are  their  souls  and  spirits  fed  and  clothed,  except  they 
have  the  bread  and  water  of  life  from  heaven  to  feed  them,  and  the 
righteousness  of  Christ  to  clothe  them.  Talking  of  outward  things 
and  spiritual  things,  and  not  having  them,  may  starve  both  their 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  569 

bodies  and  souls:  thei-efore  queuch  not  the  Spirit  of  God,  wliicli 
will  lead  to  be  diligent  in  all  things." 

He  was  interested  in  the  effort  made  by  Friends,  to  have  the  Act 
of  Toleration  so  framed  as  to  give  them  relief,  as  well  as  other  Dis- 
senters ;  and  as  his  strength  would  allow,  he  took  part  in  the  differ- 
ent affairs  of  the  Society,  as  brought  to  view  in  the  central  posi- 
tion he  occupied.  The  Yearly  Meeting  in  London  of  1G89,  he 
speaks  of  as  "A  very  solemn,  weighty  meeting  ;  the  Lord,  as  formerly, 
visiting  his  people,  and  honoring  the  assembly  with  his  glorious 
presence,  to  the  great  satisfaction  and  comfort  of  Friends."  When 
in  London  he  generally  attended  all  the  meetings  in  regular  course  ; 
but  the  atmosphere  of  the  city  so  affected  him,  that  after  a  short 
tarriauce,  he  was  obliged  to  go  to  one  or  other  of  his  step-sons-in- 
law  to  recruit.  Li  1690,  observing  that  some  of  the  younger  mem- 
bers were  indulging  in  some  of  the  fashions  of  the  world,  and  some 
among  those  advanced  in  years  devoting  their  time  and  talents  to 
accumulating  wealth,  he  says,  "  I  was  moved  to  give  forth  the  fol- 
lowing paper,  as  a  reproof  to  such,  and  an  exhortation  and  warning 
to  all  Friends,  to  beware  of,  and  keep  out  of  those  snares." 

"  To  all  that  profess  the  truth  of  God.  My  desires  are  that  you 
walk  humbly  in  it;  for  when  the  Lord  first  called  me  forth.  He  let 
me  see  that  young  people  grew  up  together  in  vanity  and  the  fashions 
of  the  world,  and  old  people  went  downwards  into  the  earth,  raking 
it  together;  and  to  both  these  I  w^as  to  be  a  stranger.  And  now, 
Friends,  I  do  see  too  many  young  people  that  profess  the  truth,  grow 
up  into  the  fashions  of  the  world,  and  too  many  parents  indulge 
them  ;  and  amongst  the  elder  some  are  declining  downwards  and 
raking  after  the  earth.  Therefore,  take  heed  that  you  are  not  mak- 
ing your  graves  while  you  are  alive  outwardly,  and  loading  your- 
selves with  thick  clay,  Hab.  ii.  6.  For  if  you  have  not  power  over 
the  earthly  spirit,  and  that  which  leadeth  into  a  vain  mind,  and  the 
fashions  of  the  world,  and  into  the  earth  ;  though  you  have  often 
had  the  rain  fall  upon  your  fields,  you  will  but  bring  forth  thistles, 
briers,  and  thorns,  which  are  for  the  fire.  Such  will  become  brittle, 
peevish,  fretful  spirits,  that  will  not  abide  the  heavenly  doctrine,  the 
admonitions,  exhortations,  and  reproofs  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  or  heav- 
enly Spirit  of  God ;  which  would  bring  you  to  be  conf  )rmable  to 
the  death  of  Christ,  and  to  hi.s  image,  that  ye  might  have  fellowship 
with  Him  in  his  resurrection.  Therefore  it  is  good  for  all  to  bow 
to  the  name  ejf  Jesus,  their  Saviour,  that  all  may  confess  Him  to  the 
glory  of  God  the  Father.     For  I  have  had  a  concern  upon  me  in 


570  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

a  sense  of  the  danger  of  young  people's  going  into  the  fa.<hion.s  of 
the  worhl,  and  old  people's  going  into  the  earth,  and  many  going 
into  a  loose  and  false  liberty,  till  at  last  they  go  quite  out  into  the 
spirit  of  the  world,  as  some  have  done.  The  Inaise  of  such  hath  been 
built  upon  the  sand  on  the  sea-shore,  not  upon  Christ  the  Rock ; 
that  are  so  soon  in  the  world  again,  under  a  pretence  of  liberty  of 
conscience.  But  it  is  not  a  pure  conscience,  nor  in  the  Spirit  of 
God,  nor  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  for  in  the  liberty  in  the  Spirit  there  is 
the  unity,  which  is  the  bond  of  peace ;  and  all  are  one  in  Christ 
Jesus,  in  whom  is  the  true  liberty:  and  this  is  not  of  the  world,  for 
He  is  not  of  the  world.  Therefore  all  are  to  stand  fast  in  Hira,  as 
they  have  received  Him  ;  for  in  Him  there  is  peace,  who  is  the 
Prince  of  Peace,  but  in  the  world  there  is  trouble.  For  the  spirit 
of  the  world  is  a  troublesome  spirit,  but  the  Spirit  of  Christ  is  a 
peaceable  Spirit:  in  which  God  Almighty  preserve  all  the  fiiithful, 
Amen.  G-  F. 

"Gooses,  the  1st  of  the  Second  month,  1G90." 

Having  again  attended  the  Yearly  Meeting  held  in  the  Fourth 
month  of  1690,  he  remarks  of  it,  "The  Lord's  wonted  goodness  was 
witnessed,  his  blessed  presence  enjoyed,  and  his  heaveidy  power 
livingly  felt,  opening  the  hearts  of  his  people  unto  Him,  and  his 
divine  treasures  of  life  and  wisdom  in  and  unto  them ;  whereby 
many  useful  and  uecessai-y  things  relating  to  the  safety  of  Friends, 
and  the  honor  and  prosperity  of  truth,  were  weightily  treated  of, 
and  unanimously  concluded." 

Cheering  and  consoling  must  it  have  been  to  this  valiant  and  un- 
wearied soldier  of  the  cross,  now  rapidly  descending  to  the  grave,  to 
be  able  to  use  the  following  language  in  the  closing  paragraph  of  the 
last  epistle  he  wrote ;  which  was  addressed  to  his  "  Dear  Friends 
and  Brethren  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,"  in  Ireland  ;  who  were  then 
suffering  grievously,  as  has  been  related.  "  As  for  the  afiairs  of 
Truth  in  this  land  and  abroad,  I  hear  that  in  Holland  and  Ger- 
many and  thereaway.  Friends  are  in  love,  unity  and  peace ;  and  in 
Jamaica,  Barbadoes,  Nevis,  Antigua,  Maryland  and  New  England, 
I  hear  nothing,  but  that  Friends  are  in  unity  and  peace.  The  Lord 
preserve  them  all  out  of  the  world,  (in  which  there  is  trouble)  in- 
Christ  Jesus,  in  whom   there  is  peace,  life,  love  and  unity,  Amen." 

The  following  account  of  the  closing  hours,  death,  and  burial  of 
George  Fox  is  given  at  the  conclusion  of  his  Journal,  and  probably 
was  drawn  up  by  Thomas  Ellwood,  who  prepared  the  Journal  for 
the  press : 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  571 

"The  next  day,  after  he  had  written  the  foregoing  epistle  to 
Friends  in  Ireland,  he  went  to  the  meeting  at  Grace-church  Street, 
vvliich  was  large  (it  being  on  the  First-day  of  the  week:)  and  the 
Lord  enabled  him  to  preach  the  truth  fully  and  effectually,  opening 
many  deep  and  weighty  things  with  great  power  and  clearness. 
After  which  having  prayed,  and  the  meeting  being  ended,  he  went 
to  Henry  Gouldney's  (a  Frienil's  liouse  in  White-hart  Court,  near 
the  meetinghouse):  and  some  Friends  going  with  him,  he  told 
them,  'He  thought  he  felt  the  cold  strike  to  his  heart,  as  he  came 
out  of  the  meeting ; '  yet  added,  '  I  am  glad  I  was  here  ;  now  I  am 
clear,  I  am  fully  clear.'  As  soon  as  those  Friends  were  withdrawn, 
he  laid  down  upon  a  bed,  as  he  sometimes  used  to  do,  through  wea- 
riness after  a  meeting,  but  soon  rose  again  ;  and  in  a  little  time  laid 
down  again,  complaining  still  of  cold.  And  his  strength  sensibly 
decaying,  he  was  fain  soon  after  to  go  into  the  bed  ;  where  he  lay 
in  much  contentment  and  peace,  and  very  sensible  to  the  last. 
And  as,  in  the  whole  course  of  his  life,  his  spirit,  in  the  universal 
love  of  God,  was  set  and  bent  for  the  exaltina;  of  truth  and  riaht- 
eousness,  and  the  making  known  the  way  thereof  to  the  nations  and 
people  afar  off;  so  now,  in  the  time  of  his  outward  weakness,  his 
mind  was  intent  upon,  and  wholly  taken  up  with  that:  and  he  sent 
for  some  particular  Friends,  to  whom  he  expressed  his  mind,  and 
desire  for  the  spreading  Friends'  books,  and  truth  thereby  in  the 
world.  Divers  Friends  came  to  visit  him  in  his  illness,  unto  some 
of  whom  he  said,  '  All  is  well :  the  Seed  of  God  reigns  over  all,  and 
over  death  itself.  And  though,'  said  he,  '  I  am  weak  in  body  ;  yet 
the  power  of  God  is  over  all,  and  the  Seed  reigns  over  all  disorderly 
spirits.'  Thus  lying  in  a  heavenly  frame  of  mind,  his  spirit  wholly 
exercised  towards  the  Lord,  he  grew  weaker  and  weaker  in  his 
natural  strength  ;  and  on  the  third  day  of  that  week,  between  the 
hours  of  nine  and  ten  in  the  evening,  he  quietly  departed  this  life 
in  peace,  and  sweetly  fell  asleep  in  the  Lord  ;  whose  blessed  truth 
he  had  livingly  and  powerfully  preached  in  the  meeting  but  two 
days  before.  Thus  ended  he  his  day  in  his  faithful  testimony,  in 
perfect  love  and  unity  with  his  brethren,  and  in  peace  and  good- 
will to  all  men,  on  the  loth  of  the  Eleventh  month,  1690,  being 
then  in  the  67th  year  of  his  age. 

"Upon  the  16th  of  the  same  month  (being  the  sixth  of  the  week, 
and'  the  day  appointed  for  his  funeral),  a  very  great  conc^ourse  of 
Friends,  and  other  peo[)le  of  divers  sorts,  assembled  together  at  the 
meeting-house  in  White-hart  Court,  near  Grace-church  Street,  about 


572  fkip:xds   in   the 

tho  middle-time  of  tlie  day,  in  order  to  attend  his  body  to  the  o-rave. 
The  meeting  was  held  about  two  hours,  with  great  and  heavenly 
solemnity,  manifestly  attended  with  the  Lord's  blessed  presence  and 
glorious  power;  in  which  divers  living  testimonies  were  delivered, 
from  a  lively  remembrance  and  sense  of  the  blessed  ministry  of  this 
dear  and  ancient  servant  of  the  Lord,  his  early  entering  into  the 
Lord's  work  at  the  breaking  forth  of  this  gospel  day,  his  iunocent 
life,  long  and  great  travels,  and  unwearied  labors  of  love  in  the 
everlasting  gospel,  for  the  turning  and  gathering  many  thousands 
from  darkness  to  the  light  of  Christ  Jesus,  the  foundation  of  true 
feith  ;  the  manifold  sufferings,  afflictions,  and  oppositions,  which  he 
met  withal  for  his  faithful  testimony,  both  from  his  open  adversarie,-? 
and  from  false  brethren  ;  and  his  preservations,  deliverances,  and 
dominion  in,  out  of,  and  over  them  all,  by  the  power  of  God ;  to 
whom  the  glory  and  honor  always  was  by  him,  and  is  and  always 
ought  to  be  by  all,  ascribed. 

"  After  the  meeting  was  ended,  his  body  was  borne  by  Friends, 
and  accompanied  by  very  great  numbers,  to  Friends'  burying-ground 
near  Buuhill  fields ;  where,  after  a  solemn  waiting  upon  the  Lord, 
and  several  living  testimonies  borne,  recommending  the  company 
to  the  guidance  and  protection  of  that  Divine  Spirit  ai]d  Power,  by 
which  this  holy  man  of  God  had  been  raised  up,  furnished,  sup- 
ported, and  preserved  to  the  end  of  his  day,  his  body  was  decently 
committed  to  the  earth  ;  but  his  memorial  shall  remain,  and  be 
everlastingly  blessed  among  the  righteous." 

George  Fox  left  a  package,  with  the  superscription,  "  Not  to  be 
opened  before  the  time;"  which,  being  examined  after  his  death, 
Avas  found  to  be  an  epistle,  addressed,  "  For  all  the  children  of  God, 
everywhere,  who  are  led  by  his  Spirit,  and  walk  in  his  Light ;  in 
which  they  have  life,  unity,  and  fellowship  with  the  Father,  and 
the  Son,  and  one  with  another."     It  is  as  follows : 

"Keep  all  your  meetings  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  that  be 
gathered  in  his  name,  by  his  light,  grace,  truth,  power  and  Spirit; 
by  wdiich  you  will  feel  his  blessed  and  refreshing  presence  among 
you  and  in  you,  to  your  comfort,  and  God's  glory. 

"And  now,  Friends,  all  your  meetings,  both  men's  and  women's 
Monthly,  Quarterly,  and  Yearly,  &c.,  were  set  up  by  the  power, 
Spirit,  and  wisdom  of  God  ;  and  in  them  you  know  that  you  have 
felt  his  power,  and  Spirit,  and  wisdom,  and  blessed  refreshing  pres- 
ence among  you,  and  in  you,  to  his  praise  and  glory,  and  your  com- 
fort: so  that  you  have  been  a  '  city  set  on  a  hill,  that  cannot  be  hid.' 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  573 

"  And  although  many  loose  aild  unruly  spirits  have  risen  betimes 
to  oppose  you  and  them,  in  print  and  other  ways,  you  have  seen 
how  they  have  come  to  nought.  The  Lord  hath  blasted  them, 
brought  their  deeds  to  light,  and  made  them  manifest  to  be  trees 
without  fruit,  wells  without  water,  wandering  stars  from  the  firma- 
ment of  God's  power,  and  raging  waves  of  the  sea,  casting  up  their 
mire  and  dirt ;  and  many  of  them  are  like  the  dog  turned  to  his  old 
vomit,  and  the' sow  that  was  washed,  turned  again  to  the  mire.  This 
hath  been  the  condition  of  many,  God  knoweth,  and  his  people. 

"  Therefore  all  stand  steadfast  in  Christ  Jesus,  your  Head,  in 
whom  you  are  all  one,  male  and  female,  and  know  his  government; 
of  the  increase  of  whose  government  and  peace  there  shall  be  uo 
end  ;  but  there  will  be  an  end  of  the  devil's,  and  of  all  that  are  out 
of  Christ,  who  oppose  it  and  him,  whose  judgment  doth  not  linger, 
and  their  damnation  doth  not  slumber.  Therefore  in  God  and 
Christ's  light,  life.  Spirit,  and  power,  live  and  walk,  that  is  over  all 
(and  the  Seed  of  it)  in  love,  in  innoceucy,  and  simplicity.  In 
righteousness  and  holiness  dwell,  and  in  his  power  and  Holy  Ghost, 
in  which  God's  kingdom  doth  stand.  All  children  of  new  and 
heavenly  Jerusalem,  that  is  from  above,  and  is  free,  with  all  her 
holy,  spiritual  children,  to  her  keep  your  eyes. 

"As  for  this  spirit  of  rebellion  and  opposition,  that  hath  risen 
formerly  and  lately,  it  is  out  of  the  kingdom  of  God  and  heavenly 
Jerusalem ;  and  is  for  judgment  and  condemnation,  with  all  its 
books,  words,  and  works.  Therefore  Friends  are  to  live  and  walk 
in  the  power  and  Spirit  of  God  that  is  over  it,  and  in  the  Seed  that 
will  bruise  and  break  it  to  pieces.  In  which  Seed  you  have  joy  and 
peace  with  God,  and  power  and  authority  to  judge  it ;  and  your 
unity  is  in  the  power  and  Spirit  of  God,  that  doth  judge  it;  all  God's 
witnesses  in  his  tabernacle  go  out  against  it,  and  always  have  and  will. 

"  Let  no  man  live  to  self,  but  to  the  Lord,  as  they  will  die  in 
Him  ;  and  seek  the  peace  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  the  peace 
of  all  men  in  Him:  for  'blessed  are  the  peacemakers.'  Dwell  in 
the  pure,  peaceable,  heavenly  wisdom  of  God,  that  is  gentle,  and 
easy  to  be  entreated,  that  is  full  of  mercy ;  all  striving  to  be  of  one 
mind,  heari,  soul,  and  judgment  in  Christ,  having  his  mind  and 
Spirit  dwelling  in  you,  building  up  one  another  in  the  love  of  God, 
which  doth  edify  the  body  of  Christ,  his  Church,  who  is  the  holy 
Head  thereof.  Glory  to  God  through  Christ,  in  this  age  and  all 
other  ages,  who  is  the  Rock  and  Foundation,  the  Emanuel,  God 
with  us.  Amen,  over  all,  the  beginning  and  the  ending.     In  Him 


574  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

live  and  walk,  in  whom  you  have  life  eternal ;  in  Him  you  will  feel 
nie,  and  I  you. 

"  All  children  of  New  Jerusalem,  that  descends  from  above,  the 
holy  city,  which  the  Lord  and  the  Lamb  is  the  light  of,  and  is  the 
temple ;  in  it  they  are  born  again  of  the  Spirit :  so  Jerusalem  that 
is  above,  is  the  mother  of  them  that  are  born  of  the  Spirit.  These 
that  come  and  are  come  to  heavenly  Jerusalem,  receive  Christ;  and 
He  giveth  them  power  to  become  the  sons  of  God ;  and  they  are 
born  again  of  the  Spirit :  so  Jerusalem  that  is  above,  is  their 
mother.  Such  come  to  heavenly  Mount  Siou,  and  the  innumerable 
company  of  angels,  to  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect,  and  to 
the  Church  of  the  Living  God  written  in  heaven,  and  have  the  name 
of  God  written  upon  them.  So  here  is  a  new  mother,  that  bringeth 
forth  a  heavenly  and  spiritual  generation. 

"There  is  no  schism,  no  division,  no  contention,  nor  strife  in 
heavenly  Jerusalem,  nor  in  the  body  of  Christ,  which  is  made  up 
of  living  stones,  a  spiritual  house.  Christ  is  not  divided,  for  in 
Him  there  is  peace.  Christ  sayeth,  '  In  me  you  have  peace.'  And 
He  is  from  above,  and  not  of  this  world ;  but  in  the  world  below, 
in  the  spirit  of  it,  there  is  trouble ;  therefore  keep  in  Christ,  and 
walk  in  Him.     Amen.  G.  F. 

"Jerusalem  was  the  mother  of  all  true  Ciiristians  before  the 
apostasy ;  and  since  the  outward  Christians  are  broken  into  many 
sects,  they  have  got  many  mothers ;  but  all  those  that  are  come  out 
of  the  apostasy  by  the  power  and  spirit  of  Christ,  Jerusalem  that  is 
above  is  their  mother  (and  none  below  her)  ;  who  doth  nourish  all 
her  spiritual  children.  G.  F." 

"Read  at  the  Yearly  Meeting,  in  London,  1691." 

In  this  year  (1690),  the  Society  met  wnth  another  great  loss  by 
the  death  of  John  Burnyeat ;  who,  as  has  been  seen,  was  a  faithful 
and  laborious  servant  in  the  Church  of  Christ :  of  whom  his  friends 
testify,  that  "  Being  called  by  Grace  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord, 
his  truth  and  power,  and  receiving  the  same  in  faith,  love  and  obe- 
dience, came  to  witness  the  effectual  working  thereof,  to  his  sancti- 
ficatiou  ;  and  so  became  a  vessel  of  honor,  fitted  for  his  Master's  use, 
even  Christ,  and  learned  to  rule  his  own  house  well ;  in  washing  first 
the  inside,  and  the  outside  appearing  clean  also."  "  He  was  a  man 
of  an  excellent  spirit,  and  of  deep  experience  in  the  things  of  God 
and  mysteries  of  his  kingdom ;  which  were  richly  made  manifest 
unto  him,  and  it  was  his  delight  to  be  meditating  therein  ;  whereby 


SEVEXTEEXTH     CENTURY.  575 

his  experience  was  daily  increased  unto  the  conclusion  of  his  days." 
"  He  did  greatly  delight  to  read  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  would 
often,  and  with  great  earnestness,  advise  Friends  frequently  to  read 
the  same,  and  the  young  and  tender  in  years  more  especially ;  as 
also  Friends'  books,  wherein  the  principles  of  truth  were  treated  of; 
that  so  none  might  be  ignorant  of  the  principles  of  the  true  Chris- 
tian religion,  now  again  preached  and  clearly  held  forth." 

He  had  for  some  years  resided  in  Ireland,  and  being  out  on  a 
religious  visit,  after  attending  the  Monthly  Meeting  at  New  Garden, 
he  came  to  the  house  of  John  Watson,  where  he  was  taken  ill ;  his 
last  sickness  continuing  twelve  days.  He  was  entirely  sensible 
throughout  the  whole  time ;  saying,  "  He  was  finely  at  ease ;  and 
quiet  in  his  spirit."  To  his  friend  J.  "Watson,  he  observed,  "That 
he  ever  loved  the  Lord,  and  the  Lord  loved  him  from  his  youth, 
and  he  felt  his  love."  He  deceased  in  the  Seventh  month,  in  the 
sixtieth  year  of  his  age,  "And  is  gone  to  his  rest  with  the  Lord,  and 
his  works  follow  him." 

Thomas  Salthouse  also  departed  this  life  in  1690.  He  was  an  in- 
mate of  the  family  of  Judge  Fell,  when  George  Fox  made  his  first 
visit  there,  in  1652,  and  with  William  Caton,  was  convinced  by  his 
powerful  ministry;  and  having  embraced  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus, 
and  allowed  the  transforming  power  of  Divine  Grace  to  crucify  the 
"  old  man  and  his  deeds,"  and  to  bring  forth  the  new  man  created 
unto  holiness,  he  remained  faithful  throughout  the  many  suflferings 
he  had  to  endure,  for  the  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness;  finish- 
ing his  course  with  joy,  prepared  to  enter  into  the  rest  and  peace  of 
heaven. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Troubles  of  AVillium  Penn — Seclusion  of  W.  P. — W.  P.  acquitted  —  Death  of 
S.  Crisp  —  Account  of  John  Eichardson — Account  of  Thomas  Story  —  Ac- 
count of  Thomas  Chalkley  —  Relief  to  Friends  in  Barbadoes  —  Increase  of 
Friends  in  Pennsylvania — Trials  of  Friends  in  Pennsylvania  on  account  of 
Military  demands — Remonstrance  against  Slavery  by  Friends  at  German- 
town —  Friends  and  Slavery  —  Yearly  Meeting  of  Pennsylvania  and  New 
Jersey  —  Hai-niony  among  Friends. 

NOTWITHSTAXDTNG  the  alienation  of  the  kindly  feelings  of 
the  people,  l)y  the  impolitic  course  pursued  by  James,  and  their 
apj)arentdelcnnin!iti()n  to  maintain  William  and  Mary  on  the  throne, 


576  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

the  self-exiled  monarch  resolved  to  continue  whatever  effort  he  could 
make,  with  the  assistance  of  his  friend  Louis  XIV.,  to  regain  the 
crown  of  Great  Britain.  There  were  many  who  had  stood  high  in 
State  and  Church,  who  refused  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
reigning  royal  pair.  These  were  termed  Nonjurors  and  Jacobites, 
and  intrigues  and  covert  conspiracias  were,  for  a  long  time,  rife 
among  them.  Naturally,  this  gave  rise  to  suspicion  and  distrust  on 
the  part  of  the  party  in  power.  From  this  cause  AVilliam  Penn 
was  subjected  to  no  little  trouble;  his  intimacy  with  the  former 
King  affording  ground  to  prejudice  the  minds  of  many  against  him. 
He  liad  already  been  arrested  and  discharged,  there  being  no  spe- 
cific charge  brought  against  him.  But  some  letters  from  James 
having  been  intercepted,  among  them  was  found  one  addressed  to 
him.  He  was  again  brought  before  the  Privy  Council,  and  some  of 
those  present,  saying  the  circumstances  required  sureties  from  liiui, 
he  urgently  requested  to  be  allowed  to  appear  before  King  William 
himself  This  was  granted,  and  after  a  conference  of  two  hours,  the 
King  was  prepared  to  acquit  him  of  being  implicated  in  any  trea- 
sonable correspondence  with  James.  Some  of  the  Council,  however, 
were  not  satisfied  without  bail  being  given  to  appear  at  Court.  On 
coming  before  the  Court,  he  was  again  discharged.  While  King 
William  was  conducting  the  campaign  in  Ireland,  where  James  was 
at  the  head  of  an  army,  fighting  for  possession  of  that  Island,  a  con- 
spiracy in  f:\vor  of  the  latter  was  discovered,  originating  in  Scotland. 
Queen  Mary  ordered  the  seizure  of  many  supposed  to  be  hostile  to  the 
government,  and  among  them  William  Penn  was  again  included. 
How  long  he  was  detained  does  not  appear,  but  at  the  Michaelmas 
term  of  the  Court  (1690),  he  was  once  more  cleared  of  any  com- 
plicity with  the  opponents  of  the  government.  For  many  months 
he  had  been  making  preparation  to  revisit  Pennsylvania,  and  on  his 
discharge,  he  hastened  to  have  every  thing  ready  to  embark  ;  but 
before  he  could  complete  his  arrangements;  he  was  again  brought 
into  difficulty,  more  serious  than  at  any  time  before,  on  account  of 
his  connection  with  the  Court  of  King  James.  King  William  had 
crossed  over  to  Holland,  to  be  present  at  a  Congress  held  at  the 
Hague,  and  his  absence  emboldened  the  disaffected  to  enter  into 
another  plot,  for  restoring  James,  who  was  then  at  the  Court  of- 
Louis  XIV.  Two  of  their  number  started  to  cross  the  channel, 
and  ha-.-e  an  interview  with  their  absent  Sovereign ;  but  the  plot 
was  discovered,  and  these  emissaries,  with  their  papers,  seized.  One 
of  them  was  hung,  the  other,  in  order  to  save  his  life,  gave  testi- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  577 

raony  against  sev^eral  of  the  nobility,  and  implicated  William  Penn 
in  the  cons«piracy.  A  warrant  for  his  arrest  was  issued,  and  on  his 
return  from  tlie  funeral  of  George  Fox,  he  narrowly  escaped  once 
more  being  made  a  prisoner. 

In  what  manner  he  was  said  to  be  connected  with  the  conspiracy, 
or  what  was  the  specific  charge  brought  against  him,  is  nowhere 
clearly  stated  ;  but  as  Lord  Preston  —  one  of  the  captured  messen- 
gers—  declared  he  was  one  of  the  plotters,  and  a  man  of  the  name 
of  William  Fuller,  swore  to  the  correctness  of  Preston's  statement, 
the  matter  nssumed  a  serious  aspect.  As  the  origin  of  the  plot  was 
believed  to  have  been  among  the  Catholics,  the  same  misrepresenta- 
tions of  Penn  being  a  Jesuit  in  disguise,  were  again  brought  for- 
ward, and  the  passions  of  the  people  being  much  inflamed  against 
the  intriguing  Papists,  it  was  thought  a  fair  trial  could  not  be  ob- 
tained for  him.  Under  these  circumstances,  some  accounts  repre- 
sent that  William  Penn  voluntarily  secluded  himself  where  he 
could  not  be  easily  seen  ;  waiting  until  a  time  should  arrive  when 
he  might  have  a  fair  opportunity  to  clear  himself;  while  others 
state,  that  having  been  examined  before  the  Privy  Council,  he  was 
ordered  to  remain  a  prisoner  in  his  own  house,  under  surveillance. 
The  latter  is  the  more  probable,  as  he  could  hardly  have  sup})Osed 
he  could  escape  the  search  the  government  would  make  for  him  ;  es- 
pecially as  he  kept  up  intercourse  with  his  friends.  Thus,  in  the 
Third  month  of  1691,  he  addressed  an  epistle  to  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing in  London,  in  order  to  remove  any  unfavorable  impression  that 
might  have  been  made  in  the  miads  of  his  brethren  by  his  forced 
seclusion.  In  this  he  says,  "  My  privacy  is  not  because  men  have 
sworn  truly,  but  falsely  against  me  :  for  wicked  men  have  laid  in 
wait  for  me,  and  false  v.'itnesses  have  laid  to  my  charge  things  that 
I  knew  not ;  who  have  never  sought  myself,  but  the  good  of  all, 
through  great  exercises  ;  and  have  done  some  good,  and  would  have 
done  more,  and  hurt  to  no  man  ;  but  always  desired  that  truth  and 
righteousness,  mercy  and  peace,  might  take  place  amongst  us." 

During  his  retirement  he  employed  his  pen  diligently,  producing 
several  works  of  much  value.  The  refusal  of  Friends  in  Pennsyl- 
vania to  contribute  money  for  the  erection  of  forts  or  for  other 
military  purposes,  had  given  great  offence  to  the  home  government, 
and  the  enemies  of  Penn  took  advantage  of  this,  and  of  the  position 
he  was  now  in,  with  charges  of  treason  hanging  over  him,  to  obtain 
an  order  from  the  King  and  Council,  in  the  early  part  of  1692,  to 
annex  the  government  of  Pennsylvania  to  that  of  New  York,  then 
37 


578  FHIENDS    IN    THE 

presided  over  by  Colonel  Fletcher.  Peiiii  remained  shut  out  from 
the  world,  and  deprived  of  opportunity  to  serve  the  cause  of  truth 
and  righteousness,  and  his  brethren  of  the  same  faith,  except  by  his 
pen,  for  more  than  two  years ;  his  character  stained  in  the  estima- 
tion of  some,  and  his  valuable  services  forgotten  by  many  others, 
wdio,  perhaps,  thought  he  had  indeed  fallen  to  rise  no  more.  But 
tliere  were  men  of  eminence,  who  had  never  believed  William  Perm 
guilty  of  the  crime  laid  to  his  charge,  and  were  awaiting  the  right 
opportunity  to  have  justice  done  to  his  position  and  character. 
Among  these  was  the  celebrated  John  Locke,  who  esteemed  him, 
not  only  as  a  man  of  exalted  virtue  and  great  literary  attainment, 
but  as  a  personal  friend.  He  applied  to  King  William  for  a  pardon  ; 
but  William  Penn  was  too  conscious  of  innocence,  and  too  fully  per- 
suaded that  in  due  time  his  innocence  would  be  made  manifest  to 
the  world,  to  be  willing  to  accept  of  any  release  that  would  imply 
he  had  been  guilty.  In  the  meantime,  Lord  Preston,  who  had 
made  the  charge  against  him,  had  fled  the  country,  and  Fuller,  his 
witness,  having  been  detected  in  perjury,  was,  by  order  of  Parlia- 
ment, tried  as  an  impostor,  in  the  Court  of  the  King's  Bench,  found 
guilty,  and  sentenced  to  stand  in  the  pillory.  Lords  Ranelagh, 
Rochester,  and  Sydney,  now  waited  on  the  King,  and  stating  that 
the  name  of  William  Penn  had  never  been  fonnd  in  any  of  the 
letters  or  papers  connected  with  the  conspiracy,  and  that  the  charge 
against  him  rested  solely  on  the  accusation  of  two  men  who  were 
known  to  be  unworthy  of  belief,  urged  upon  him  the  injustice  and 
hardship  of  his  case.  The  King  appears  to  have  heard  them  pa- 
tiently, and  replied  that  William  Penn  was  an  old  acquaintance  of 
his ;  that  he  had  nothing  to  allege  against  him,  and  that  he  might 
follow  his  business  as  freely  as  ever.  Afterwards,  the  King  gave 
an  order  to  the  principal  Secretary  of  State  for  his  freedom  ;  which 
was  communicated  to  him  in  the  presence  of  the  Marquis  of  Win- 
chester. He,  however,  sought  and  obtained  a  hearing  before  the 
Privy  Council  ;  and  after  a  full  examination  of  the  charges,  he  was 
honorably  acquitted.  The  cloud  that  had  long  obscured  his  stand- 
ing and  services  was  now  dispelled,  and  he  returned  to  his  flimily 
and  friends,  to  resume  the  position  he  had  before  attained  in  the 
church,  and  in  civil  society.  His  wife  survived  his  release  but 
little  more  tiian  two  months. 

In  1692,  the  Church  lost  one  of  its  most  valuable  and  deeply  ex- 
perienced members,  by  the  death  of  Stephen  Crisp.  He  had  been 
an  indefatio-able  and  efficient  laborer  in  his  Master's  work  and  ser- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  579 

vice,  ever  since  his  couvineement  by  the  youthful  J.  Parnel,  in  1655; 
continuing  until  near  the  close  of  his  life,  to  promulgate  the  truths 
of  the  Gospel  as  held  by  Friends,  and  to  enclose  all  whom  he  could 
gather,  within  the  Gospel  net.  lie  was  a  copious  writer ;  many  of 
his  epistles  and  addresses  evincing  the  depth  of  his  knowledge  in 
the  mysteries  of  Christ's  kingdom,  and  retaining  a  savor  that  makes 
them  still  refreshing  as  well  as  instructive  to  the  true  believer.  He 
attended  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  London,  and  was  shortly  after  taken 
ill.  Removing  to  Wandsworth,  he  continued  suffering  from  the 
inroads  of  disease,  until  the  28th  of  the  Sixth  month,  when  he  de- 
parted this  life,  in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of  his  age ;  laying  down  his 
head  in  peace  with  the  Lord.  His  friends  testify  of  him,  "  He  was 
zealously  and  conscientiously  affected  for  the  peace  and  prosperity 
of  Friends  in  every  place ;  and  for  that  cause  diligently  labored 
among  them  ;  and  when  he  was  not  able  to  ride  or  travel  much,  by 
reason  of  his  distemper,  as  in  former  days,  be  continued  cliiefly 
in  the  town  of  Colchester,  and  in  the  city  of  London,  in  the  Lord's 
work  and  service,  as  long  as  strength  and  ability  of  body  lasted." 
.  .  .  .  "  He  would  often  call  to  the  people,  to  come  and  try  the 
sufficiency  of  the  Grace  of  God,  a  measure  of  which  was  committed 
to  them  ;  and  whether  it  was  not  able  to  save  from  sin  ;  yea,  to  the 
utmost,  all  such  as  received  and  obeyed  it.  He  divided  the  word 
aright,  and  turned  many  from  darkness  to  light:  many  mourners 
have  been  comforted  by  him ;  and  many  tender-hearted  helped 
through  their  inward  exercises  and  conflicts  of  spirit ;  and  he  hath 
been  a  strength  to  them  in  their  spiritual  warfare." 

While  most  of  those  who  had  been  called  and  had  given  them- 
selves up  to  the  work,  in  the  first  breaking  forth  of  the  Lord's  light 
and  power  for  the  gathering  of  the  Society,  were  being  taken  from 
works  to  rewards,  others  were  being  brought  into  the  service,  and 
entrusted  with  gifts  for  the  spread  of  the  truth  and  the  edification 
of  the  Church.  It  is  instructive  to  observe,  that  the  experiences  of 
these,  in  the  way  and  work  of  religion,  the  transformation  from  a 
state  of  nature  to  a  state  of  grace,  and  of  accejjtance  as  true  disci- 
ples of  Christ,  as  left  on  record  by  several  of  them,  correspond  in  all 
respects  with  those  of  the  eminent  servants  to  whom  reference  has 
already  been  made;  showing  that  the  ways  of  the  Most  High  are 
equal,  and  that  they  wlio  enter  the  kingdom  of  righteousness  and 
peace,  must  go  in  by  Christ  tlie  door,  wearing  his  yoke  and  bearing 
the  daily  cross.  As  they  thus  come  to  do  the  will  of  their  Father 
in  heaven,  they  obtain  a  practical  knowledge  of  the  doctrine  that 


580  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

is  of  Him  ;  and  tlui?  these  new  converts  came  to  understand  and 
adopt  the  doctrines  and  testimonies  which  Friends  had  promulgated 
from  the  beginning. 

Joliu  Richardson  was  born  of  parents  who  had  joined  Friends 
from  convincemeut — his  father  being  a  minister — and  was  educated, 
while  young,  with  care.     He  was  early  sensible  of  the  strivings  of 
the  Huly  Spirit,  to  keep  him  from  evil,  and  lead  him  in  the  way  of 
life  and  salvation.     His  father  dying   when  he  was  but  thirteen 
years  of  age,  and  his  mother  marrying  a  second  husband,  who  was 
a  Presbyterian,  he  was   left  very  much  to   pursue  his  own  way. 
Favored  with  the  reproofs  of  instruction,  he  was  restrained  from 
running  into  gross  evils,  and  finally  made  willing  to  yield  to  mani- 
fested duty,  and  enter  upon  the  straight  and  narrow  way.     He  thus 
records  some  of  his  experiences  in  the  work  of  regeneration,  before 
he  had  yet  attained  to  man's  estate.     "  I  now  came  to  witness  that 
Scripture  to  be  fulfilled  which  sayeth,  '  When  the  Lord's  judgments 
are  in  the  earth  ' — or  earthly  hearts  of  men — '  the  inhabitants  learn 
righteousness ; '  and  notwithstanding  there  was  an  aversion,  in  my 
wild  nature,  to  the  people  in  scorn  called  Quakers,  as  also  to  the 
name  itself,  yet,  when  the  afflicting  hand  of  the  Lord  was  upon 
me,  for  my  disobedience,  and  when,  like  Ephraim  and  Judah,  I 
saw,  in  the  Light,  my  hurt  and  my  wound,  I  bemoaned  myself, 
and  mourned  over  that  just  principle  of  Light  and  Grace  in  me, 
which   I  had  pierced  with  my  sins  and  disobedience.     Although 
that   ministration   of  condemnation  was   glorious  in  its  time,  yet 
great  were  my  troubles,  which  humbled  my  mind,  and  made  me 
willing  to  deny  myself  of  everything  which  the  Light  made  known 
in  me  to  be  evil ;  I  being  in  great  distress,  and  wanting  peace  and 
assurance  of  the  love  of  God  to  my  soul  ;  the  weight  of  which   so 
humbled  my  mind,  that  I  knew  not  of  any  calling,  people,  practice, 
or  principle,  that  was  lawful  and  right,  which  I  could  not  embrace 
or  fall  in  with.     This  was  surely  like  the  day  of  Jacob's  troubles 
and  David's  fears.     I  saw  that  the  filth  of  Zion  was  to  be  purged 
away  by  the  Spirit  of  judgment  and  of  burning;  that  this  is  the 
way  of  the  deliverance  and  recovery  of  poor  man  out  of  the  fall, 
and  the  time  of  the  restoration  of  the  kingdom  to  God's  true  Israel.'" 
Yielding  to  the  secret  manifestations  of  the  Light  of  Christ,  and" 
bearing  the  baptisms  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  fire,  he  became  a  vessel 
clean  and  fitted  for  the  Master's  use,  patiently  enduring  many  <Ieep 
mortifications  and  sufferings,  to  keep  a  conscience  void  of  offence 
towards  God,  and  towards  man  ;  and  was  made  a  deep  and  powerful 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  581 

minister  of  the  new  covenant,  and  an  instrument  to  turn  many  to 
righteousness. 

Thomas  Story,  who  joined  Friends  somewhere  about  1690,  had 
been  educated,  in  profession  with  the  "  National  Church ; "  and 
having  received  a  good  education,  and  acquired  the  accomplish- 
ments, as  they  were  called,  of  a  gentleman,  had  a  fair  prospect  of 
rising  to  note  in  society.  He  studied  law,  and  commenced  practice 
in  Carlisle.  From  early  life  he  appears  to  have  been  sensible  of 
the  operation  of  Divine  Grace  upon  his  mind,  though  at  first  not 
clearly  recognizing  what  it  was  that  rebuked  him  for  evil,  and 
invited  him  to  choose  the  good.  "  Though  1  did  not  know  or  con- 
sider," he  says,  "  what  this  reprover  was,  yet  it  had  so  much  influence 
and  power  with  me,  that  I  was  much  reft)rmed  thereby  from  those 
habits  which,  in  time,  might  have  been  foundations  for  greater 
evils ;  or  as  stocks  whereon  to  have  engrafted  a  worse  nature,  to 
the  bringing  forth  of  a  more  plentiful  crop  of  grosser  vices."  .  .  . 
"  In  process  of  time,  as  the  motions  of  corruption  and  sin  became 
stronger  and  stronger  in  me,  so  the  Lord,  in  great  goodness  and 
mercy,  made  manifest  to  ray  understanding,  the  nature  and  end  of 
them;  and  having  a  view  of  them  in  the  true  Light,  and  the  dan- 
ger attending  them,  they  became  exceedingly  heavy  and  oppressive 
to  my  mind.  And  then  the  necessity  of  that  great  work  of  regener- 
ation was  deeply  impressed  upon  me ;  but  I  had  no  experience  nor 
evidence  of  it  wrought  in  me  hitherto.  This  apprehension  greatly 
surprised  me  with  fear,  considering  the  great  uncertainty  of  the 
continuance  of  the  natural  life;  and  it  began  to  put  a  secret  stain 
upon  the  world  and  all  its  glory,  and  all  that  I  had  to  glory  in  ; 
though  I  kept  these  thoughts  within  my  own  breast,  not  knowing 
of  any  soul  to  whom  I  could  seriously  and  safely  divulge  them." 
Continuing  to  give  heed  to  the  Light  of  Christ  shining  into  his  dark 
heart,  he  came  step  by  step  to  cease  to  do  evil  and  to  learn  to  do 
well.  He  observes  :  "  Hitherto  I  had  known  the  Grace  of  God  in 
me  only  as  a  manifester  of  evil  and  of  sin ;  a  word  of  reproof,  and 
a  law  condemning  and  judging  those  thoughts,  desires,  words,  pas- 
sions, afiections,  acts,  and  omissions,  which  are  seated  in  the  first 
nature  and  rooted  in  the  carnal  mind."  .  .  .  "  By  this  Divine  Grace 
I  was,  in  good  degree,  enlightened,  reformed,  and  enabled  to  shun 
and  forbear  all  words  and  acts  known  to  be  evil,  and  moral  riglit- 
eousness  was  restored  in  my  mind,  and  thereby  brought  forth  in  me." 
Abiding  in  this  exercised  state,  he  persevered  in  seeking  a  clearer 
knowledge  of  God  and  the  attainment  of  greater  "  moral  righteous- 


582  F  R  I  E  X  D  ,S    IN    THE 

Dess ;"  but  he  says,  "Yet  I  did  not  know  tlic  Divine  Grace  in  its 
own  nature,  as  it  is  in  Christ;  not  as  a  word  of  faith,  sanctification, 
justification,  cousohition  and  redemption  ;  being  yet  alive  in  my 
own  nature.  The  Son  of  God  was  not  yet  revealed  in  me,  nor  I, 
by  the  power  of  his  holy  cross,  mortified  and  slain  ;  being  without 
the  knowledge  of  the  essential  truth,  and  in  a  state  contrary  to  Him, 
and  unreconciled."  While  in  this  condition,  he  states,  that  "  Being 
alone  in  my  chamber,  the  Lord  broke  in  upon  me  unexpectedly  ; 
quick  as  lightning  from  the  heavens,  and  as  a  righteous,  all-j)owcr- 
ful,  all-knowing,  and  sin-condemning  Judge;  before  whom  my  soul, 
as  in  the  deepest  agony,  trembled,  was  confounded  and  amazed,  a!id 
filled  with  such  awful  dread,  as  no  words  can  reach  or  declare.  My 
mind  seemed  plunged  into  utter  darkness,  and  eternal  condemna- 
tion appeared  to  inclose  me  on  every  side,  as  in  the  centre  of  the 
horrible  pit;  never  to  see  redemption  thence,  or  the  face  of  Him  in 
mercy,  whom  I  had  sought  with  all  my  soul.  But  in  the  midst  of 
this  confusion  and  amazement,  where  no  thought  could  be  formed 
nor  any  idea  retained  save  eternal  death  possessing  my  whole  man, 
a  voice  was  formed  and  uttered  in  me,  '  Thy  will,  O  God  !  be  done  ; 
if  this  be  thy  act  alone,  and  not  my  own,  I  yield  my  soul  to  Tiiee.' 
In  conceiving  these  words,  from  ihe  Word  of  Life,  I  quickly  found 
relief:  there  was  all-healing  virtue  in  Ihem,  and  the  effect  was  so 
swift  and  powerful,  that  even  in  a  moment  all  my  fears  vanished,  as 
if  they  had  never  been,  and  my  mind  became  calm  and  still,  and 
simple  as  a  little  child;  the  day  of  the  Lord  dawned,  and  the  Son 
of  Righteousness  arose  in  me,  with  divine  healing  and  restoring 
virtue  in  his  countenance,  and  He  became  the  centre  of  my  mind." 
Thus  experiencing  forgiveness  of  past  sins,  and  reconciliation 
with  his  heavenly  Father,  through  the  atonement  and  merits  of  his 
dear  Son,  Thomas  Story  was  brought  into  the  state  of  a  little  child, 
prepared  to  receive  and  learn  other  lessons  in  the  school  of  Christ  •,. 
and  as  he  took  up  his  daily  cross  and  followed  on  to  know  ihe  Lord, 
he  became  more  and  niore  perfectly  instructed  in  the  way  and  work 
of  salvation.  Up  to  this  time  he  had  attended  Friends'  meetings 
but  two  or  three  times,  and  it  is  notewoi-thy,  that  under  the  unfold- 
ings  of  the  Holy  S[)irit  to  his  soul,  he  had  been  convinced  of  the 
doctrines  and  embraced  the  tcstimonit's  held  by  Friends,  before  he 
became  associated  with  and  joined  in  membership  with  them.  In 
course  of  time  he  was  entrusted  with  a  gift  in  the  ministry  of  the 
gospel,  and  labored  abundantly  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  both  m 
Great  Britain  and  America. 


SEVEXTEENTH    CENTURY.  583 

Thomas  Chalkley  was  anotlier  valuable  instrument,  raised  up  by 
the  Head  of  the  Church  to  advocate  his  cause,  and  labor  in  his  vine- 
yard. He  was  born  in  Southwark,  London,  in  1675,  his  parents  being 
Friends.  From  very  early  life  he  was  often  brought  under  the  con- 
triting  influence  of  heavenly  love,  warming  his  heart  with  earnest 
longings  after  the  approbation  of  his  heavenly  Father ;  and  strong 
convictions  and  sorrow  when  he  gave  way  to  temptation,  and  went 
counter  to  the  manifestations  of  what  was  required  of  him.  He  says, 
"I  very  well  remember  the  work  of  God  upon  ]ny  soul,  when  I  was 
about  ten  years  of  age,  and  particularly  at  a  certain  time  when  I 
had  been  rebelling  pgainst  God  and  my  parents,  in  vanity  and  light- 
ness ;  and  as  I  had  offended  both,  so  I  was  corrected  by  both ;  for  I 
had  not  only  to  feel  the  anger  of  my  parents,  but  the  Lord  frowned 
upon  me,  insomuch  that  I  trembled  exceedingly,  and  was  as  though 
I  heard  a  voice  say  to  me,  '  What  will  become  of  thee  this  night,  if 
I  should  take  thy  life  from  thee?'  At  which  I  was  amazed  and  in 
great  fear.  Then  I  covenanted  with  God  that  if  He  would  be 
pleased  to  spare  my  life  —  for  I  thought  God  would  have  taken  it 
from  me  that  very  moment — I  would  be  more  sober,  and  mind  his 
fear  more  than  I  had  done  before." 

Young  as  he  was,  he  was  preserved  in  much  innocence,  being  en- 
abled to  walk  circumspectly,  and  often  to  reprove  his  youtiiful  com- 
panions, who  gave  way  to  improper  conduct.  Nevertheless,  with 
liis  strong  natural  propensities  and  quick  sensibility,  he  often  found 
it  hard  work  to  take  up  the  daily  cross  and  deny  himself.  He  re- 
marks, "  Thus  I  went  on  for  several  years,  feeling  that  peace  which 
passeth  natural  understanding,  which  many  times  accompanied  my 
poor  and  needy  soul ;  and  being  advanced  to  about  fourteen  or 
fifteen  years  of  age,  I  remember  that  I  used  to  shun  the  cross  of 
speaking  in  the  plain  language, —  which  I  always  read  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures, — to  those  whom  I  conversed  with,  except  my  father  and 
motlier,  who  would  not  allow  me  to  speak  otherwise."  Convinced 
that  it  was  a  religious  duty,  and  that  avoiding  its  use  was  playing 
the  hypocrite,  he  besought  Divine  help,  and  on  an  occasion  soon 
after,  when  he  had  to  speak  to  an  officer  of  rank,  he  addressed  him 
in  plain  language.  At  first  the  officer  was  offended,  saying,  "Thee! 
what  dost  thou  thee  me  for?'  Thomas  remarked,  he  sujjposed  that 
when  he  addressed  the  Almighty,  he  used  Tlioit,  and  Tlwc  to  Him, 
and  queried  whether  he  was  too  great  to  have  the  same  language 
applied  to  him? — He  appeared  struck  with  a  new  thought,  and  ever 
after  treated  T.  Chalkley  with  marked  respect. 


58  t  FRIEXDS    IN     THE 

Continuing  strict!}'  obedient  to  duty,  as  manifested  l)y  tlie  Holy 
Spirit  in  his  soul,  though  young  in  years,  he  became  grounded  and 
huilt  up  in  the  uncliaiigeablo  Truth,  and  was  entrusted  with  a  gift 
in  tlic  ministry,  in  the  twentieth  year  of  his  age.  Referring  to  tlie 
work  of  a  minister,  he  says,  "  I  did  fervently  pray  that  I  might 
minister  the  gospel  in  the  power  of  Jesus;  for  I  clearly  discerned 
in  the  Light  of  the  Son  of  God,  that  all  ministering  out  of  Christ's 
power,  was  neither  edifying,  nor  efficacious  unto  souls ;  therefore, 
I  did  earnestly  beseech  God  for  the  continuance  of  the  gift  of  his 
Spirit,  that  I  might  be  enabled  to  preach  the  gospel  in  the  power  of 
Christ  Jesus.  The  concern  that  was  upon  me  on  this  account  at 
that  time,  is  hard  to  be  expressed  in  words." 

He  was  soon  engaged  in  visiting  the  churches  in  different  parts 
of  England  and  Scotland;  being  concerned,  while  he  felt  restrained 
from  entering  largely  into  the  pursuit  of  lawful  things,  to  earn 
enough  by  the  labor  of  his  hands,  not  to  make  the  gospel  charge- 
able to  any.  In  the  twenty-third  year  of  his  age,  with  the  appro- 
bation and  unity  of  Friends,  he  paid  a  religious  visit  to  Friends 
in  America,  where,  some  time  after,  he  removed  to  reside,  taking 
up  his  abode  a  little  out  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 

Richard  Claridge,  Samuel  Bownas  and  many  others,  might  be 
mentioned,  did  space  admit,  who  were  raised  up  by  the  Head  of 
the  Church,  to  take  the  places  of  the  faithful  servants,  who,  having 
served  their  generation  according  to  the  will  of  God,  had  fallen 
asleep;  and  to  proclaim  the  same  blessed  doctrines  of  primitive 
Christianity,  and  to  illustrate  their  sanctifying  effects  in  life  and 
conversiition. 

In  the  notice  of  the  sufferings  of  Friends  in  some  of  the  West 
Indies,  it  has  been  mentioned,  that  much  of  it  arose  from  the  exac- 
tions of  the  insular  governments,  for  the  support  of  the  military 
force.  Representation  of  the  loss  and  damage  consequent  on  the 
levying  and  collection  of  fines,  for  failure  to  muster  or  to  sujjply 
substitutes  with  arms,  horses,  &c.,  as  also  on  account  of  refusing  to 
take  an  oath,  having  been  made  to  King  William,  he,  in  1689,  had 
the  following  order  from  Council  issued  to  the  Governor  of  Bar- 
badoes ;  which  was  also  applicable  to  other  officers  of  the  same  grade 
in  different  Islands : 

"Upon  reading  a  petition  of  the  people  called  Quakers,  inhaliit- 
ing  the  Island  of  Barbadoes,  setting  forth,  that  because  the  said 
Quakers  could  not  bear  arms,  nor  take  an  oath  in  any  case,  they 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  585 

have  suffered  much  by  virtue  of  an  act  made  to  settle  the  militia 
in  the  said  Island  ;  as  in  the  petition  hereunto  annexed,  is  more  at 
large  expressed  ;  his  Majesty  in  Council  is  graciously  pleased  to  refer 
ihe  matter  of  the  said  petition  to  the  examination  of  James  Kendal, 
Esq.,  his  Majesty's  Governor  of  Barbadoes  for  the  time  being  ;  who 
is  to  give  the  petitioners  such  relief  in  relation  to  the  militia,  as  to 
him  shall  seem  just  and  reasonable  to  answer  their  particular  cir- 
cumstances, and  to  make  report  thereof  to  his  Majesty." 

This  order,  in  measure,  abated  the  suffering  of  Friends  on  the 
several  Islands ;  but  in  Barbadoes  and  other  places,  they  were  long 
prohibited  by  law  from  holding  meetings  for  worship,  and  their 
ministers  were  forbidden  to  preach.  They  were  also  subjected  to 
severe  punishment,  for  teaching  their  negroes  the  truths  of  the 
Christian  religion,  or  allowing  them  to  attend  their  meetings  for 
worship.  Informers  were  encouraged,  as  in  England,  and  Besse 
gives  a  long  list  of  those  employed  in  this  business,  who  either  came 
to  an  untimely  end,  or  died  in  great  poverty  and  wretchedness. 

The  tide  of  emigration  from  Great  Britain  to  the  Colonies  on  the 
American  shore  did  not  slacken  for  some  years,  the  main  stream 
being  directed  towards  Pennsylvania,  and  the  great  body  of  emi- 
grants to  that  Province  being  in  religious  profession  with  Friends. 
Others,  of  different  religious  professions,  attracted  by  the  wide- 
spread fame  of  the  Colony,  began  to  flock  there,  and  were  well 
satisfied  to  enjoy  the  rights  and  privileges  secured  to  them  under 
the  mild  government  of  the  Quakers.  Many  Friends — -ministers 
and  others  —  who  were  noted  in  the  Society  in  England  and  Wales, 
removed,  with  their  families,  to  reside  on  the  baidcs  of  the  Dela- 
ware, or  to  establisli  themselves  in  the  rich  valleys  or  noble  forests 
of  the  more  interior  counties.  The  various  offices  necessarily  con- 
nected with  the  Provincial  and  municipal  governments,  were  almost 
altogether  filled  by  Friends.  Many  of  the  more  eminent  ministers 
were  members  of  the  Council,  and  of  the  Assembly.  It  was  cus- 
tomary, in  these  bodies,  before  i)roceeding  to  the  business  of  the 
day,  to  sit  for  a  considerable  time  in  reverential  silence  ;  seeking  to 
receive  some  portion  of  that  heavenly  wisdom  which  is  profituljle 
to  direct,  in  oi'der  riglitly  to  j)erform  the  duties  devolving  upon 
them.  Although  the  bulk  of  the  early  settlers  were  farmers  and 
mechanics,  with  but  ordiiiaiy  ciluralioii,  there  was  a  considerable 
number  of  Friends  who  \rere  faii-ly  entitled  to  the  character  of  well- 
learned  scholars ;  men  who  were  proficient  in  the  knowledge  of  the 


586  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

classics,  Helirew,  and  .some  of  the  modern  languages,  as  well  as  in 
mathematics. 

In  16<S3  a  band  of  Gernians,  from  Kreislieim  in  the  German 
Palatinate,  wlio  had  been  convinced  of  tlie  principles  of  the  gospel 
as  held  by  Friends,  principally  through  the  ministry  of  William 
Ames  and  Stephen  Crisp,  crossed  the  Atlantic,  and  on  arriving  in 
Pennsvlvania,  settled  about  six  miles  north  of  Philadelphia;  and 
being  joined  by  others,  from  different  parts  of  Germany,  they  gave 
their  home  the  name  of  Germantowu.  They  were  an  humble,  simple- 
hearted  people ;  and  the  addition  thus  made  to  the  meetings  was 
felt  to  be  a  strength  to  the  Society. 

Upon  the  death  of  King  Charles  II.,  not  long  after  the  departure 
of  William  Penn  from  the  Colony,  James  II.  was  duly  proclaimed 
King,  and  the  proclamation,  signed  by  Thomas  Lloyd,  a  valuable 
minister,  was  transmitted  to  the  Home  Department  in  England. 
Thomas  Lloyd  was  President  of  the  "  Commissioners  of  State,"  com- 
posed of  five  Friends,  who,  in  the  Governor's  absence,  acted  in  his 
place.  But  this  arrangement  proving  inconvenient,  after  existing 
three  years,  it  was  changed,  and  a  deputy-Governor  appointed. 
The  first  deputy-Governor  (Captain  John  Blackwell),  not  being  a 
Friend,  was  anxious  to  raise  a  military  force  among  the  inhabitants  ; 
to  which,  of  course.  Friends  would  not  consent;  and  with  this 
introduction  of  discordant  views  and  policy,  it  was  soon  found 
necessary  to  remove  the  deputy,  The  colonists,  however,  continued 
to  prosper  and  increase,  so  that,  by  1690,  there  were  twelve  thou- 
sand inhabitants. 

War  having  broken  out  between  England  and  France,  in  1688, 
and  the  latter  power  having  obtained  strong  foothold  among  the 
Indians,  not  only  in  Canada,  Init  along  the  li^kes  and  throughout 
the  western  wilderness,  the  officers  at  different  stations  stirred  up 
the  Indians  to  make  common  cause  Avith  them,  and  engage  in  hos- 
tile incursions  on  the  British  colonies.  Alarmed  at  the  threatened 
destruction  and  suffering,  the  governments  of  New  England  and 
New  York  invited  the  government  of  Pennsylvania  to  make  com- 
mon cause  with  them,  in  measures  of  offence  and  defence.  But 
Friends  remained  true  to  their  principles,  of  war  being  inconsistent 
with  Christianity,  and  steadily  refused  to  contribute,  in  any  way, 
to  warlike  measures;  trusting  to  the  protecting  care  of  Him  whose 
cause  they  desired  to  promote,  and  to  the  feelings  of  kindness  and 
good  will  which  they  knew  existed  among  the  Indians  towards 
them.     They  had  seen  other  Colonies,  with  all  their  a})pliances  for 


SEVENTEENTH     CENTURY.  587 

war,  prepared  under  the  belief  that  their  formidable  array  would 
deter  assault  and  secure  peace,  had,  one  by  one,  drawn  upon  them- 
selves the  horrors  of  the  stealthy,  ruthless  warfare  waged  by  the 
enraged  savages,  while  no  Friend  had  suffered  violence  from  the 
red  men,  in  Pennsylvania;  and  they  were  confirmed  in  the  safe 
policy  of  relying  on  the  protecting  power  of  the  Almighty  Prince 
of  Peace.  This  course  was  higlily  distasteful  to  those  of  the  settlers 
who  had  not  embraced  the  peaceable  principles  of  the  gospel,  as 
Friends  had.  They  blamed  their  refusal  to  co-operate  with  the 
proposed  alliance,  reproached  them  for  neglect  of  duty,  and  pre- 
dicted the  direful  consequences  that  would  result  from  want  of  a 
military  force  to  defend  the  settlement. 

A  rumor  was  got  up,  and  industriously  spread,  that  a  band  of 
five  hundred  Indians  had  assembled  at  a  place  bordering  on  the 
domain  of  the  whites,  where  one  of  their  principal  chiefs  had  his 
wigwam  ;  intending  to  make  a  descent  on  the  peaceable  Quakers, 
and  destroy  all  before  them.  At  the  announcement  that  the  un- 
armed inhabitants  were  about  to  be  subjected  to  the  tomahawk  and 
scalping-knife  of  the  savages,  consternation  prevailed  among  many 
of  the  people.  The  Council  received  glowing  representations,  made 
by  these,  of  the  alarming  state  of  affairs;  when  one  of  them,  Caleb 
Pusey,  a  Friend  of  well-known  integrity  and  religious  worth,  offered, 
if  five  others  were  appointed  to  accompany  him,  to  go,  unarmed, 
and  see  those  hostile  Indians,  if  indeed  they  were  to  be  found.  The 
offer  being  accepted,  the  six  Friends  performed  the  journey  on 
horseback,  and,  on  arriving  at  the  dwelling  of  the  chief,  found  the 
old  man  resting  at  his  ease,  and  surrounded  by  none  but  the 
women  and  children. 

Friends  kept  to  their  testimony  against  war  and  all  military 
measures,  notwithstanding  the  pressure  of  the  Home  Government, 
and  the  dissatisfaction  of  their  own  militant  fellow-citizens,  for 
many  years.  Finally  they  were  overborne,  the  policy  of  the  gov- 
ernment was  changed,  and  in  course  of  time,  the  power  going  into 
the  hands  of  others,  they  were  subjected  to  penalties  —  often  severe 
—  for  adherence  to  their  conscientious  belief. 

In  1688,  the  Friends  at  Germantown  presented  an  address  to 
their  Monthly  Meeting,  upon  the  evils  of  buying  and  selling  or 
holding  slaves.  The  subject  appears  to  have  been  considered  of 
great  importance,  and  the  Monthly  Meeting,  after  deliberating  upon 
it,  concluded  to  send  the  communication  up  to  the  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing.    The  latter  meeting,  thinking  the  matter  "  of  too  great  weight 


588  F  R  1  E  X  D  S    I  X    T II  E 

for  them  to  determine,"  represented  it  to  the  Yearly  Meeting.  The 
Yearly  Meeting,  knowing  that,  as  tiie  legislative  body,  its  decisions 
would  assume  the  character  of  discipline,  adopted  the  following 
minute:  "A  paper  was  presented  by  some  German  Friends  concern- 
ing the  lawfulness  and  unlaw-fulness  of  buying  and  keeping  negroes. 
It  was  adjudged  not  to  be  so  proper  for  this  meeting  to  give  a  posi- 
tive judgment  in  the  case,  it  having  so  general  a  relation  to  many 
other  parts,  and  therefore  at  present  they  forbear  it." 

As  this  remonstrance  from  the  Friends  at  Germantown  was  the 
first  official  action,  in  the  Society  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  and  the 
disposal  of  it,  at  the  time,  exhibits  the  embarrassments  felt  in  deal- 
ing with  a  subject  aSecting  so  many  public  and  private  relations,  it 
is  of  much  interest.  It  is  also  noteworthy  as  the  initiatory  step  in 
a  series  of  actions  among  Friends,  which  finally  resulted  in  remov- 
ing from  them  the  reproach, of  holding  their  fellow-men  in  bondage  ; 
and  probably  as  giving  primary  impulse  to  the  wide-spread  philaii- 
throi^ic  efforts,  successfully  made  in  after  years,  for  the  emancipa- 
tion of  the  cruelly  oppressed  blacks,  in  all  professedly  Christian 
countries.     It  is  as  follows: 

"This  is  to  the  Monthly  Meeting  held  at  Richard  Worrell's. 

"These  are  the  reasons  why  we  are  agaiust  the  traffic  of  men- 
body,  as  followeth.  Is  there  any  that  W'ould  be  done  or  handled  at 
this  manner?  viz.,  to  be  sold  or  made  a  slave  for  all  the  time  of  his 
life  ?  How  fearful  and  faiat-iiearted  are  many  on  sea,  when  they 
see  a  strange  vessel,  —  being  afraid  it  should  be  a  Turk,  and  they 
should  be  taken,  and  sold  fi)r  slaves  into  Turkey.  Now  what  is 
tJiij<  better  done  than  Turks  do?  Yea,  rather  it  is  worse  for  them, 
which  say  they  are  Christian ;  for  we  hear  that  the  most  part  of 
such  negers  are  brought  hither  against  their  will  and  consent,  and 
that  many  of  them  are  stolen.  Now,  though  they  are  black,  we 
cannot  conceive  there  is  more  liberty  to  have  them  slaves,  as  [than] 
it  is  to  have  other  white  ones.  There  is  a  saying,  that  we  shall  do 
to  all  men  like  as  we  will  be  done  ourselves;  making  no  difference  of 
what  generation,  descent  or  color  they  are.  And  those  who  steal  or 
robb  men,  and  those  who  buy  or  purchase  them,  are  they  not  all 
alike?  Here  is  liberty  of  conscience,  which  is  right  and  reason- 
able; here  ought  to  be  likewise  liberty  of  the  body,  except  of  evil- 
doers, which  is  another  case.  But  to  bring  men  hither,  or  to  rob 
and  sell  them  against  their  will,  we  stand  against.  In  Europe  there 
are  many  oppressed  for  conscience  sake  ;  and  here  there  are  those 
oppressed  which  are  of  a  black  color.     And  we  who  know  tluit  men 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  589 

must  not  commit  adultery, — some  do  commit  adultery  in  others, 
separating  wives  from  their  husbands  and  giving  them  to  others  ; 
and  some  sell  the  children  of  these  poor  creatures  to  other  men. 
Ah  !  do  consider  well  this  thing,  you  who  do  it,  if  you  would  be 
done  at  this  manner?  and  if  it  is  done  according  to  Christianity? 
You  surpass  Holland  and  Germany  in  this  thing.  This  makes  an 
ill  report  in  all  those  countries  of  Europe,  where  they  hear  of  [it], 
that  the  Quakers  do  here  handle  men  as  they  handle  there  the  cat- 
tle. And  for  that  reason  some  have  no  mind  or  inclination  to  come 
hither.  And  who  shall  maintain  this  your  cause,  or  plead  for  it? 
Truly  we  cannot  do  so,  except  you  shall  inform  us  better  hereof, 
viz.,  that  Christians  have  liberty  to  practise  these  things.  Pray, 
what  thing  in  the  world  can  be  done  worse  towards  us,  than  if  men 
should  rob  or  steal  us  aw^ay,  and  sell  us  for  slaves  to  strange  coun- 
tries ;  separating  husbands  from  their  wives  and  children.  Being 
now  this  is  not  done  in  the  manner  we  would  be  done  at  [by]  there- 
fore we  contradict,  and  are  against  this  traffic  of  men-body.  And  we 
who  profess  that  it  is  not  lawful  to  steal,  must,  likewise,  avoid  to  pur- 
chase such  things  as  are  stolen,  but  rather  help  to  stop  this  robbing 
and  stealing  if  possible.  And  such  men  ought  to  be  delivered  out  of 
the  hands  of  the  robbers,  and  set  free  as  in  Europe.*  Then  is  Penn- 
sylvania to  have  a  good  report,  instead  it  hath  now  a  bad  one  for 
this  sake  in  other  countries.  Especially  whereas  the  Europeans  are 
desirous  to  know  in  what  manner  the  Quakers  do  rule  in  their 
Province  ;  —  and  most  of  them  do  Idbk  upon  us  with  an  envious  eye. 
But  if  this  is  done  well,  wliat  shall  we  say  is  done  evil  ?" 

"  If  once  these  slaves  (which  they  say  are  so  w'icked  and  stubborn 
men)  should  join  themselves, — fight  for  their  freedom, — and  handle 
their  masters  and  mistresses  as  they  did  handle  them  before;  will 
these  masters  and  mistresses  take  thesw'Ord  at  hand  and  war  against 
these  poor  slaves,  like,  we  are  able  to  believe,  some  will  not  refuse 
to  do  ;  or  have  these  negers  not  as  much  right  to  fight  for  their  free- 
dom, as  you  have  to  keep  them  slaves  ? 

"Now  consider  well  this  thing,  if  it  is  good  or  bad?  And  in  case 
you  find  it  to  be  good  to  handle  these  blacks  at  that  manner,  we 
desire  and  require  you  hereby  lovingly,  that  you  may  inform  us 
herein,  which  at  this  time  never  was  done,  viz.,  that  Christians  have 
such  a  liberty  to  do  so.  To  the  end  we  shall  [may]  be  satisfied  in 
this  point,  and  satisfy  likewise  our  good  friends  and  acquaintances 

*  Alluding  probably  to  the  abolition  of  the  old  feudal  system. 


590  FRIENDS    IN"    THE 

in  our  native  country,  to  whom  it  is  a  terror,  or  fearful  tiling,  that 
men  should  be  handled  so  in  Pennsylvania. 

"  This  is  from  our  meeting  at  Germantown,  held  y*  18  of  the  2 
month,  1688,  to  be  delivered  to  the  Monthly  Meeting  at  Richard 
Worrell's. 

Garret  henderich 
derick  up  de  graeff 
Francis  daniell  Pastorius 
Abraham  jr.  Den  graef. 
"  At  our  Monthly  Meeting  at  Dublin,  y^  30—2  mo.,  1688,  we 
having  inspected  y"  matter,  above  mentioned,  and  considered  of  it, 
we  find  it  so  weighty  that  we  think  it  not  expedient  for  us  to  med- 
dle with  it  here,  but  do  rather  commit  it  to  y"  consideration  of  y' 
Quarterly  Meeting  ;  y"  tenor  of  it  being  nearly  related  to  y*  Truth. 
On  behalf  of  y"  Monthly  Meeting. 

Signed  P.  Jo.  Hart. 

"  This,  above  mentioned,  was  read  in  our  Quarterly  Meeting  at 
Philadelphia,  the  4  of  y*"  4th  mo.  '88,  and  was  from  thence  recom- 
mended to  the  Yearly  Meeting,  and  the  above  said  Derick,  and  the 
other  two*  mentioned  therein,  to  present  the  same  to  y''  above  said 
meeting,  it  being  a  thing  of  too  great  a  weight  for  this  meeting  to 
determine.         Signed  by  order  of  y""  meeting. 

Anthony  Morris." 

Considering  the  bold  and  ungquivocal  manner  in  which  Friends 
avowed  the  obligation  to  carry  into  practical  effect  the  principles, 
precepts  and  mode  of  life  enjoined  in  the  New  Testament ;  the  suf- 
fering they  had  themselves  meekly  and  patiently  endured,  for  regu- 
lating their  conduct  and  conversation  to  what  they  believed  to  be  in 
accordance  therewith,  and  the  marked  effect  which  this  consistent 
course  had  had  in  curbing  their  passions,  in  softening  their  manners, 
and  clothing  their  spirits  with  a  measure  of  Christian  love  for  all 
mankind,  it  seems  hard  to  understand,  in  the  present  day,  how  they 
could  have  been  betrayed  into  the  toleration  of  slavery  among  them- 
selves, for  the  length  of  time  they  did  ;  mild  as  it  was  under  their 
patronage,  and  relieved  by  the  earnest  efforts  made  to  instruct  their 
servants,  young  and  old,  and  to  give  them  a  knowledge  of  the  truths 
contained  in  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

George  Fox,  and  many  of  his  co-laborers,  who  were  brouglit  into 
contact  with  slavery  by  their  visits  to  the  AVest  Indian  Islands,  and 

*  There  were  three  otliers  signed  it. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  591 

the  Nortli  American  Colonies,  had  earnestly  exhorted  their  fellow- 
members  who  held  slaves,  to  teach  them  the  truths  of  Scripture,  to 
endeavor  to  bring  them  into  the  fear  of  God,  to  allow  no  cruelty  to 
be  practised  on  them,  and  after  they  had  served  a  term  of  years,  to 
set  them  free.  Many  who  joined  the  Society  by  convincement  in 
the  West  Indies  held  slaves  at  the  time,  and  continued  to  do  so, 
under  the  belief  that,  inimical  as  were  the  rulers  and  inliabitants  of 
the  Islands  to  the  negroes,  it  was  a  duty  to  take  care  of  them.  That 
the  advice  of  George  Fox,  concerning  tlie  treatment  they  should 
receive,  was  duly  appreciated  and  carried  out,  by  Friends  there,  is 
amply  attested  by  the  laws  passed,'  imposing  severe  penalties  on 
Friends  for  instructing  the  negroes  in  the  Christian  religion,  and 
having  them  to  assemble  with  them  for  Divine  worship.  William 
Penn,  as  has  been  stated,  gave  the  same  advice  as  G.  Pox  to  the 
colonists  of  Pennsylvania,  and  provided  that  the  bondmen  should 
have  the  option  of  freedom,  after  a  designated  number  of  years' 
service.  There  were  many  Friends  in  the  Colonies  who  never  were 
slaveholders ;  but  the  evil  was  allowed,  and  not  a  few  were  impli- 
cated in  it. 

No  sooner  were  the  English  Colonies  established  on  the  shores  of 
the  Atlantic,  than  it  became  a  practice  to  ship  convicts  to  them, — 
more  especially  to  Virginia  and  those  south  of  it,— who  were  bound 
to  serve  for  a  term  of  years,  if  not  for  life :  indented  servants  were 
also  freely  transported  and  sold  to  the  highest  bidder.  When, 
therefore,  a  Dutch  man-of-war  entered  the  James  River,  in  1620, 
with  some  negroes  on  board,  who  were  offered  for  sale,  and  they 
probably  incapable  of  telling  the  story  of  their  having  being  kid- 
napped, and  cruelly  torn  from  their  native  shores,  the  outrageous 
wrong  committed  by  purchasing  them  for  slaves,  was  lightly  esti- 
mated, and  the  horrible  system  of  chattel  slavery  thus  inaugurated, 
altogether  unforeseen.  The  Puritans  of  New  England,  not  long 
after  they  had  fixed  their  abode  on  the  bleak  shores  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay,  forbade  the  introduction  of  slaves  into  their  Colony,  and 
n)ade  importing  or  trading  in  them  punishable  by  death.  Roger 
Williams  had  a  law  passed  in  Rhode  Island  that  "  black  mankind" 
should  not  be  held  in  slavery  more  than  ten  years.  In  New  Nether- 
lands, however,  slavery  was  encouraged  so  long  as  that  Province 
was  under  the  control  of  the  Dutch,  and  New  Amsterdam  became 
a  slave  mart.  The  New  England  Colonies,  including  Rhode  Island, 
notwithstanding  their  first  righteous  opposition  to  it,  afterwards 
became  implicated  in  the  abominable  traffic;    and  several  of  their 


592  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

pol■t^5  obtained  an  infamous  notoriety  for  the  extent  to  wliicli  it  was 
carried  by  their  inhabitants. 

In  1686,  the  Yearly  Meeting  hehl  at  Burlington  had  directed  all 
the  Quarterly  Meetings  within  its  jurisdiction,  to  send  up  rej)res£n- 
tatives  ;  and  by  the  Minutes  of  1688,  it  appears  representatives  were 
present  from  three  Quarterly  Meetings  in  Pennsylvania,  viz.,  Phila- 
delphia, Bucks,  and  Chester;  and  four  from  New  Jersey,  viz.,  Bur- 
lington, Salem,  Gloucester,  and  Shrewsbury;  and  in  1689,  from  one 
in  Delaware,  in  addition.  The  epistles  sent  by  the  Yearly  Meeting 
to  that  of  London,  in  different  years,  speak  in  strong  terms  of  the 
love  and  unity  prevailing  among  the  members,  the  gracious  owning 
and  sensible  presence  of  the  adorable  Head  of  the  Church  in  their 
assemblies,  and  the  growth  of  their  meetings  and  members. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Account  of  the  Heresy  and  Separation  of  G.  Keith  —  Long-contiinied  labor 
of  Friends  for  his  Restoration  —  Continued  hicrease  of  Friends  In  the 
American  Colonies  —  Friends  in  England  seek  relief  from  the  imposition 
of  Oaths  —  Declaration  of  Faith  by  Friends — "Primitive  Ciiristianity 
Revived" — Efforts  of  Friends  to  have  an  Affirmation  substituted  for  an 
Oath  finally  successful. 

^^HE  harmonious  condition  of  the  Society  within  the  limits  of  the 
J-  Yearly  Meeting  of  Pennsylvania,  which  has  been  spoken  of, 
was  not  long  after  broken  up,  and  disunity  and  dissension  intro- 
duced and  spread,  througli  tiie  instrumentality  of  one  who,  in 
former  years,  had  been  a  noted  champion  in  the  defence  of  the  doc- 
trines and  testimonies  held  by  Friends;  advocating  and  defending 
them,  by  his  pen  as  well  as  by  word  of  mouth.  This  person  was 
the  apostate,  George  Keith. 

Notice  has  already  been  taken  of  this  notorious  man,  who,  I)urn 
in  Scotland,  had  been  carefully  educated  among  tlie  Presbyterians, 
and  graduated  at  the  University  in  Edinburgli,  wiiere  the  degree  of 
Master  of  Arts  was  bestowed  upon  him.  With  natf.ral  talents  of 
high  order,  and  well  trained  by  the  education  received,  he  was  well 
fitted  for  usefulness  and  influence  in  whatever  position  he  might  be 
placed.  By  what  instrumental  means,  if  any,  he  was  convinced  of 
the  doctrines  held  bv  Fi-iends,  and  brought  to  a  willingness  to  em- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  593 

brace  and  live  in  accordance  with  them,  is  not  known;  tlie  accounts 
preserved  of  liis  first  appearance  among  them,  merely  stating  tnat  he 
came  to  Aberdeen  from  the  southern  part  of  Scotland,  as  a  minister 
on  a  religious  visit  to  his  brethren.  This  was  in  1664.  He  soon 
gained  the  affection  and  confidence  of  the  little  flock  in  that  coun- 
try, tliat  stood  as  witnesses  for  the  truths  of  the  Gospel,  amid  the 
bitter  scorn  and  persecution  which  for  years  were  levelled  against 
Friends;  boldly  promulgating  their  doctrines,  and  patiently  and 
meekly  partaking  with  others,  of  the  barbarous  treatment  inflicted 
on  them.  Well  informed  in  biblical  and  ecclesiastical  lore,  and  dis- 
ciplined in  the  logic  of  the  schools,  G.  Keith  was  a  ready  disputant, 
and  prepared  to  encounter  his  opponents  with  their  own  weapons. 
He  joined  Alexander  Jaffray  in  exposing  and  refuting  the  mali- 
cious charges  against  the  Quakers,  publicly  preached  by  G.  Mel- 
drum,  of  Aberdeen,  He  was  engaged,  with  Robert  Barclay,  in  de- 
fending the  theses  put  forth  by  the  latter,  against  the  assaults  of 
students  of  Aberdeen  ;  and  was  associated  with  Stephen  Crisp,  Geo. 
Whitehead,  and  Wm.  Penn,  in  the  famous  dispute  with  the  Baptist 
ministers  in  London.  For  nearly  thirty  years  he  stood  side  by  side 
with  the  noble  band  who  showed  their  faith  by  their  works;  count- 
ing nothing  too  near  or  too  dear  to  be  sacrificed,  when  duty  called 
them  to  come  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty,  and, 
with  spiritual  weapons,  cast  down  imaginations  and  every  high 
thing  that  exalted  itself  against  the  knowledge  of  God ;  and  its 
members  were  beloved  for  the  work's  sake. 

In  1682,  he  left  Scotland  and  removed  to  reside  at  Edmonton,  in 
Middlesex,  England,  to  take  charge  of  a  classical  school,  which,  for 
several  years  had  been  conducted  by  Christopher  Taylor,  a  min- 
ister among  Friends,  noted  for  his  knowledge  of  languages,  who 
was  about  to  remove  to  Pennsylvania.  Among  other  laws  enacted 
to  extend  and  secure  the  jiower  of  the  "Church  of  England,"  was 
one  which  forbade  any  person  teaching  the  classics,  without  first  pro- 
curing a  license  from  a  Bishop.  George  Keith  had  not  been  long 
engaged  in  his  new  employment,  before  he  was  cited  to  appear 
before  the  Bishops'  Court,  for  breaking  this  law,  and,  on  his  re- 
fusing to  coujply  with  the  order  of  the  Court,  he  was  committed  to 
jail.  How  long  he  was  imprisoned  does  not  appear  ;  but  in  1684  he 
had  opened  a  similar  school  in  London,  and  was  again  committed 
to  Newgate  for  a  like  offence,  where  he  was  kept  five  months. 
Having,  some  time  i)rior  to  these  events,  become  acquaint(!(l  with 
the  celebrated  doctor  Von  Helmont,  who,  while  in  pi-ofessional  at- 
.■JS 


594  F  11  r  E  N  D  S    IX    THE 

tendance  0!i  Lady  Conway,  boforo  and  after  slie  joined  Friends,  had 
become  much  interested  in  them,  tliough  not  uniting  in  their  re- 
ligious principles,  G.  Keith  had  imbibed  some  of  the  strange  notions 
of  that  learned  man;  and  too  much  relying  on  the  deductions  of  his 
reason  in  matters  of  faith,  had  become  somewhat  Aveakened  in  his 
hold  on  the  Gospel  principles,  wherein  he  had  once  appeared  to  be 
firmly  established.  The  loss  thus  sustained  had  Ixhmi  manifest  to 
some  of  his  brethren,  more  deeply  experienced  in  the  religion  of 
Christ  than  himself,  and  more  quick  in  discevning  the  stratagems 
of  Satan  ;  and  they  had  tenderly  admonished  him  of  his  danger.  It 
now  was  more  fully  shown,  by  the  withdrawal  of  that  sustaining 
power,  which,  in  time  past,  had  enabled  him  to  endure  cruel  whip- 
pings and  long  imprisonments,  for  the  cause  of  truth  and  righteous- 
ness, and  to  glory  in  tribulations.  He  became  impatient  under 
suffering,  and  I'esolved  to  emigrate  to  America,  rather  than  endure 
it  any  longer.  His  first  engagement  after  crossing  the  Atlantic, 
was  to  assist  in  running  the  boundary  line  between  East  and  West 
Jersey,  but  he  settled  in  Philadelphia  in  1689. 

The  subject  of  sound  literary  education  had,  from  their  rise, 
received  close  attention  from  Fi'iends.  George  Fox,  as  has  been 
noticed,  had  early  recommended  the  establishment  of  boarding- 
schools,  for  both  sexes,  where  they  might  be  taught  "  in  all  things 
civil  and  useful  in  the  creation  ; "  and  the  reports  to  the  Yearly 
Meeting  in  London,  in  1691,  show  there  were  fifteen  such  schools, 
supported  by  Friends  in  different  parts  of  England.  The  early 
settlers  of  Pennsylvania,  were  equally  alive  to  the  importance  of 
education,  and  a  year  had  not  passed  over  after  their  first  landing, 
when  a  school  was  opened  under  the  case  of  a  Friend  named 
Enoch  Flowers.  In  1689,  Friends  in  Philadelphia,  anxious  to 
secure  more  liberal  education,  founded  a  public  school,  where  clas- 
sical as  well  as  English  literature  was  to  be  taught,  and  in  which  the 
children  of  those  not  able  to  bear  the  expense,  were  to  be  instructed 
gratuitously.  This  institution  was  incorporated  in  1697,  and  a  few 
years  later,  William  Penn  granted  another  charter,  extending  its 
privileges  and  powers.  The  views  of  Friends,  in  relation  to  the 
importance  of  a  sound  and  comprehensive  education,  are  thus  set 
forth  in  the  preamble  to  this  document:  "  Whereas  the  prosperity 
and  welfare  of  any  people  depend,  in  great  measure,  upon  the  good 
education  of  youth,  and  their  early  introduction  in  the  principles 
of  true  religion  aud  virtue,  and  qualifying  them  to  serve  their 
country  and  themselves,  by  educating  them  in  reading,  writing  and 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  595 

learning  of  languages,  and  useful  arts  and  sciences,  suitable  to  their 
age,  sex  and  degree ;  which  cannot  be  effected  in  any  manner  so 
well,  as  by  public  schools,  for  the  purposes  aforesaid,"  &c.  Four 
years  after  the  establishment  of  this  school,  the  Assembly  passed  an 
Act  making  it  obligatory  that  every  child  in  the  Province  should 
be  taught  to  read  and  write. 

Friends  by  no  means  ignored  the  use  of  human  reason  and  learn- 
ing, in  the  knowledge  and  work  of  religion.  But  they  rejected  the 
opinion  that  man's  reason,  however  developed  by  culture  and  aided 
by  study  of  Divine  truths  in  the  Scriptures,  is  a  light  or  power  suf- 
ficient to  guide,  or  to  enal)le  him  to  walk  in  the  way  of  salvation. 
Christ  is  the  alone  Author  and  Finisher  of  the  saints'  faith,  and  his 
light  communicated  to  the  soul,  by  the  measure  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
which  He  has  purchased  for  every  human  being,  must  make  mani- 
fest the  things  that  belong  to  the  soul's  peace,  guide,  guard  and 
strengthen  him  in  the  exercise  of  his  intellectual  faculties,  as  he 
enters,  and  takes  step  after  step,  in  the  strait  and  narrow  way  that 
leads  to  eternal  life. 

Of  the  public  school  opened  in  Philadelphia  in  1689,  on  his  arri- 
val in  that  city,  George  Keith  was  made  head  master;  with  a  fair 
compensation  for  the  first  year,  and  a  more  liberal  one  guaranteed  for 
the  second.  He,  however,  had  lost  the  staidness  and  weight  which 
once  attended  him,  and  became  unsettled  and  censorious.  He  gave  up 
the  school  at  the  end  of  the  first  year,  and  soon  after  went  on  a  profes- 
sedly religious  visit  into  New  England  ;  during  which  he  challenged, 
at  different  times,  several  of  other  religious  professions  to  dispute  ;  but 
it  was  remarked,  that  this  seemed  rather  to  display  his  adroitness  as 
a  polemical  disputant,  than  from  a  true  religious  concern  to  promul- 
gate or  defend  the  truth.  He  also  wrote  and  published  three  tracts, 
rebutting  charges  publicly  brought  against  the  doctrines  and  prac- 
tices of  Friends,  defending  and  advocating  them.  Becoming  puffed 
up  with  the  head  knowledge  he  had  attained,  and,  like  Diotrephes 
of  old,  wishing  to  have  the  pre-eminence,  he  indulged  in  criticisms 
on  the  ministry  of  some  of  his  less  learned  brethren,  and  found  fault 
with  the  discipline,  as  well  as  the  manner  in  which  it  was  adminis- 
tered. Having  prepared  what  he  considered  an  improved  code,  he 
j)resented  it  to  the  meeting  of  ministers,  in  the  city^,  for  its  approval. 
That  body,  not  satisfied  to  sanction  the  essay,  referred  its  consider- 
ation to  the  Yearly  Meeting.  The  Yearly  Meeting,  equally  uneasy 
with  some  of  the  proposed  changes,  de -lined  to  adopt  it;  but  ex- 
pressed its  willingness  that  the  whole  matter  should  be  submitted  to 


596  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

the  Yearly  Meeting  in  London.  Tliis  course  George  refused  to 
have  taken,  and  withdrew  the  document.  But  at  this  check  to  liis 
assumption  of  superiority,  he  took  deep  offence;  which  soon  mani- 
fested itself  in  watching  for  occasion  to  hring  charges  against 
Friends,  especially  those  who,  seeing  the  mistaken  course  he  was 
pursuing,  felt  bound  in  Christian  love  to  advise  and  warn  him. 

In  1691,  he  charged  two  approved  ministers  with  having  said, 
that  "The  Light  of  Christ  was  sufficient  for  salvation,  without  any- 
thing else  ;"  which  they  denied  ;  as  they  fully  owned  the  offices  and 
atonement  of  Christ  when  in  the  prepared  body,  as  necessary  to 
salvation.  In  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  ministers  in  that  year,  he  ac- 
cused one  of  those  Friends  of  having  said,  that  he  [G.  K.]  "  preached 
two  Christs ;  "  and  he  insisted  on  the  meeting  going  into  an  investi- 
gation. This  took  place,  and  the  meeting  censured  both, —  the 
Friend  chai-ged,  with  having  used  expressions  wliich  admitted  the 
meaning  attached  to  them  by  G.  Keith ;  and  the  latter,  for  not 
observing  gospel  order  towards  the  Friend,  and  for  using  highly 
improper  language  to  him. 

It  now  became  evident  that  George  Keith  had  departed  from  the 
doctrine  of  the  universality  of  Divine  Grace,  and  its  sufficiency  to 
bruiff  salvation,  as  ever  held  by  Friends,  and  for  which  he  had  con- 
tended so  many  years.  It  was  in  vain  that  honest-hearted  and  re- 
ligiously experienced  Friends  endeavored  to  show  him  the  evils  of 
the  course  he  was  pursuing,  and  besought  him  to  change  it,  and  seek 
to  come  once  more  into  unity  with  the  Society  he  had  so  long  served, 
and  which  had  cherished  esteem  and  love  for  him.  Pie  began  to 
make  railing  accusations  against  them,  and  finding  that  he  was 
supported  by  a  party,  willing,  like  himself,  to  escape  from  the  re- 
straints of  the  self-denying  principles  held  by  Friends,  and  adopt 
some  form  of  religion  that  would  admit  of  more  liberty  to  the  natural 
man,  and  thus  remove  the  ofl'ence  of  the  cross,  he  determined  to  put 
himself  at  their  head,  set  sound  Friends  at  defiance,  and  build  up  a 
sect  holding  opinions  like  his  own. 

Friends  in  England,  hearing  of  the  charges  and  contentions  which 
were  agitating  the  church  in  Pennsylvania,  were  brought  under 
much  concern,  and  several  of  the  more  eminent  and  deeply  ex- 
perienced among  them  addressed  an  epistle  to  their  brethren  there, 
which  abounds  with  religious  instruction  and  pertinent  advice.  The 
following  extract  will  give  some  idea  of  its  character,  and  of  the 
controversy  they  had  to  deal  with. 

After  speaking  of  the  obligation  to  guard  against  speculations 


SEVE^JTEENTH    CENTURY.  597 

about  things  whicli  have  not  been  revealed,  and  entering  into  dis- 
putes relative  to  them,  but  rather  to  show  by  conduct  the  efficacy 
of  the  religion  2:)rofessed,  and  to  cultivate  charity  and  brotherly 
kindness;  they  say,  that  though  Friends  have  always  believed  the 
Gospel  dispensation  to  be  a  spiritual  dispensation;  yet  it  was  "  In 
nowise  to  oppose,  reject,  or  invalidate  Jesus  Christ's  outward 
coming,  suffering,  death,  resurrection,  ascension,  and  glorified  es- 
tate in  the  heavens ;  but  to  bring  men  to  partake  of  the  remission 
of  sins,  recon(;iliatiou  and  eternal  redemption,  which  He  hath  ob- 
tained for  us,  and  for  all  men,  for  whom  He  died  and  gave  himself 
a  ransom  ;  both  for  Jews  and  Gentiles,  for  Indians,  Turks  and 
Pagans,  without  respect  of  person  or  jjeople.  And  Christ  is  to  be 
fully  preached  unto  them,  according  to  the  Holy  Scriptures,  by 
them  whom  He  may  send  unto  them  for  that  end:  that  as  the 
benefit  of  His  sufferings  extends  to  all,  even  to  them  that  have  not 
the  Sciiptures  or  outward  history  thereof,  they  may  be  told  who 
was  and  is  their  chief  friend,  that  gave  Himself  a  ransom  for  them, 
and  hath  enlightened  them  ;  yet  not  excluding  those  from  God's 
mercy  or  salvation  by  Christ,  who  never  had  nor  may  have  the  out- 
ward knowledge  or  liistory  of  Him,  if  they  sincerely  obey  and  live 
up  to  his  Light;  for  his  light  and  salvation  reach  to  the  ends  of 
the  earth.  Yet  still  we  that  have  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  those 
plain,  outwai'd  confirmed  testimonies  concerning  our  blessed  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  both  as  to  his  coming  in  the  flesh  and  in 
the  Spirit,  have  cause  to  be  thankful  to  God  for  the  peculiar  favor, 
and  that  the  Scriptures  are  so  well  preserved  to  posterity  ;  and  we 
beseech  you  let  us  keep  to  the  plainness  and  simplicity  of  Scripture 
language,  in  all  our  discourses  about  matters  of  faith,  divinity  and 
doctrine;  and  sincerely  believe,  own  and  confess  our  blessed  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God,  in  all  his 
comings,  appearances,  properties,  offices  and  works,  both  for  us  and 
in  us." 

This  document,  which  breathes  throughout  the  spii'it  of  Christian 
love,  t\as  signed  by  nine  well  known  and  highly  esteemed  Friends, 
and  was  well  fitted  to  command  serious  consideration,  and  soothe  any 
angry  feeling  that  might  have  sprung  up  ;  while  it  clearly  held 
forth  the  faith  of  Friends  on  the  points  in  dispute.  But  it  had  no 
better  effect  on  George  Keith,  than  the  labors  of  his  friends  where 
he  lived,  had  produced.  He  became  more  irascible,  and  more  bent 
on  widening  the  breach  that  separated  himself  and  party  from  the 
Society.     Having  proposed  that  the  time  for  holding  the  meetings 


598  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

for  worship  in  Philadelphia  should  be  changed,  with  which  Friends 
did  not  unite,  he  took  great  offence,  and,  determined  to  have  his 
own  way,  set  up  a  separate  meeting ;  claiming  the  character  of 
Friend.-i,  under  the  assumed  title  of"  Christian  Quakers."  He  now 
resorted  to  the  press,  and  published  several  baseless  cliarges  against 
Friends;  endeavoring  to  criminate  them  as  unbelievers  in  Christian 
truths.  In  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Philadelphia,  held  in  the  First 
month  of  1692,  he  accused  the  whole  assembly  of  having  come 
together  "  to  cloak  heresies  and  deceit,"  and  finally  declared,  "  There 
were  more  damnable  heresies  and  doctrines  of  devils  among  the 
Quakers,  than  among  any  profession  of  Protestants." 

This  sad  lapse  and  schism  had  now  come  to  a  crisis.  The  Church 
had  sincerely  sought,  in  meekness  and  restoring  love,  to  win  George 
Keith  back  to  the  position  from  which  he  had  fallen  ;  but  he  told 
them  that  ''He  trampled  upon  the  judgment  of  the  meeting  as  dirt 
under  his  feet."  In  order  to  clear  the  cause  of  Truth  from  the 
reproach  he  had  brought  upon  it,  and,  as  much  as  it  was  in  their 
power,  to  protect  the  Society  from  further  harm,  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  of  Ministers,  in  the  Fourth  month  of  1692,  after  hearing 
the  report  of  two  of  its  members  who  had  been  appointed  to  deal 
with  him,  came  to  a  judgment  to  issue  an  address  "To  the  several 
Monthly  and  Quarterly  Meetings  in  Pennsylvania,  East  and  AYest 
Jersey,  and  elsewhere,  as  there  may  be  occasion ; "  in  which  they 
give  a  plain  statement  of  the  origin  and  development  of  the  schism, 
the  unjustifiable  acts  of  George  Keith,  his  departure  from  sound  doc- 
trine, the  labor  of  Friends  for  his  restoration,  his  setting  up  a  sepa- 
rate meeting,  and  his  rejection  of  their  brotherly  counsel  and  efforts 
to  heal  the  breach.  The  meeting  therefore  declares  it  can  no  longer 
own  him  as  a  member,  acknowledge  him  as  a  minister,  nor  give 
countenance  to  those  who  are  siding  with  or  supporting  him  in  his 
course ;  and  it  earnestly  advises  the  latter  to  give  up  their  sepa- 
rate meetings,  and  return  into  fellowship  with  their  brethren.  This 
address  was  signed  by  twenty-eight  ministei's. 

Before  issuing  this  testimony,  it  was  submilted  to  the  inspection 
of  George  Keith,  with  the  view  that,  if  there  was  any  part  to  which 
he  could  make  valid  objection,  it  might  be  duly  reconsidered.  He 
declined  the  offer;  but  his  separate  meeting,  soon  after,  published 
two  documents,  disowning  all  those  concerned  in  the  testimony 
against  him,  and  charging  them  with  a  violation  of  all  gospel  order 
and  Christian  kindness.  He  was  now  disowned,  as  a  member,  by 
the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  of  Philadelphia. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  599 

Some  robbers  having  stolen  a  small  sloop  from  the  wharf  at 
Philadelpliia,  and  e.-caping  with  it  down  the  river,  committed  sev- 
eral robberies.  Three  of  the  Magistrates  in  the  city  issued  a  war- 
rant for  their  capture;  and  they  were  overtaken  and  apprehended. 
This  was  effected  without  using  any  military  force.  Bent  on  bring- 
ing whatever  odium  he  could  on  Friends,  Keith  published  a  scur- 
rilous attack  on  the  JVIagistrates  who  signed  the  warrant,  and  who 
were  Friends,  charging  them  with  having  violated  their  professed 
peaceable  principles;  and  also  casting  severe  personal  reflections 
on  tlie  Deputy-Governor,  Lloyd.  Apprehending  that,  by  this  and 
other  similar  means,  which  he  was  industriously  pursuing,  he  might 
produce  so  much  disaffection  towards  the  government,  as  finally  to 
subvert  it,  the  Magistrates  had  Keith  indicted  and  brought  to  trial. 
He  was  found  guilty,  and  fined  £5  ;  which  fine,  however,  was  never 
collected;  the  object  of  the  trial  being  merely  to  vindicate  Friends 
as  conscientious  supporters  of  civil  government ;  and  stop  the  spread 
of  distrust  and  fear  among  the  inhabitants.  Keith  did  not  fail 
to  misrepresent  this  proceeding  as  persecution,  on  account  of  his 
religion. 

This  troubler  of  the  Church  now  gave  public  notice  of  his  inten- 
tion to  appeal  to  the  Yearly  Meeting,  and  his  reasons  for  so  doing. 
When  that  body  assembled,  at  Burlington  [1692],  instead  of  prose- 
cuting his  appeal  before  it,  he  and  his  partisans  met  separately,  and 
sent  a  message  to  the  meeting,  requiring  that  the  appeal  should  be 
heard  before  them  ;  claiming  to  be  the  Yearly  Meeting.  This  sum- 
mons not  being  regarded,  the  Keith  party  gave  judgment  in  favor 
of  their  leader;  and  put  forth  also  a  confession  of  faith,  drawn  up 
in  terms  calculated  to  deceive  the  unwary. 

The  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  reviewed  the  proceedings  of  the 
subordinate  meetings,  confirmed  them,  and  gave  forth  its  condem- 
nation of  George  Keith  and  his  adherents;  which  was  signed  by 
two  hundred  and  fourteen  Friends.  Other  Yearly  Meetings  in 
America  felt  the  deplorable  consequences  of  this  grievous  inroad 
upon  the  peace  and  harmony  of  the  Society,  and,  after  taking  the 
necessary  means  for  obtaining  a  knowledge  of  the  merits  of  the 
case,  those  of  New  England,  Long  Island,  Maryland,  and  other 
General  Meetings,  including  that  in  Barbadoes,  where  he  had  had 
his  publications  dis.seminated,  declared  their  disunity  with  George 
Keith,  and  those  associated  with  him. 

Professing  that  though  thus  disowned  by  Friends  in  America,  he 
was  in  unity  with  the  Society  in  Great  Britain,  he  resolved  to  carry 


coo  FRIENDS     IX    THE 

his  cause  there,  and  seek  from  Lt)n<loii  Yearly  Meeting  sanction  of 
his  course  and  liis  principles.  Accordingly,  Avith  Thomas  Budd, 
who  had  been  his  active  partisan  throughout  his  contentions,  he 
went  over  to  England.  In  order  to  secure  a  fair  exhibit  of  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  case,  Friends  of  Burlington  Yearly  Meeting  ap- 
pointed Samuel  Jennings  and  Thomas  Ducket  to  attend  in  London 
as  respondents;  who  carried  with  thc^m  a  statement  of  the  causes 
and  reasons  of  G.  Keith's  disownment,  and  an  epistle.  Finding  on 
his  arrival  in  England  that  some  Friends  were  shy  of  him,  Keith  at 
once  entered  complaint  against  them,  to  the  Six  Weeks'  Meeting  in 
London  ;  but  tliat  body,  ascertaining  that  the  subject  involved  trans- 
actions which  had  taken  place  in  Pennsylvania,  declined  entering 
into  the  matter,  but  referred  it  to  the  Yearly  Meeting. 

London  Yearly  Meeting  had  no  jurisdiction  over  any  of  the  meet- 
ings of  Friends  in  America  ;  but  as  this  was  a  case  involving  points 
of  faith  as  well  as  discipline,  attended  with  the  destructive  effects 
of  a  separation  in  a  Year!}'  INIeeting,  where  Friends  were  a  lai'ge 
and  influential  l)ody ;  and  as  the  Burlington  meeting  had  implied 
its  willingness  to  have  its  proceedings  reviewed  by  London  Yearly 
Meeting,  by  sending  over  respondents,  the  latter  Meeting  concluded 
to  consider  the  whole  subject.  Therefore,  on  the  day  when  the 
epistles  from  the  different  corresponding  meetings  in  America  were 
read  [1G!)4],  all  of  which  referred  to  the  defection,  George  Keith 
was  invited  to  attend.  He,  at  the  same  time,  presented  to  the  meet- 
ing his  statement  and  defence,  which,  at  his  request,  was  also  read, 
and  the  meeting  decided  to  enter  upon  the  examination  of  the 
merits  of  the  case,  when  its  other  business  was  finished. 

During  the  investigation,  which  lasted  six  days,  all  the  docu- 
ments, epistles  and  other  papers  in  the  case,  issued  by  Friends,  were 
read  ;  as  were  also  the  different  ])amphlets  and  other  documents 
pul)lished  by  George  Keitli ;  and  both  parties  were  fully  heard  in 
their  oral  pleadings.  The  members  of  the  meeting  then  gave  their 
opinions,  and  the  judgment  was  given,  "That  the  separation  lay  at 
George  Keith's  door;  and  that  his  printing  and  publishing  the  dif- 
ferences as  he  had  done,  was  wrong,  and  out  of  the  wisdom  and 
counsel  of  God;"  and  the  meeting  required  him  either  to  call  in 
those  publications,  or  to  put  forth  his  condemnation  of  them,  and 
make  public  something  that  would  clear  Friends  in  America  from 
the  gross  errors  charged  on  some  few  there,  and  to  retract  the  bitter 
language  he  had  used  in  those  publications,  and  use  all  his  influence 
to  remove  the  separation  he  had  caused,  and    "  Help  f(  rward  a 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  601 

retiniting  and  amicable  composure,  for  the  holy  truth's  sake,  the  glory 
of  God,  and  the  peace  of  his  people."  The  meeting  disapproved  of 
the  Magistrates,  who  were  Friends,  suing  him  at  law.  Here,  it 
says,  "  There  appears  to  have  been  too  much  height  of  spirit  on  both 
sides,  and  both  had  need  to  be  deeply  humbled  ;  both  provokers  and 
provoked." 

Tliis  advice  being  rejected  by  Keith,  and  he  continuing  to  make 
unjustifiable  and  unfounded  charges  against  Friends,  at  the  next 
Yearly  Meeting,  he  was  allowed  to  be  present,  and  have  read  before 
it,  another  statement  of  his  cause, —  in  which,  however,  he  charged 
Friends  with  holding  unsound  doctrines,  and  declared  he  had  many 
to  support  him, —  the  meeting  then  "  Proceeded  weightily,  in  the 
fear  of  God  and  sense  of  his  eternal  power,"  to  give  its  sense  of 
George  Keith's  paper  and  his  spirit.  He  was  permitted  to  be  pres- 
ent the  next  day,  to  hear  the  judgment  arrived  at,  and  on  its  being 
communicated,  he  broke  out  into  violent  and  offensive  language  to- 
wards Friends,  and  went  away  iu  anger.  The  meeting,  after  having 
thus  exhausted  the  means  for  his  recovery  and  reconciliation,  unani- 
mously agreed  to  issue  a  testimony  of  disownment,  which  contains 
the  following.  "  It  is  the  sense  and  judgment  of  this  meeting  that 
the  said  George  Keith  is  gone  from  the  blessed  unity  of  the  peace- 
able Spirit  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  hath  thereby  separated 
himself  from  the  holy  fellowship  of  the  Church  of  Christ ;  and  that 
while  he  is  in  an  unreconciled  and  uncharitable  state,  he  ought  not 
to  preach  or  pray  iu  any  of  Friends'  meetings,  nor  be  owned  or  re- 
ceived as  one  of  us,  until  by  a  public  and  hearty  acknowledgment 
of  the  great  offence  he  has  given,  and  hurt  he  hath  done,  and  con- 
demnation of  himself  therefor,  he  gives  proof  of  his  unfeigned  re- 
pentance, and  does  his  endeavour  to  remove  and  take  off  the 
reproach  he  hath  brought  upon  Truth  and  Frientls ;  which,  in  the 
love  of  God,  we  heartily  desire  for  his  soul's  sake." 

Disowned  by  the  whole  Society,  Keith  commenced  holding  meet- 
ings at  Turner's  Hall,  London  [1695]  ;  where,  as  he  retained  the 
garb  and  language  of  a  Friend,  he  was  joined  by  some  who  had  left 
the  Society  with  Wilkinson  and  Story,  and  by  others  attracted  by  curi- 
osity. He  continued  to  publish  accusations  and  invectives  against 
Friends,  and  (;iiallenged  George  Whitehead,  William  Penn  and 
others  to  publicly  di.'^pute  with  him.  liut  to  tluiii  he  was  "  as  a 
heathen  man  and  a  |iiihlii'aii,"  and  thcv  declined  iiieetiiig  him, 
making  their  reasons  puljlic.  Thomas  h^llwood,  (n'orge  Whiteliead 
and  one  or  two  otliers,  published  re])lies  to  his  printed  attacks,  ex- 


602  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

posing  tliL'ir  untruthfulness,  iind  quoting  largely  from  his  puhlisliT^d 
works,  issued  in  former  days,  to  show  how  he  misrepresented  Friends 
and  their  doctrines,  and  using  his  own  words  to  confute  his  present 
charges. 

Thus  the  following  is  taken  from  his  published  reply  to  Cotton 
Mather,  who  had  brouo'ht  charges  against  Friends  similar  to  those 
now  preferred  by  him.  "  Our  principles  do  mostly  agree  with  the 
fundamental  articles  of  the  Christian  Protestant  faith.  Accord- 
ing to  my  best  knowledge  of  the  people  called  Quakers,  and  those 
owned  by  them  as  preachers  and  publishers  of  their  belief,  lieing  of 
an  unquestionable  esteem  among  them,  and  worthy  of  double  honor, 
as  there  are  many  such,  I  know  none  of  them  that  are  guilty  of  such 
heresies  and  blasphemies  as  they  are  charged  with.  And  I  think 
I  should  know,  and  do  know  those  called  Quakers,  having  been 
conversant  with  them  in  public  meetings  as  well  as  in  private  dis- 
courses, with  the  most  noted  and  esteemed  among  them,  for  about 
twenty-eight  years  past,  and  that  in  many  places  of  the  world,  both 
in  Europe  and  America." 

It  was  not  long  before  he  grew  tired  of  the  miserable  position  in 
which  lie  had  placed  himself,  and  having  now'  uo  fixed  religious 
principles,  he  sought  a  change.  He  threw  off  the  dress,  language 
and  manners  of  a  Friend,  and  courted  the  patronage  of  the  "Es- 
tablished Church,"  and  as  much  was  hoped  from  him  as  a  bitter 
enemy  to  the  Quakers,  he  was  erelong  ordained  a  minister  in  it,  by 
the  Bishop  of  London.  Under  the  auspices  of  "  The  Society  for 
the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,"  he  went  again  to 
America,  making  large  promises  of  the  success  he  should  have  iu 
gathering  Quakers  back  to  the  mother  church.  While  there  he  was 
instrumental  in  having  Samuel  Bownas  —  who  at  that  time  was 
travelling  in  the  Colonies,  on  a  religious  visit  —  shut  up  illegally 
and  unjustly  in  jail,  for  nearly  a  year,  and  in  frequently  disturbing 
Friends  in  their  meetings  by  his  indecorous  intrusions  ;  but  his 
efforts  at  refolding  those  he  pretended  to  consider  lost  sheep,  -were 
a  failure.  In  little  more  than  two  years  he  went  back,  and  was 
given  a  "living,"  at  Elburton,  in  Sussex.  He  became  noted  for 
the  severity  with  which  he  exacted  tithes,  and  closed  his  career  in 
1714,  saying,  in  the  honest  hour  of  death,  "He  wished  he  had  died 
when  he  was  a  Quaker;  and  he  did  believe  if  God  had  taken  hinj 
out  of  the  world  when  he  went  among  the  Quakers,  and  in  that 
profession,  it  had  been  well  with  him." 

Bishop  Burnet's  account  of  G.  Keith  and  his  course,  based  on  the 


SEVEXTEENTII    CENTURY.  603 

statements  of  Keith,  is  very  erroneous.  He,  however,  thus  confirins 
his  joining  tlie  Episcopal  Church.  "  He  continued  these  meetings 
[at  Turner's  Hall],  being  still  in  outward  appearance  a  Quaker,  for 
some  years,  till  having  prevailed  so  fiir  as  he  saw  any  probability 
of  success,  he  laid  aside  their  exterior,  and  was  reconciled  to  the 
Church,  and  is  now  in  holy  orders  among  us,  and  likely  to  do  good 
service  in  undeceiving  and  reclaiming  some  of  those  misled  enthu- 
siasts." 

Those  in  Pennsylvania,  who  followed  Keith  into  separation, 
though  they  had  set  up  meetings  of  their  own  in  Philadelphia,  Bur- 
lington, Bucks,  and  other  places,  and  continued,  for  a  few  years,  to 
trouble  Friends  by  intruding  on  their  meetings,  yet  they  soon  quar- 
relled among  themselves  ;  a  few  saw  their  error,  and  acknowledged 
it,  and  were  received  back  into  the  Society;  some  joined  other  reli- 
gious Societies, — principally  the  Baptists, — others  gave  up  all  pro- 
fession of  religion,  and  by  the  end  of  that  century,  they  had  almost 
disappeared. 

Friends  continued  to  increase  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey, 
not  only  by  the  arrival  of  new  immigrants  of  their  own  religious  be- 
lief, but  also  from  numerous  convincements  of  the  correctness  of 
their  Christian  doctrines  and  testimonies,  among  people  willing  to 
take  up  the  cross  and  join  in  membership  with  them.  A  consider- 
able body  of  Welsh  came  over  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  giving 
the  name  of  North  Wales  to  the  part  of  the  country  where  they 
lived.  Many  of  these  became  worthy,  consistent  Friends,  some 
being  convinced  under  the  ministry  of  Ellis  Pugh,  their  fellow 
countryman,  who  had  come  into  the  country  some  time  before. 
They  estaldished  a  meeting  in  1698,  which  they  called  Gwynedd. 
Not  only  was  it  by  ministry  that  man}^  were  added  to  the  Society, 
but  the  guarded,  consistent  conduct  and  otherwise  exemplary  lives 
of  members,  were  effectual,  in  many  instances,  to  arrest  the  attention 
of  honest  inquirers  after  Truth,  and  lead  them  to  embrace  a  religion 
producing  such  fruits. 

Colonel  Fletcher,  who,  when  the  government  of  Pennsylvania 
was  joined  to  that  of  New  York,  held  the  reins  of  power  there,  came 
on  to  Philadelphia  to  have  the  affairs  of  the  Province  regulated  ac- 
cording to  his  own  ideas  of  what  was  required.  He  entered  the  city 
accompanied  by  a  military  escort,  and  soon  summoned  the  Assem- 
bly to  meet  him.  He  demanded  of  the  latter  money  and  supplies, 
to  aid  in  defending  the  frontiers.  Friends  were  largely  in  the  ma- 
jority, and  instead  of  complying  with  his  requisition,  they  resolved, 


604  FRIENDS     IX    THE 

tliat  tlu'ir  laws  woiv  not  affected  ])y  tlie  chan,<re  in  the  government, 
and  they  caUed  on  liini  at  once  to  recognize  their  validity.  He 
claimed  that  he  was  not  bonnd  by  what  had  been  done  before  he 
was  clothed  with  power,  under  the  great  seal  of  the  kingdom  ;  with 
which  their  laws  could  not  come  in  competition.  The  Assembly, 
however,  resolved,  that  the  charter  granted  by  Charles  II.,  had 
never  been  revoked,  and  unless  that  was  done,  the  rights  and  privi- 
leges of  the  Colonists  could  not  be  legally  invaded. 

Fletcher  was  finally  obliged  to  yield  to  the  determined  stand  taken 
by  the  Assembly,  to  acknowledge  the  form  of  government  already 
instituted,  and  the  binding  authority  of  the  laws  it  had  passed. 
Afterwards  the  Assembly  voted  a  tax  of  one  penny  on  the  pound, 
to  he  paid  to  the  home  Government,  with  the  stipulation,  that  "  it 
should  not  be  dipped  in  blood."  Fletcher  was  greatly  dissatisfied, 
and  wrote  home,  advising  that  Penn's  charter  should  be  broken, 
and  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  be  both  united  in  one  Province 
with  New  York,  so  that  the  Quakers  might  be  outvoted.  But  after 
William  Penn  had  been  cleared  of  any  complicity  with  treason,  he 
applied  for  the  restoration  of  all  the  rights  granted  him  in  the 
charter  of  Pennsylvania,  and  upon  a  full  examination  and  the  re- 
moval of  objections,  a  patent  was  issued,  reinvesting  him  with  his 
original  power  and  functions.     This  was  in  the  latter  part  of  1(394. 

Preachers  from  other  Colonies,  wh'ere  Friends  had  established 
themselves,  and  from  across  the  Atlantic,  frequently  visited  their 
brethren  ;  watering  the  heritage  with  streams  of  gospel  ministry,  and 
laboring  to  keep  the  camp  clear  of  defilement ;  and  during  the  years 
under  review,  their  religious  concern,  and  that  of  residents  equally 
engaged  in  the  Lord's  work,  were  blessed.  The  same  may  be  said 
of  Friends  in  other  Provinces  ;  though  in  them  the  increase  of  the 
Society  was  much  more  slow,  in  consequence  of  comparatively  few 
members  from  distant  countries  settling  among  them.  All  acknowl- 
edging the  same  faith,  and  generally  maintaining  the  same  testi- 
monies, the  stream  of  unity  and  harmony  flowed  uninterruptedly  ; 
while  the  respective  meetings  were  on  the  watch  to  prevent  the  in- 
troduction of  unsound  doctrine,  or  any  evil  that  would  create  dis- 
unity, and  mar  their  peace  and  prosperity. 

Friends  in  England,  though  freed  from  the  action  of  most  of  the 
unjust  laws,  by  which  they  had  been  made  to  suffer  so  long  and  so 
terribly,  were  yet  subjected  to  great  inconyeuieuces,  to  imposition 
and  loss,  on  account  of  being  conscientiously  restrained  from  taking 
an  oath.     Encouraged  by  the  more  liberal  feeling  in  relation  to  re- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  605 

ligious  belief,  apparently  prevailing,  they  presented  a  petition  to 
Parliament  in  1693,  that  relief  might  be  granted  them,  by  the  pas- 
sage of  a  law  substituting  a  solemn  affirmation  in  all  cases  where  an 
oath  was  then  requii-ed.  This  petition  being  read,  was  referred  to 
a  committee;  which  reported  after  examination,  that  "Upon  the 
whole,  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  committee,  that  the  Quakers  ought 
to  be  relieved,  according  to  the  prayer  of  their  petition." 

Those  who  were  opposed  to  Friends  were,  however,  numerous  and 
influential  enough  in  Parliament,  to  prevent  action  being  taken  on 
the  report ;  and  it  was  passed  over  for  that  session. 

Sensible  that  the  misrepresentations  and  perversions  of  the  doc- 
trines held  by  Friends,  which  had  been  persistently  asserted  and 
industriously  circulated  by  George  Keith  and  liis  abettors,  had  prej- 
udiced the  minds  of  many  against  them,  and  alive  to  the  duty  of 
clearly  informing  the  public  of  the  faitli  held  and  ever  promulgated 
by  them.  Friends  in  England  published,  and  had  widely  spread,  an 
exposition  of  their  faith  on  several  fundamental  points,  as  they  had 
done  repeatedly  before.  This  document  was  entitled  "  The  Chris- 
tian Doctrine  and  the  Society  of  the  people  called  Quakers, 
cleared,"  &c.  Owing  to  the  same  cause.  Friends  in  Pennsylvania 
had  felt  called  to  issue  a  Declaration  of  Faith,  similar,  so  far  as  it 
goes,  to  that  issued  by  Friends  in  England  ;  but  as  the  latter  in- 
cludes the  substance  of  the  former,  and  treats  on  some  points  not 
noticed  in  it,  the  Declaration  put  forth  by  Friends  in  England  will 
be  given  at  the  conclusion  of  this  work. 

William  Penn  published  "Primitive  Christianity  Revived ;"  in 
which  he  gives  the  objections  made  to  the  doctrines  of  Friends,  and 
answers  them  ;  showing  the  common  misrepresentation,  and  the  truth 
of  the  doctrines  held.  The  following  touches  on  points  that  have 
been  before  noticed : 

"  Sec.  VIII.,  Obj.  1.  Though  there  be  many  good  things  said, 
how  Christ  appears  and  works  in  a  soul,  to  awaken,  convince  and 
convert  it ;  yet  you  seem  not  particular  enough  about  the  death  and 
sufferings  of  Christ;  and  it  is  generally  rumored  and  charged  upon 
you  by  your  adversaries,  that  you  have  little  reverence  to  the  doc- 
trine of  Christ's  satisfaction  to  God  for  our  sins,  and  that  you  do 
not  believe,  that  the  active  and  passive  obedience  of  Christ,  when 
He  was  in  the  world,  is  the  alone  ground  of  a  sinner's  justification 
before  God. 

"  Axs.  The  doctrines  of  satisfaction  and  justification,  truly  under- 
stood, are  placed  in  so  strict  an  union,  that  the  one  is  a  necessary 


606  FRIENDS    IN    TlIK 

conseqtuMK-e  of  tlie  other;  and  what  we  say  of  them,  is  what  agrees 
with  the  suffrage  of  Seripture,  and,  for  the  most  part,  in  the  terms 
of  it;  always  believing,  that  in  points  where  tlierc  arises  any  diffi- 
culty, 1)0  it  from  the  obscurity  of  expression,  mis-translation,  or  the 
dust  raised  by  the  heats  of  partial  writers,  or  nice  critics,  it  is  ever 
best  to  keep  close  to  the  text,  and  maintain  charity  in  the  rest.  I 
shall  first  speak  negatively,  what  we  do  not  own  ;  which,  perhaps, 
hath  given  occasion  to  those  who  have  been  more  hasty  than  wise, 
to  judge  us  defective  in  our  belief  of  the  efficacy  of  the  death  and 
sufferings  of  Christ  to  justification  : 

"  2.  First,  We  cannot  believe  that  Christ  is  the  cause,  but  the 
effect  of  God's  love,  according  to  the  testimony  of  the  beloved  disci- 
ple, John,  chap.  iii.  16  :  '  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his 
only  begotten  Son  into  the  world,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him 
should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.' 

"  Secondly,  We  cannot  say  God  could  not  have  taken  another 
way  to  save  sinners,  than  by  the  death  and  suflf'erings  of  his  Son,  to 
satisfy  his  justice,  or  that  Christ's  death  and  sufferings  were  a  strict 
and  rigid  satisfaction  for  that  eternal  death  and  misery  due  to  man 
for  sin  and  transgression  ;  for  such  a  notion  were  to  make  God's 
mercy  little  concerned  in  man's  salvation  ;  and,  indeed;  we  are  at 
too  great  a  distance  from  his  infinite  wisdom  and  power,  to  judge 
of  the- liberty  or  necessity  of  his  actings. 

"Thirdly,  We  cannot  say. Jesus  Christ  was  the  greatest  sinner  in 
the  world  (because  he  bore  our  sins  on  his  cross,  or  because  he  was 
made  sin  for  us,  who  knew  no  sin),  an  expression  of  great  levity 
and  unsoundness,  yet  often  said  by  great  preachers  and  professors 
of  religion. 

"Fourthly,  We  cannot  believe  that  Christ's  death  and  sufferings 
so  satisfy  God,  or  justify  men,  as  that  they  are  thereby  accepted  of 
God.  They  are  indeed  thereby  put  into  a  state  capable  of  being 
accepted  of  God,  and,  through  the  obedience  of  faith  and  sanctifica- 
tion  of  the  spirit,  are  in  a  state  of  acceptance.  We  can  never  think 
a  man  justified  before  God,  while  self-condemned  ;  or  that  any  man 
can  be  in  Christ  who  is  not  a  new  creature ;  or  that  God  looks 
upon  men  otherwise  than  they  are.  We  think  it  a  state  of  presump- 
tion and  not  of  salvation  to  call  Jesus  Lord,  and  not  by  the  work 
of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  Master,  and  he  not  yet  master  of  their  affections; 
Saviour,  and  they  not  saved  by  him  from  their  sins;  Redeemer,  and 
yet  they  not  redeemed  by  him  from  their  passions,  pride,  covetous- 
ness,  wantonness,  vanity,  vain  honors,  friendships,  and  glory  of  this 


SEVEXTEENTH    CEXTURY.  607 

■world  ;  which  is  to  deceive  themselves  ;  for  God  will  not  be  mocked  ; 
such  as  men  sow,  such  they  must  reap.  And  though  Christ  did  die 
for  us,  yet  we  must,  by  the  assistance  of  his  grace,  work  out  our 
salvation  with  fear  and  trembling:  as  He  died  for  sin,  so  we  must 
die  to  sin,  or  we  cannot  be  said  to  be  saved  by  the  death  and  sufter- 
ings  of  Christ,  or  thoroughly  justified  and  accepted  with  God.  Thus 
far  negatively.     Now  positively  what  we  own  as  to  justification. 

"  3.  We  do  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  was  our  holy  sacrifice,  atone- 
ment, and  propitiation ;  that  he  bore  our  iniquities,  and  thr^t  by  his 
stripes  w-e  were  healed  of  the  wounds  Adam  gave  us  in  his  fall ; 
and  that  God  is  just  in  forgivin*g  true  penitents  upon  the  credit  of 
that  holy  offering  which  Christ  made  of  himself  to  God  for  us ; 
and  that  what  he  did  and  suffered,  satisfied  and  pleased  God,  and 
was  for  the  sake  of  fallen  man,  wlio  had  displeased  God  ;  and  that 
through  the  offering  up  of  himself  once  for  all,  through  the  eternal 
Spirit,  He  hath  forever  perfected  those  (in  all  times)  that  were 
sanctified,  who  walked  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  spirit.  Rom. 
viii.  1.     Mark  that. 

"4.  In  short,  justification  consists  of  two  parts,  or  hath  a  twofold 
consideration,  viz.,  justification  from  the  guilt  of  sin,  and  justifica- 
tion from  the  power  and  pollution  of  sin  ;  and  in  this  sense  justifi- 
cation gives  a  man  a  full  and  clear  acceptance  before  God.  For 
want  of  this  latter  part  it  is,  that  so  many  souls,  religiously  inclined, 
are  often  under  doubts,  scruples,  and  des2:)ondencies,  notwithstand- 
ing all  that  their  teachers  tell  them  of  the  extent  antl  efficacy  of 
the  first  part  of  justification.  And  it  is  too  general  an  unhappiness 
among  the  professors  of  Christianity,  that  they  are  apt  to  cloak 
their  own  active  and  passive  disobedience  with  the  active  and  pas- 
sive obedience  of  Christ. 

"  The  first  part  of  justification,  we  do  reverently  and  humbly 
acknowledge,  is  only  for  the  sake  of  the  death  and  sufferings  of 
Christ;  nothing  we  can  do,  though  by  the  operation  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  being  able  to  cancel  old  debts,  or  wipe  out  old  scores ;  it  is 
the  power  and  efficacy  of  that  propitiatory  offering,  upon  faith  and 
repentance,  that  justifies  us  from  the  sins  that  are  past;  and  it  is 
the  power  of  Christ's  spirit  in  our  Hearts,  that  purifies  and  makes  us 
acceptable  before  God.  For  until  the  heart  of  man  is  purged  from 
sin,  God  will  never  accept  of  it.  He  reproves,  rebukes,  and  con- 
demns those  that  entertain  sin  there,  and  therefore  such  cannot  be 
said  to  be  in  a  justified  state;  condemjiation  and  justification  being 
contraries.     So  that  they  that  hold  themselves  in  a  justified  state  by 


608  FRIENDS    I N    T  II  E 

tlie  nctive  and  passive  obedience  of  Clii'ist,  while  tliey  are  not  ac- 
tively and  passively  obedient  to  tlie  Spirit  of  Christ  Jesus,  are  under 
a  strong  and  dangerous  delusion  ;  and  for  crying  out  against  (his 
sin-pleasing  imagination,  not  to  say  doctrine,  we  are  staged  and 
reproached  as  deniers  and  despisers  of  the  death  and  sufferings  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  But  be  it  known  to  such,  they  add  to 
Clirist's  sufferings,  and  crucify  to  themselves  afresh  the  Son  of  God, 
and  tramjjle  the  blood  of  the  covenant  under  their  feet,  who  walk 
unholily  under  a  profession  of  justification ;  for  God  will  not  acquit 
the  guilty,  nor  justify  the  disobedient  and  unfaithful.  Such  deceive 
themselves  ;  and  at  the  great  and  final  judgment,  their  sentence 
will  not  be,  'Come,  ye  blessed  ;'  because  it  cannot  be  said  to  them, 
'  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  ; '  for  they  cannot  be  so  esteemed  who 
live  and  die  in  a  reprovable  and  condcmnable  state;  but,  'Go,  ye 
cursed,'  &c." 

"Sec.  IX. — 1.  And  lest  any  should  say  we  are  equivocal  in  our 
expressions,  and  allegorize  away  Christ's  appearance  in  the  flesh  ; 
meaning  only  thereby  our  own  flesh  ;  and  that  as  often  as  we  men- 
tion Him,  we  mean  only  a  mystery,  or  a  mystical  sense  of  Him,  be 
it  as  to  his  coming,  birth,  miracles,  sufferings,  death,  resurrection, 
ascension,  mediation  and  judgment;  I  would  yet  add,  to  preserve 
the  well  disposed  from  being  staggered  by  such  suggestions,  and  to  in- 
form and  reclaim  such  as  are  under  the  power  and  prejudice  of  them, 

"That  we  do,  we  bless  God,  religiously  believe  and  confess,  to  the 
glory  of  God  the  Father,  and  the  honor  of  his  dear  and  beloved 
Son,  that  Jesus  Christ  took  our  nature  upon  him,  and  was  like  unto 
us  in  all  things,  sin  excepted:  that  He  was  born  of  the  Virgin 
Mary,  suffered  under  Pontius  Pilate,  the  Roman  Governor,  was 
crucified,  dead,  and  buried  in  the  sepulchre  of  Joseph  of  Arimathea; 
rose  again  the  third  day,  and  ascended  into  heaven,  and  sits  on  the 
right  hand  of  God,  ia  the  power  and  majesty  of  his  Father;  who 
will  one  day  judge  the  world  by  him,  even  that  blessed  Man,  C-hrist 
Jesus,  according  to  their  works. 

"  2.  But  because  we  so  believe,  must  we  not  believe  what  Christ 
said,  '  He  that  is  with  you  shall  be  in  you.'  '  I  in  them,  and  they 
in  me,'  &c.  '  When  it  pleased  God  to  reveal  his  Son  in  me.'  '  The 
mystery  hid  from  ages,  is  Christ  in  the  Gentiles,  the  hope  of  glory.' ' 
'Unless  Christ  be  in  you,  ye  are  reprobates!'  Or  must  we  be  in- 
dustriously represented  as  deniers  of  Christ's  coming  in  the  flesh, 
and  the  holy  ends  of  it,  in  all  the  parts  and  branches  of  his  doing 
and  suffering,  only  because  we  believe  and  press  the  nece-sity  of 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  609 

believing,  receiving  and  obeying  his  inward  and  spiritual  appear- 
ance and  manifestation  of  himself,  through  his  light,  grace  and 
Spirit,  in  the  hearts  and  consciences  of  men  and  women,  to  reprove, 
convict,  convert  and  change  them  ?  This  we  esteem  hard  and  un- 
righteous measui'e  ;  nt)r  would  our  warm  and  sharp  adversaries  be 
so  dealt  v/ith  by  others:  but  to  do  as  they  would  be  done  to,  is  too 
often  no  part  of  their  practice,  whatever  it  be  of  their  profession. 

"  3.  Yet  we  are  very  ready  to  declare  to  the  whole  world,  that 
we  cannot  think  men  and  women  can  be  saved  by  their  belief  of  the 
one,  without  the  sense  and  experience  of  the  other ;  and  that  is  what 
we  oppose,  and  not  h.is  blessed  manifestation  in  the  flesh.  We  say 
that  He  then  overcame  our  common  enemy,  foiled  him  in  the  open 
field,  and  in  our  nature  triumphed  over  him,  that  had  overcome  and 
triumphed  over  it  in  our  forefather  Adam,  and  his  posterity:  and 
that  as  truly  as  Christ  overcame  him  in  our  nature,  in  his  own 
person,  so  by  his  Divine  Grace,  being  received  and  obeyed  by  us, 
He  overcomes  him  in  us :  that  is,  He  detects  the  enemy  by  his  light 
in  the  conscience,  and  enables  the  creature  to  resist  him,  and  all  his 
fiery  darts ;  and  finally,  so  to  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith,  as  to 
overcome  liim,  and  lay  hold  on  eternal  life. 

"4.  And  this  is  the  dispensation  of  Grace,  which  we  declare  has 
appeared  to  all,  more  or  less ;  teaching  those  who  will  receive  it, 
'  to  deny  ungodliness  and  worldly  lusts,  and  to  live  soberly,  right- 
eously, and  godly  in  this  present  world  ;  looking  for  (which  none 
else  can  justly  do)  the  blessed  hope  and  glorious  appearing  of  the 
great  God,  and  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,'  &c.  And  as  from  the 
teachings,  experience  and  motion  of  this  grace  we  minister  to  others, 
so  the  very  drift  of  our  ministry  is  to  turn  people's,  minds  to  this 
grace  in  themselves,  that  all  of  them  may  be  up  and  doing,  even 
the  good  and  acceptable  will  of  God,  and  work  out  their  salva- 
tion with  fear  and  trembling,  and  make  their  high  and  heavenly 
calling  and  election  sure;  which  none  else  can  do,  whatever  be 
their  profession,  church  or  character;  for  such  as  men  sow  they" 
must  reap;  and  his  servants  we  are  whom  we  obey.  Regeneration 
we  must  know,  or  we  cannot  be  children  of  God,  and  heirs  of 
eternal  glory.  To  be  born  again,  another  Spirit  must  prevail, 
leaven,  season,  and  govern  us,  than  either  the  spirit  of  the  world, 
or  our  own  de})raved  spirits ;  and  this  can  be  no  other  S])irit  than  that 
which  dw(;lt  in  Christ;  for  unless  that  dwell  in  us,  we  can  be  none 
of  his,  Rom.  viii.  9.  And  this  Spirit  Ixsgins  in  conviction,  and  ends 
in  conversion  and  perseverance ;  and  the  one  Ibllows  the  other. 
39 


610  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

Couversion  being  the  ooiisequence  of  convictions  obeyed,  and  per- 
severance a  natural  fruit  of  conversion,  and  being  born  of  God  ; 
'  For  such  sin  not,  because  the  Seed  of  God  abides  in  them.'  But 
such,  through  faithfulness,  continue  to  the  end,  and  ol)tain  the 
promise,  even  everlasting  life. 

"5.  But  let  my  reader  take  this  along  with  him,  that  we  do  ac- 
knowledge that  Christ,  through  his  holy  doing  and  suffering,  for 
being  a  Son  he  learned  obedience,  has  obtained  mercy  of  God  his 
Father  for  mankind,  and  that  his  obedience  has  an  influence  to  our 
salvation,  in  all  the  parts  and  branches  of  it;  since  thereby  He  be- 
came a  conqueror,  and  led  captivity  captive,  and  obtained  gifts  for 
men,  with  divers  great  and  precious  promises;  that  thereby  we 
might  be  partakers  of  the  Divine  nature,  having  escaped  the  cor- 
ruption that  is  in  the  world,  through  lust.  I  say,  we  do  believe 
and  confess,  that  the  active  and  passive  obedience  of  Christ  Jesus 
affects  our  salvation  throughout,  as  well  from  the  power  and  pollu- 
tion of  sin,  as  from  the  guilt.  He  being  a  conqueror  as  well  as  a 
sacrifice,  and  both  through  suffering.  Yet  they  that  reject  his 
Divine  gift,  so  obtained,  and  which  He  has  given  to  them,  by  which 
to  see  their  sin  and  the  sinfulness  of  it,  and  to  repent  and  turn  away 
from  it,  and  do  so  no  more  ;  and  to  wait  upon  God  for  daily  strength 
to  resist  the  fiery  darts  of  the  enemy,  and  to  be  comforted  through 
the  obedience  of  faith  in  and  to  this  Divine  grace  of  the  Son  of 
God,  such  do  not  please  God,  do  not  believe  truly  in  God,  nor  are 
they  in  a  state  of  true  Christianity  and  salvation.  '  Woman,'  said 
Christ,  to  the  Samaritan  at  the  well,  '  hadst  thou  known  the  gift  of 
God,  and  who  it  is  that  speaketh  to  thee,'  &c.  People  know  not 
Christ  and  God,  '  whom  to  know  is  life  eternal,'  because  they  are 
ignorant  of  the  gift  of  God,  viz. :  '  A  manifestation  of  the  Spirit  of 
God  is  given  to  every  man  to  profit  withal;'  which  reveals  Christ 
and  God  to  the  soul.  Flesh  and  blood  cannot  do  it,  Oxfoi-d  and 
Cambridge  cannot  do  it,  tongues  and  philosophy  cannot  do  it :  for 
they  who  by  wisdom  knew  not  God,  had  these  things  for  their 
wisdom.  They  were  strong,  deep  and  accurate  in  them  ;  but,  alas! 
they  were  clouded,  puffed  up,  and  set  further  off  from  the  inward 
and  saving  knowledge  of  God,  because  they  sought  for  it  in  them, 
and  thought  to  find  God  there.  But  the  key  of  David  is  another 
thing,  which  shuts  and  no  man  opens,  and  opens  and  no  man 
shuts ;  and  this  key  have  all  they  that  receive  the  gift  of  God  into 
their  hearts,  and  it  opens  to  them  the  knowledge  of  God  and 
themselves,  and  gives  them  quite  another  sight,  taste  and  judgment 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  611 

of  things  than  their  educational  or  traditional  knowledge  afforded 
them.  This  is  the  beginning  of  the  new  creation  of  God,  and  thus 
it  is  we  come  to  be  new  creatures. 

"  And  'we  are  bold  to  declare,  there  is  no  other  way  like  this,  by 
which  people  can  come  into  Christ,  or  be  true  Christians,  or  receive 
the  advantage  that  conies  by  the  death  and  sufferings  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ."  * 

*  Tliat  views  on  these  important  points  of  Christian  doctrine,  closely 
approximating,  if  not  identical  with  those  lield  by  Friends,  were  entertained 
by  some  of  the  more  enlightened  theologians  of  that  day,  is  shown  by  the 
following  extracts  from  a  work  entitled  "  Rational  Tlieology  and  Christian 
Philosophy  in  England  in  the  Seventeenth  Century,"  by  John  TuUoch,  pub- 
lished in  1872.  First  from  Benjamin  Whichcote,  who  appears  to  have  been 
for  some  time  in  fellowship  with  Puritans,  and  afterwards,  being  connected 
with  the  "  Cliurch,"  was  made  Provost  of  King's  College,  Cambridge.  Speak- 
ing of  the  necessity  of  Christ's  work  within  man,  as  well  as  his  work  without, 
he  says:  "For  God's  acts  are  not  false,  overly,  imperfect.  God  cannot  make 
a  vain  show ;  God,  being  perfectly  under  the  power  of  goodness,  cannot  deny 
Himself — because  if  He  sliould.  He  would  depart  from  goodness,  which  is 
impossible  to  God.  Therefore  we  must  yield ;  be  subdued  to  the  rules  of 
goodness,  receiving  stamps  and  impressions  from  God,  and  God  cannot  be 
further  pleased  than  when  goodness  takes  place.  They  therefore  deceive  and 
flatter  themselves  extremely  wlio  think  of  reconciliation  with  God  by  means 
of  a  Saviour  acting  upon  God  on  tiieir  behalf,  and  not  also  working  in  and 
upon  them  to  make  them  God-lifce." —  Vol.  2d,  pages  64,  65. 

Second  from  John  Smith,  also  a  teaciier  at  Cambridge,  and  who  is  spoken 
of  as  "a  Cliristian  inwardly  and  in  good  earnest:"  "Divinely  given, 
evangelical  righteousness  never  merely  lies  alongside  the  soul,  formally  im- 
puted to  it  as  an  addendum,  securing  its  acceptance  with  God ;  but  it  spreads 
itself  over  all  the  powers  of  the  soul,  quickening  it  into  a  divine. life.  It  is 
not  a  doctrine  wrapped  up  in  ink  and  paper,  but  a  vitaiis  scientia,  a  living 
impression  made  upon  the  soul  and  spirit."  "The  Gospel  does  not  so  much 
consist  in  verbis  as  in  vertiite;  neither  doth  the  evangelical  dispensation  there- 
fore please  God  so  much  more  than  the  legal  did,  because  as  [being]  a  finer 
contrivance  of  His  infinite  understanding,  it  more  clearly  discovers  the  way 
of  salvation  to  the  souls  of  men  ;  but  chiefly  because  it  is  a  more  powerful  efflux 
of  His  divine  goodness  upon  them,  as  being  tiie  true  seed  of  a  happy  mortality, 
continually  tiiriving  and  growing  on  to  perfection.  It  does  not  hold  forth 
such  a  transcendent  privilege  and  advantage  above  what  the  law  did,  only 
because  it  acquaints  us  that  Christ,  our  true  High  Priest,  is  ascended  up  into  the 
holy  of  holies,  and  there,  instead  of  tiie  blood  of  bulls  and  goats,  hatli  sprinkled 
the  Ark  and  Mercy  Seat  above  witli  His  own  blood ;  hut  also  because  it  conveys 
that  blood  of  sprinkling  into  our  defiled  consciences,  to  purge  them  from  dead  works. 
Far  be  it  from  me  to  disparage  in  the  least  the  merit  of  Christ's  blood,  Ilia 
becoming  obedient  unto  death,  whereby  we  are  justified.     But  I  doubt  some- 


612  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

In  1694,  Friends  again  petitioned  Parliament  on  the  sul)ject  of 
oaths,  stating  more  specifically  the  evils  they  suffered,  and  entering 
more  elaborately  into  argument  to  show  the  disadvantage  resulting 
to  the  community  as  well  as  to  themselves,  by  thus  depriving  them 
of  the  rights  of  freemen,  and  of  giving  evidence  in  courts  of  judica- 
ture. The  presentation  and  advocacy  of  this  petition  was  willingly 
undertaken  by  the  poet  Waller,  then  a  member  of  the  house.  A 
more  favorable  disposition  was  manifest  than  the  pi'eceding  year, 
but  no  bill  was  passed. 

In  this  year  Queen  Mary  died,  and  not  long  after  a  plot  was  dis- 
covei'ed  against  King  William,  and  renewed  efforts  appeared  likely 
to  be  made  for  the  return  of  James  Stuart  to  the  throne.  This  in- 
duced both  Houses  of  Parliament  to  draw  up  and  sign  what  was 
called  an  "  Association  ;  "  wherein  they  pledged  themselves  to  sup- 
port and  defend  the  King,  to  revenge  his  death  should  he  be  killed, 
and  to  resist  James  and  his  assistants.  This  being  presented  to  the 
King,  the  example  was  followed  by  the  different  corporations  in  the 
Kingdom.  As  the  peaceable  principles  of  Friends  forbade  their 
entering  into  any  such  league,  they  had  published  a  statement, 
setting  forth  their  views  as  to  the  setting  up  or  pulling  down  kings 
or  governments,  the  religious  principles  that  restrained  them  from 
signing  the  "  Association  "  as  they  had  been  requested,  and  their 
loyal  feelings  towards  King  William. 

During  the  sitting  of  Parliament  in  1695,  there  was  an  evident  in- 
clination to  give  relief  to  Friends,  by  passing  the  desired  law  to  accept 
their  affirmation  instead  of  an  oath.  But  there  were  not  a  few  of  the 
members  deeply  prejudiced  against  them,  and  bitterly  opposed  to 
doing  au)i  thing  in  their  favor.  Among  the  most  influential  of  these 
were  several  of  the  Bishops  in  the  upper  House,  and  the  Bishop  of 
London  was  the  most  active  of  them.  They  repeatedly  moved  for 
amendments  to  the  bill,  which  made  the  affirmation  required,  virtu- 
ally an  oath,  and  exerted  themselves  so  adroitly  and  successfully, 
that  it  looked  probable  the  whole  attempt  at  relief  would  fail. 
King  William,  however,  becoming  interested  in  the  matter,  gave 

times  some  of  our  dogmata  and  notions  about  justification  may  puff  us  injur 
higher  and  goodlier  conceits  of  ourselves,  than  Ood  hath  of  us ;  and  tliat  we  pro- 
fanely make  the  unspotted  righteousness  of  Christ  to  serve  only  as  a  covering  where- 
in to  wrap  up  our  foul  deformities  and  filthy  vices  ;  and  when  we  have  done  so, 
think  ourselves  in  as  good  credit  and  repute  with  God  as  we  are  with  our- 
selves, and  that  we  are  become  lieaven's  darlings  as  much  as  we  are  our 
own."— Vol.  2d,  p.  182. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  613 

his  iufluence  in  favor  of  Friends  so  effectually,  that  iii  the  forepart 
of  1696,  a  bill  was  passed  by  both  Houses,  and  being  signed  by  the 
King,  became  the  law  of  the  land.  The  Bishops  and  their  party, 
however,  succeeded  in  limiting  the  law  to  seven  years,  and  in  tack- 
ing to  it  an  article  for  making  the  collection  of  tithes  more  prompt 
and  secure.  Some  Friends,  tenderly  scrupulous,  thinking  that  the 
wording  of  the  required  affirmation,  brought  it  too  near  to  the 
character  of  an  oath,  refused  to  avail  themselves  of  it.  In  compli- 
ance with  the  petition  of  such,  some  years  after,  it  was  modified. 

Several  conscientious  Friends  in  Ireland,  learning  that  their 
brethren  in  England  were  seeking  relief  from  the  difiiculties  and 
losses  attending  the  maintenance  of  their  testimony  against  oaths, 
and  that  an  affirmation  was  proposed  as  a  substitute,  became 
jealous,  lest  the  cause  of  truth  might  suffer ;  and  in  the  freedom  of 
Christian  fellowship,  they  addressed  an  epistle  to  the  Meeting  for 
Sufferings  in  London  ;  desiring  that  Christ's  command  of  using  yea 
and  nay  might  be  adhered  to,  and  the  exercise  of  patience,  until 
the  Lord  opened  the  way  for  relief  in  such  manner  as  there  would 
be  no  snare  or  doubtfulness,  to  those  of  tender  consciences.  The 
principal  objection  to  the  Affirmation  was,  that  the  sacred  name 
was  introduced  into  the  form  of  words. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

EfTorts  to  obtain  some  relief  from  Tithes  —  Attempt  to  have  the  Laws  for  col- 
lecting Tithes  made  more  Stringent  —  Frustrated  by  the  action  of  Friends 
—  Renewed  eflforts  to  subject  Friends  to  Persecution  —  End  of  Legal  Perse- 
cution —  Death  of  0.  Marshall  —  Death  of  J.  Crook  —  Visit  of  W.  Penn,  T, 
Story  and  John  Everet  to  Ireland  —  Testimony  respecting  Friends  in  Ire- 
land—  T.  Story  and  E,.  Gill  in  Philadelphia — Death  of  Thomas  Lloyd  — 
Some  Account  of  R.  Barrow  —  Second  visit  of  W.  Penn  to  Pennsylvania  — 
Some  Observations  on  Friends;  their  Faith;  Discipline;  Suflering,  &c. — 
Declaration  of  Faith. 

AS  several  Friends  had  long  been  and  still  were  under  grievous 
suffering  for  their  testimony  against  hireling  ministry ;  many 
of  the  clergy  taking  advantage  of  the  law  which  allowed  suits  to  be 
entered  in  Ecclesiastical  Courts,  for  the  collection  of  tithes,  church 
dues,  &c.,  where  the  defendants  were  liable  to  exorbitant  chargea 


614  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

and  jii-otracted  iin])risniinients ;  and  some  of  tlieiii,  using  this  powor 
to  the  uttermost ;  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings  in  this  year,  Q69o\ 
drew  up  a  statement  of  the  respective  cases;  and  having  obtained 
an  audience  of  the  King,  laid  it  before  him,  and  gave  him  full  in- 
formation, not  only  as  to  the  cases  mentioned,  but  also  the  reasons 
why  Friends  could  not  pay  or  compound  for  tithes.  He  heard 
them  respectfully,  made  many  inquiries  respecting  their  principles, 
and  expressed  his  approval  of  liberty  of  conscience.  Shortly  after 
an  act  of  grace  was  passed,  by  which  about  forty  Friends,  im- 
prisoned for  tithes  and  other  ecclesiastical  demands,  were  liber- 
ated. 

Under  the  prompting  of  the  inveterate  bigotry  and  intolerance 
that  had  inflicted  persecution  on  Friends  from  their  beginning,  a 
bill  was  now  presented  to  the  House  of  Lords  to  extend  the  severe 
provisions  and  penalties  of  an  Act  of  Henry  VHI.  for  the  collection 
of  the  larger  revenues  of  the  "  church,"  to  the  collection  of  small 
tithes  and  church  rates.  The  Bishop  of  London,  who  was  a  princi- 
pal promoter  of  the  measure,  was  made  chairman  of  the  committee 
to  which  it  was  referred. 

Having  obtained  a  copy  of  this  bill,  Friends  at  once  saw  the 
object  had  in  view  by  its  advocates,  and  that,  if  passed  into  a  law, 
it  would  be,  in  the  hands  of  their  implacable  enemies,  an  instru- 
ment for  renewing  the  practice  of  enormous  oppression  and  suffer- 
ing, similar  to  what  had  been  borne  by  them  prior  to  the  passage 
of  the  Toleration  Act.  The  Meeting  for  Sufferings  therefore  pre- 
pared a  statement  of  their  objections  to  the  bill,  and  four  of  its 
members  appeared  before  the  committee  having  it  in  charge.  Upon 
the  Bishop  of  London  asking,  what  were  their  objections  to  the 
bill  ?  G.  Whitehead  replied,  the  same  as  were  given  by  Parliament 
for  abolishing  the  Star  Chamber,  and  High  Commission  Courts  in 
the  reign  of  Charles  I.  That  this  bill,  if  it  became  a  law,  would 
place  Friends  under  an  absolute  power  of  the  clergy  and  their 
Courts,  without  appeal  or  redress ;  even  where  the  amount  claimed 
was  not  over  sixpence.  The  Bishop  asking  whether  they  had 
reduced  their  exceptions  to  writing,  they  produced  the  statement 
prepared.  The  civil  lords  treated  Friends  with  kindness,  and  the 
bill  was  never  reported.     1696. 

But  the  expiring  struggles  of  hatred  to  Non-conformists,  and  es- 
pecially to  Quakers,  for  more  power,  was  not  yet  over.  An  apostate 
Quaker,  named  Leslie,  a  co-laborer  with  Keith,  having  published  an 
untruthful  and  scurrilous  book  entitled,  "The  Snake  in  the  Grass," 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTUPvY.  615 

ill  whicli  he  had  compacted  all  the  false  charges  of  Friends  being 
blasphemers  and  traitors,  so  freely  brought  against  them  before,  it  was 
made  use  of  by  some  priests  at  Norfolk  to  publish  what  they  styled 
"  Some  few  of  the  Quakers'  many  horrid  Blasphemies."  This  was 
answered  by  G.  Wliitehead  ;  and  W.  Penn  wrote  and  presented  to 
the  members  of  Parliament,  a  brief  remonstrance  against  such  mali- 
cious slanders  being  credited.  Under  the  influence  of  F.  Leslie,  the 
priests  and  their  abettors  at  Norfolk,  the  Justices  and  grand  jurors 
signed  a  petition  to  Parliament  for  the  censure  or  suppression  of  the 
Quakers;  and  two  of  the  priests  in  1698,  waited  on  the  members 
with  it;  urging  that  it  might  be  presented  and  acted  0!i.  A  few  of 
the  first  sentences  will  give  an  insight  of  the  character  of  the  peti- 
tion, and  the  spirit  of  its  instigators,  "  We  cannot,  without  resent- 
ment, take  notice  of  the  great  growth  and  daily  increase  of  the 
Quakers,  and  the  mischiefs  and  dangers  from  thence  threatening 
this  nation.  It  is  observable  with  what  restless  zeal  their  deluded 
teachers  and  —  as  we  suspect  —  many  Romish  emissaries  under  their 
disguise,  ramble  into  all  parts  of  these  Kingdoms,  and  boldly  spread 
their  vemmom  doctrines  everywhere,"  &c.  Friends  had  interviews 
with  a  number  of  the  members,  and  the  petition  was  withheld  from 
presentation. 

A  similar  petition  was  brought  up  in  the  same  year  from  the 
Magistrates,  tfec,  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  who  had  been  notorious  for 
the  persecution  of  Friends  while  they  had  the  power — charging  that 
"the  principles  [held  by  Friends]  of  faith,  were  anti-Christian;  of 
government,  anti-monarchical ;  in  point  of  doctrine,  anti-seriptiiral ; 
and  in  practice,  illegal,"  &c.  This  was  also  suppressed  by  those  to 
whom  it  was  entrusted. 

The  spirit  of  persecution,  though  it  survived  these  public  rebukes 
from  the  National  Council,  ceased  to  make  itself  felt  by  process  of 
law  or  petitions  against  Friends ;  except  that  many  of  the  Epis- 
copal clergy,  made  use  of  the  power  put  into  their  hands,  to  harass 
and  oppress  them  for  tithes  and  their  "  church  dues ;  "  for  the  non- 
payment of  which,  on  demand,  they  continued  to  extort  large  sums 
in  the  shape  of  fines,  and  by  occasionally  seizing  property  of  three 
or  four  times  the  value  of  the  original  charge. 

King  William  gave  his  support  to  the  spirit  and  letter  of  the 
"  Toleration  A(;t,"  discouraging  all  attemijts  to  oppress  Non-con- 
formists. When  tlie  seven  years  had  expired,  to  which  tiie  Act  for 
accepting  the  Affirmation  of  a  Friend  instead  of  an  Oath  was  limited, 
he  gave  his  influence  to  have  it  prolonged  ;  and  although  some  of  the 


616  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

"  High  Church  party  "  opposed  it,  Parliament  extended  its  action 
for  eleven  years  more. 

In  1698,  died  Charles  Marshall,  who  had  long  stood  as  a  pilhir 
in  the  Church,  having  been  an  approved  and  laborious  minister  for 
nearly  thirty  years.  He  was  a  native  of  Bristol,  and  had  received 
a  good  education  in  his  youth.  His  parents  had  been  religiously 
concerned  to  train  him  in  a  knowledge  of  the  principles  of  the  In- 
dependents, with  whom  they  were  in  membership,  and  to  guard  him 
from  evil  company,  and  cherish  in  him  an  abhorrence  of  all  im- 
moralities. As  he  grew  into  nuinhood,  participating  in  the  rest- 
less, inquiring  spirit  then  prevailing,  he  went  from  one  noted  preacher 
to  another,  and  from  one  profession  to  another,  but  failed  to  find  the 
rest  or  satisfaction  he  longed  for.  He  therefore  deserted  them  all, 
and  betook  himself,  with  a  few  others,  to  retirement  and  self-exami- 
nation, devoting  one  day  out  of  seven  to  fasting  and  prayer. 

At  the  time  John  Camm  and  John  Audland  visited  Bristol,  in 
1654,  they  felt  drawn  to  have  a  religious  opportunity  with  the  few 
associated  with  Charles  Marshall ;  and  the  latter,  by  the  powerful 
ministry  of  John  Audland,  was  fully  convinced  of  the  do(;trines  he 
taught;  and  coming  to  understand  the  revelations  of  Divine  Grace 
to  his  soul,  he  submitted  to  its  requirements  and  teachings,  and  was 
thus  brought  out  of  darkness  into  the  marvellous  light  of  God's 
salvation.  He  joined  in  membership  with  the  then  small  Society, 
faithfully  maintaining  its  doctrines  and  testimonies.  In  1670,  or 
about  sixteen  years  after  his  convincement,  he  was  put  in  trust  of  a 
gift  in  the  ministry;  and  in  the  course  of  years  he  travelled  largely 
throughout  Great  Britain,  preaching  the  Gospel,  and  aiding  and 
encouraging  his  brethren  in  their  many  exercises  and  sufferings. 
He  took  an  active  and  efficient  part  in  the  controversy  with  Wilkin- 
son and  Story,  giving  earnest  support  to  the  cause  of  discipline  and 
order ;  and  when  he  found  the  affectionate  labor  of  Friends  was  un- 
availing to  reclaim  the  anarchists,  he  bore  an  unequivocal  testi- 
mony against  them  and  their  course.  His  friends  testify,  that  not- 
withstanding the  many  trials,  sickness  and  sufferings  he  had  to  pass 
through,  he  retained  his  mental  vigor  and  spiritual  ability  to  the 
last,  and  was  favored  with  a  foresight  of  his  last  illness  before  it 
came  on  ;  being,  through  the  abounding  mercy  of  his  Saviour,  pre- 
pared to,  meet  the  pale  messenger  when  sent  to  his  house  ;  closing 
his  eyes  with  his  own  hand,  and  resigning  up  his  soul  to  iiis  Re- 
deemer, with  entire  composure. 

John  Crook,  another  faithful  soldier  in  the  Lamb's  army,  finished 


SEVEXTEEXTH    CEXTURY.  617 

his  course  in  tlie  year  1699.  Some  account  of  his  unjust  imjDrison- 
ment  and  trial,  at  the  ohl  Bailey,  in  1662,  has  been  given.  Not- 
withstanding the  manner  in  which  he  was  then  treated,  and  the 
almost  certain  exposure  to  the  same  kind  of  cruel  punishment,  to 
which  continuance  in  the  straight  and  narrow  way  which  he  had 
chosen,  would  expose  him,  he  did  not  shrink  from  the  path  of  duty, 
and  fheerfully  submitted  to  be  imprisoned,  again  and  again,  and  to 
suffer  the  reproach  and  ignominy  heaped  upon  the  despised  servants 
of  Christ.  He  stood  nobly  for  the  truth,  through  good  report  and 
evil  report;  ever  ready  to  help  those  who  were  in  bonds  or  under 
suffering,  and  laboring  that  the  camp  should  be  kept  clean,  so  that 
it  should  be  as  a  city  set  upon  a  hill,  bringing  glory  to  our  Father 
who  is  in  heaven. 

As  old  age  came  upon  him,  he  endured  great  suffering  from 
internal  disease,  which  at  times  was  as  much  as  his  frame  could 
bear,  and  he  remarked,  "  That  if  he  did  not  feel  an  inward  power 
from  the  Lord,  he  could  not  subsist  under  his  violent  pain."  He 
also  observed,  "  That  the  furnace  of  affliction  was  of  good  use,  to 
purge  away  the  dross  and  earthly  part  in  us."  When  bodily 
strength  admitted,  he  continued  faithful  in  attending  meetings  for 
worship,  and  mingling  with  his  friends  in  religious  engagements. 

Longing  to  depart  and  be  with  Christ,  he  pleasantly  remarked 
how  the  ancients  were  gone  or  being  taken  away  :  "  They  step  away 
before  me ;  and  I,  that  would  go,  cannot.  Well !  it  will  soon  be 
my  turn."  His  turn  came  in  the  Second  mouth  of  1699;  when  he 
quietly  and  peacefully  departed,  in  the  eighty-second  year  of  his 
age. 

In  1698,  William  Penn,  John  Everet,  and  Thomas  Story,  paid  a 
religious  visit  to  Friends  in  Ireland.  They  appear  to  have  kept 
very  mucli  together ;  and  their  meetings  were  resorted  to  by  such 
crowds,  of  all  ranks  and  professions,  including  some  of  the  "  clergy," 
that  it  excited  the  jealousy  and  anger  of  some  of  the  higher  digni- 
taries. There  being  a  law  at  that  time  in  Ireland,  that  no  Papist 
should  own  a  horse  worth  more  than  £5  5s.,  and  that  if  found 
with  one  of  greater  worth,  it  might  be  seized  and  become  the  prop- 
erty of  whoever  would  })ay  to  the  Magistrate  £5  5s.  for  it;  two 
officers,  coveting  the  hoi'ses  on  which  the  Friends  rode,  obtained  a 
warrant  from  a  Magistrate,  charging  the  Friends  with  being  Papists, 
and  had  their  horses  seized,  intending  to  give  the  Magistrate  the 
£5  5s.  But  two  Friends  obtained  a  writ  of  replevin,  and  gave  l)ond 
to  stand  trial.     William  Penn  at  once  wrote  to  the  Lords  Justices, 


618  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

Stating  the  cireumstiuiees  of  the  case.  The  Justices,  knowing  that 
Friends  were  not  Papists,  directly  ordered  the  wliole  case  stoi)i)e(l, 
and  the  officers  to  be  confined  to  their  chambers.  The  latter,  finding 
they  had  involved  themselves  in  a  business  that  might  bring  serious 
consequence  on  themselves,  applied  to  William  Penn,  to  intercede 
on  their  behalf;  which,  when  he  thought  they  were  sufKeiently 
penitent,  he  did  ;  and  they  w^ere  forgiven  and  released ;  for  which 
they  expressed  much  thankfulness. 

The  three  Friends  named,  after  being  at  the  Half  Year's  Meeting 
held  in  Dublin,  addressed  an  epistle  to  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  Lon- 
don, in  which  the  following  account  of  the  state  of  things  among 
Friends  in  that  nation,  is  interesting.  "  So  that,  dear  l)rethren,  we 
have  good  tidings  to  give  you  of  Truth's  prosperity  at  large,  and 
more  especially  in  the  Churches ;  having  had  the  comfort,  in  the 
General  Meeting  of  this  nation,  consisting  of  many  weighty  breth- 
ren and  sisters, from  all  parts  thereof,  which  was  held  in  the  city  of 
Dublin,  in  much  love,  peace,  and  unity,  for  several  days  ;  wherein 
we  had  occasion  to  observe  their  commendable  care  for  the  pros- 
perity of  the  blessed  Truth,  in  all  the  branches  of  its  holy  testimony, 
both  in  the  general  and  in  the  particular  ;  improving  the  good  order 
practised  among  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  our  nation." 

"  Indeed  their  simplicity,  gravity  and  coolness,  in  managing  their 
Church  affairs ;  their  diligence  in  meetings,  both  for  worship  and 
business ;  their  despatch  in  ending  differences,  and  expedients  to 
prevent  them ;  but  especially,  their  zeal  against  covetousness  and 
indifferency  to  Truth's  service,  and  their  exemplary  care  to  discour- 
age an  immoderate  concern  in  the  pursuit  of  things  of  this  life,  and 
to  incite  Friends  to  do  good  with  what  they  have,  very  greatly 
comforted  us ;  and  in  the  sweet  and  blessed  power  of  Christ  Jesus 
the  meeting  ended  and  Friends  departed."     1698. 

Near  the  beginning  of  1699,  Thomas  Story  and  Roger  Gill  went 
over  to  America  on  religious  service,  and  landing  in  Virginia, 
after  visiting  Friends  in  that  Province  and  in  North  Carolina,  they 
arrived  in  Philadelphia.  Passing  on  into  New  York  and  New 
England,  they  heard  of  the  prevalence  of  an  infectious  disease  in 
Philadelphia ;  and  after  getting  through  with  their  labors  in  those 
parts,  they  returned  to  the  stricken  city.  Speaking  of  the  awful- 
ness  of  the  visitation,  Thomas  Story  says,  "  Great  was  the  majesty 
and  hand  of  the  Lord  ;  great  was  the  fear  that  fell  upon  all  flesh.  I 
saw  no  lofty,  airy  countenance,  nor  heard  any  vain  jesting  to  move 
men  to  laughter,  nor  witty  repartee  to  raise  mirth  ;  nor  extravagant 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  619 

feasting,  to  excite  the  lusts  and  desires  of  the  flesh  above  measure; 
but  every  face  gathered  paleness,  and  many  hearts  were  humbled, 
and  countenances  fallen  and  sunk,  as  such  that  waited  every  moment 
to  be  summoned  to  the  bar,  and  numbered  to  the  grave." 

Roger  Gill,  who  was  deeply  affected  with  witnessing  the  effects  of 
this  sore  visitation,  in  one  of  his  supplications  to  the  Almighty  in  a 
public  meeting,  earnestly  and  solemnly  petitioned,  that  the  Lord 
"  would  be  pleased  to  accept  of  his  life,  as  a  sacrifice  for  his  people, 
that  a  stop  might  be  put  to  the  contagion."  Some  time  after  he 
was  taken  ill  of  the  disease.  He  said  he  remembered  "  The  free- 
will offering  of  himself  to  the  Lord,  and  it  is  not  in  my  heart  to 
repent  of  the  offer  I  have  made."  The  disease  was  violent  in  its 
effects  on  his  system,  but  he  observed,  "The  Lord  hath  sanctified 
my  afflictions  to  me,  and  has  made  my  sickness  as  a  bed  of  down." 
He  died  after  seven  days'  illness,  passing  away  peacefully,  biddiiig 
farewell  to  those  about  him.  The  disease  that  had  proved  so  fatal, 
ceasing  almost  immediately  after  the  death  of  Roger  Gill,  and  his 
remarkable  prayer  being  well  known,  the  occurrence  was  noted  and 
much  commented  on. 

While  speaking  of  Philadelphia,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  Thomas 
Lloyd,  who  had  been  a  noted  minister  and  the  Deputy-Governor  of 
Pennsylvania,  died  in  1694.  He  was  a  native  of  Wales,  his  family 
ranking  among  the  gentry  of  the  country.  He  completed  his  edu- 
cation at  the  University  of  Oxford,  where  he  obtained  distinction 
among  the  students  as  a  scholar.  Early  in  life  he  was  favored  with 
the  visitations  of  Divine  Grace,  and  giving  heed  to  its  teachings,  a 
willingness  was  wrought  to  reject  the  vanities  and  honors  of  the 
world  —  to  obtain  which  he  had  a  fair  opportunity  —  and  ado})ting, 
from  heart-felt  conviction,  the  religious  principles  of  Friends,  to 
join  with  them  in  membership,  and  faithfully  maintain  the  testimo- 
nies of  Truth  that  distinguished  them.  Dwelling  under  the  sancti- 
fying power  of  the  anointing,  which  is  truth  and  no  lie,  he  found  it 
to  open  to  him  the  mysteries  of  Christ's  kingdom,  and  to  prepare 
him  for  the  reception  of  a  gift  for  the  ministry,  and  in  time  to  be- 
come an  able  minister  of  the  gospel.  While  in  his  native  country, 
he  was  imprisoned  several  years  for  refusing  to  take  an  oath,  and 
his  friends  there  bear  testimony  to  the  meekness,  patience  and  love 
that  adorned  his  highly  intellectual  character.  He  emigrated  to 
Pennsylvania  in  1682,  crossing  the  ocean  in  the  same  ship  that 
carried  William  I'enn. 

When  William  Penn  returned  to  England,  he  made  T.  Lloyd, 


620  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

with  four  others,  "Council  of  State,"  and  afterwards  he  held  the 
office  of  Deputy-Governor;  in  which  offices  he  served  with  fidelity 
to  his  superior,  and  to  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  people.  As 
a  minister,  ho  labored  abundantly,  and  his  labors  were  blessed  to 
the  edification  of  the  Church. 

On  the  arrival  of  George  Keith  in  Pennsylvania,  Thomas  Lloyd 
was  instrumental  in  promoting  his  interest,  and  having  him  em- 
ployed; so  that  his  talents  and  learning  might  inure  to  the  benefit 
of  the  community.  But  when  he  discovered  that  Geoi'ge  had  given 
heed  to  unsound  opinions,  and  an  unhallowed  desire  for  pre-emi- 
nence, which  were  prompting  him  to  violate  the  order  of  the  Church 
and  promote  schism,  he  found  it  his  duty  to  withstand  him,  and 
endeavor  by  affectionate  labor  and  entreaty,  to  bring  him  to  a  sense 
of  his  error,  and  win  him  back  to  the  fold.  But  finding  that  the 
Christian  care  and  travail  of  the  Church  were  unavailing,  and  that 
G.  Keith  had  become  an  enemy  to  Friends,  he  used  all  his  experi- 
ence and  influence  to  thwart  his  insidious  and  open  attacks  upon 
the  Society;  and  when  it  became  necessary,  he  joined  with  his 
brethren  in  issuing  a  public  testimony  against  him.  For  this,  ho 
was  greatly  reviled  and  traduced  by  G.  Keith  and  his  party;  but 
his  meekness  and  patience  were  exemplary,  and  he  was  preserved 
from  acting  inconsistently  with  the  pure  religion  he  professed. 

He  was  taken  ill  of  a  malignant  fever  that  prevailed  in  Phila- 
delphia at  that  time,  Seventh  month,  1694,  and  finished  his  course  in 
six  days  after  the  disease  fii'st  attected  him.  Near  the  close  he  said 
to  some  Friends  who  were  with  him,  "  I  love  you  all,  and  am  going 
from  you.  I  die  in  unity  and  love  with  faithful  Friends.  I  have 
fought  a  good  fight,  and  have  kept  the  faith  ;  which  stands  not  in 
the  wisdom  of  words,  but  in  the  power  of  God.  I  have  not  sought 
for  strife  and  contention,  but  for  the  Grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  the  simplicity  of  the  Gospel.  I  lay  down  my  head  in  peace, 
and  I  desii'e  you  may  all  do  so."  He  died  in  the  fifty-fourth  year 
of  his  age. 

liol)ert  Barrow  had  been  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  Christian 
principles  held  by  Friends,  soon  after  they  began  to  be  promulgated 
by  George  Fox;  and  in  the  course  of  time  he  became  an  eminent 
minister  in  the  Society.  He  travelled  much  throughout  Great 
Britain,  Ireland,  the  West  Indies,  and  America.  He  sufi'ered  im- 
prisonment repeatedly,  and  was  often  stripped  of  property  by  priests, 
who  sued  him  for  tithes.  On  one  occasion  he  had  a  valuable  horse, 
hay,  and  household  goods,  taken  from  him,  on  the  suit  of  two  daugh- 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  621 

ters  of  a  priest.  Their  father  had  kept  Robert's  wife's  father  in  jail 
until  he  died,  for  not  paying  him  a  small  tithe.  The  daughters 
after  the  death  of  their  fether  —  the  priest  —  had  striven  in  vai'ious 
ways  to  harass  the  two  daughters  of  the  deceased  Friend,  in  order 
to  force  them  to  pay  the  tithe  for  which  their  father  had  been 
kept  in  prison  until  released  by  death ;  but  in  vain.  At  length 
one  of  them  was  married  to  Robert  Barrow,  and  the  bridegroom's 
property  was  at  once  distrained,  and  sold  to  satisfy  the  greed  of 
the  persevering  persecutors. 

In  1694,  in  company  with  Robei't  Wardel,  he  travelled  through 
the  Provinces  in  America,  where  tliere  were  Friends,  and  in  1695, 
they  embarked  for  the  West  Indies.  They  were  both  aged  men, 
and  the  heat  of  the  climate  in  Jamaica  affected  them  unfavorably, 
and  after  being  engaged  in  religious  service  there  a  short  time,  R. 
AYardel  died.  After  finishing  the  work  he  found  required  of  him 
on  the  Islands,  R.  Barrow,  accompanied  by  Jonathan  Dickenson 
and  wife,  embarked  to  return  to  America.  The  vessel  was  wrecked 
on  the  coast  of  Florida.  Here  he  and  his  companions  suffered 
almost  incredible  hardships  and  cruelty  from  tlie  savages;  who 
stripped  them,  and  were  several  times  deliberating  about  murdering 
them.  They  started  to  travel  along  the  coast  to  St.  Augustine, 
sometimes  using  a  canoe  to  transport  some  on  the  water,  while  others 
travelled  through  the  sands  on  foot.  The  supply  of  food  was  so 
scanty  and  disgusting  that  they  were  nearly  starved  ;  and  several 
of  the  party  perished  under  the  accumulated  sufferings  they  under- 
went, before  they  reached  the  city.  They  were  nearly  two  months 
on  the  route.  At  St.  Augustine  they  were  kindly  cared  for,  and 
R.  Barrow,  J.  Dickenson  and  wife,  were  sent  to  Charleston,  South 
Carolina.  Though  suffering  from  dysentery,  brought  on  by  his 
exposure,  and  the  unwholesome  food  he  had  been  obliged  to  eat, 
Robert,  after  staying  four  weeks  at  Charleston,  embarked  for  Phila- 
delphia. He  lived  but  a  few  days  after  his  arrival  at  the  latter 
city,  but  was  greatly  refreshed  by  the  company  of  Friends  there. 
He  was  fully  aware  of  his  condition,  and  entirely  resigned  to  die. 
He  di(;tated  a  letter  to  his  wife,  in  which  he  told  her  the  Lord  was 
with  him:  and  to  his  friends  he  said,  "All  things  were  well  with 
him,  and  Ik;  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  die."  An  interesting  account 
of  the  shipwreck,  and  the  perils  and  sufferings  of  the  ship's  com- 
pany, was  published. 

AVilliam  Penn  was  married  to  his  second  wife  in  1696.  She  was 
Hannah,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Callowhill,  of  Bristol.     He  had 


022  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

been  absent  from  liis  Province  for  many  years,  though  longing  to 
return  there,  and  oversee  the  working  of  the  government  he  liad  in- 
stituted, and  the  growtli  of  the  prosperous  Colony  he  had  been  a 
principal  means  of  jdanting  on  the  shores  of  the  Delaware.  But 
the  various  troubles  in  which  he  had  been  involved,  and  the  great 
loss  of  pecuniary  means  that  had  resulted  from  his  outlay  for  the 
Province,  and  the  dishonesty  of  his  agent  in  Ireland,  had  so  crippled 
and  embarrassed  him,  that  he  had  been  unable  to  carry  out  his  strong 
desire  to  cross  the  Atlantic,  and  spend  the  remainder  of  life  amid 
the  Friends  and  scenes  he  pictured  eminently  propitious  to  secure 
conifort  and  peace.  But  in  1699,  having  settled  his  affairs  in  Eng- 
land and  Ireland,  so  as  not  to  require  his  personal  oversight,  in  the 
Seventh  month  he  embarked  with  his  wife  and  family  for  Philadel- 
phia, expecting  to  end  his  days  in  the  Province.  The  voyage,  provi- 
dentially, was  a  long  one,  occupying  three  months  ;  by  which  delay 
on  the  ocean  they  did  not  arrive  in  the  city,  until  after  the  malig- 
nant fever,  of  which  many  had  died,  had  passed  away. 

William  Penn  brought  with  him  certificates  from  three  meetings 
of  Friends  in  England  :  one  from  "  The  Second  Day's  Meeting  of 
Ministering  Friends"  in  London;  one  from  the  "Men's  Meeting  of 
Friends "  in  Bristol,  where  he  had  resided  for  some  years,  and 
another  from  "  A  Monthly  Meeting  held  at  Plorsham  ;"  all  ex- 
pressing their  full  unity  with  and  love  for  him  as  a  member  and 
minister.  The  reception  of  these  certificates  is  recorded  on  the 
minutes  of  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends,  of  Philadelphia. 

The  arrival  of  the  Proprietor,  after  an  absence  of  fifteen  years, 
was  hailed  with  joy  by  the  people  generally,  and  doubtless  he  sup- 
posed that  he  could  now  pass  his  days  in  usefulness  and  tranquillity. 
But  Wm.  Penn  soon  found  that  troubles  beset  him  on  every  hand, 
and  that  his  wise  counsels,  and  cherished  plans  of  im2)rovement, 
were  thwarted  and  opposed  by  a  faction  bent  upon  promoting  their 
own  selfish  schemes  and  interests.  This  is  not  the  place  to  enter 
into  a  narrative  of  the  events  that  characterize  the  history  of  Penn- 
sylvania at  that  time ;  suffice  to  say,  such  was  the  untoward  course 
of  affairs,  that  in  little  more  than  a  year,  William  Penn  was  obliged 
to  return  to  England,  to  use  his  personal  influence  and  address, 
once  more  to  preserve  the  charter  that  had  cost  him  so  dearly,  in 
his  possession.     He  never  visited  America  again. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  623 

When  the  Seventeenth  Century  closed  there  were  yet  a  few 
Friends  left  on  the  stage  of  action,  who  had  early  been  brought  to 
embrace  the  doctrines  held  by  the  Society,  either  through  the  im- 
mediate teaching  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  or  had  been  among  the  first 
converts  to  them,  through  the  preaching  of  George  Fox  or  his 
earliest  co-laborers.  These  had  witnessed  those  doctrines,  as  set 
forth  by  the  numerous  anointed  ministers  raised  up  by  the  Head  of 
the  Church,  listened  to  and  embraced  by  multitudes,  as  glad  tidings 
of  great  joy;  and  they  had  seen  the  Society,  though  under  ignorant 
or  malevolent  misrepresentation,  and  active,  hard-hearted  persecu- 
tion, go  on  increasing,  until  after  little  more  than  fifty  years  from 
its  beginning,  it  numbered,  if  a  modern  computation  is  correct — 
between  seventy  and  eighty  thousand  members  in  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,  besides  tbe  thousands  in  America  and  elsewhere. 

Its  faith,  which  was  clearly  defined  and  unalterably  fixed,  had 
been  again  and  again  published  to  the  world.  It  was  full  and  scrip- 
tural ;  agreeing,  in  most  fundamental  points,  with  that  professed  by 
what  was  called  the  "  Established  Church  ;"  stripped  however  of  its 
ceremonies,  its  sacerdotalism,  its  man-made  ministry,  and  its  will 
worship ;  and  invested  with  force  and  adaptation  for  practical  in- 
fiuence  on  life,  and  the  work  of  salvation,  by  the  full  recognition  of 
the  immediate  guidance  and  operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit ;  a  measure 
of  which,  it  believed,  is  bestowed  on  every  one  that  cometli  into  the 
world,  for  the  purpose  of  leading  out  of  error  and  sin,  and  bringing 
into  a  knowledge  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.*  This  faith  had  not 
been  made  up  by  mere  study  of  the  Scriptures  ;  nor  was  it  dependent 
on  the  incongruous  opinions  of  commentators,  in  their  critical  render- 
ings of  the  original  text ;  but  it  had  been  learned  in  the  school  of 
Christ,  under  the  immediate  influence  of  his  Spirit ;  by  which  their 
minds  had  been  enlightened  to  understand  the  spiritual  truths  re- 
corded in  Holy  Writ,  and  to  know  their  faith  to  accord  therewith. 

*"  Because  we  are  separated  from  tlie  public  communion  and  worship,  it  is 
too  generally  conchuled  that  we  deny  the  doctrines  received  hy  the  cluirch, 
and  consecpiently  introduce  a  new  i-eligion.  Whereas  we  differ  least,  where 
we  are  thought  to  differ  most.  For  setting  aside  some  school  terms,  we  hold 
the  substance  of  those  doctrines  believed  by  the  Church  of  England  as  to  God, 
Christ,  Spirit,  Scripture,  repentance,  sanctification,  remission  of  sin,  holy  living, 
and  the  resurrection  of  the  just  and  unjust,  to  eternal  rewards  and  pimishment. 
But  that  wherein  we  differ  most,  is  about  worship  and  conversation,  and  the 
inward  qualification  of  the  soul,  by  the  work  of  (iod's  Spirit  thereon,  in  pursu- 
ance of  these  good  and  generally  received  doctrines." — A  Testimony  to  the 
Truth.     Penn's  Works,  Folio,  i)age  813. 


G21  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

This  wa.s  in  accordance  witli  the  dechiration  of  Christ,  "  My  doc- 
trine is  not  mine,  bnt  his  that  sent  me.  If  any  man  will  do  his  will, 
he  shall  know  of  the  doctrine,  whether  it  be  of  God  or  whether  I 
speak  of  myself" 

That  they  considered  holding  this  faith,  which  they  believed  the 
Society  to  have  been  raised  up  to  republish  and  illustrate,  was  the  out- 
ward bond  of  fellowship,  and  therefore  essential  to  membership  in. 
the  Society,  is  amply  proved  ;  not  only  by  their  repeated  declara- 
tions, but  by  the  abundant  labor  bestowed  on  those  who,  having 
professed  to  be  Friends,  afterwards  gave  open  evidence  they  had 
departed  from  that  faith  ;  in  order,  if  possible,  to  win  them  back  to 
sound  doctrine ;  and  when  they  found  their  efforts  unavailing ;  by 
firmly  disowning  them,  and  bearing  testimony  against  their  errors.* 
They  claimed  no  right  to  impose  their  understanding  <.f  the  Scrip- 
tures— which  they  asserted  were  the  only  outward  test  and  standard 
of  Christian  doctrine — upon  others,  and  thus  prescribe  their  faith  as 
authoritative  on  other  men's  consciences;  but  believing  that  the  re- 
ligious principles  and  practices  into  which  they  were  led  as  a  body 
of  Christian  professors,  were  in  accordance  with  the  mind  of  Christ 
and  his  apostles,  as  revealed  in  the  New  Testament,  they  could  not 
admit  that  the  opinions  and  deductions  drawn  by  others  from  the 
Scriptures,  opposed  to  or  invalidating  those  principles  or  practices, 
were  likewise  in  accordance  with  the  same  mind,  or  that  those  hold- 
ing such,  could  be  Friends. 

They  rejected  not  the  assistance  of  sound  learning  and  criticism 
to  correct  errors  of  translation  ;  but  they_accepted  the  truths  of  the 
gospel  as  being  clearly  revealed  and  expressed  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment, and  that  they  are  as  immutable  as  they  are  unequivocal.  All, 
therefore,  who  were  rightly  led  to  join  in  fellowship  with  them,  they 
believed  would  be  convinced  of  the  truthsin  the  Scriptares,as  Friends 
understood  them,  and  conform  to  the  same  principles  and  practices 
that  they  had  fully  proved  accorded  therewith. f 

*  See  accounts  of  treatment  of  J.  Perrot  and  his  followers;  of  J.  Xaylor;  of 
Wilkinson  and  Story  and  tiieir  followers;  of  Jeffrey  Bullock  and  of  George 
Keith  and  his  followers;  given  in  the  preceding  pages. 

f  To  the  query,  "  Whether  the  Church  of  Christ  hath  power  in  any  cases 
that  are  matters  of  conscience  to  give  a  positive  sentence  and  decision  which 
maybe  obligatory  on  believers?"  R.Barclay  replies  affirmatively,  and  in 
the  course  of  his  argument,  after  stating  that  "all  principles  and  articles  of 
faith  which  are  held  doctrinally  are  in  respect  to  those  that  believe  them 
matters  of  conscience,"  he  speaks  thus  in  reference  to  the  Society  of  Friends  : 
"Now,  1  say,  we  being  gathered  together  into  the  belief  of  certain  principles 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  625 

Tlie  excellency  of  the  church  organization  of  the  Society,  had 
been  tested  by  experience  ;  and  its  discipline,  designed  to  guard  and 
preserve  the  meinl)ers  from  conduct  or  conversaticMi,  inconsistent 
with  the  pure  and  self-denying  religion  they  professed,  was  well 
fitted  to  promote  their  religious  growth,  and  to  keep  the  camp  clean  ; 
when  executed  in  the  spirit  and  manner  intended,  and  as  enjoined  by 
Christ,  where  He  says,  "If  thy  brother  shall  trespass  against  thee, 
go  and  tell  him  of  his  fault  between  thee  and  him  alone  ;  if  he  shall 
hear  thee,  thou  hast  gained  thy  brother.  But  if  he  will  not  hear 
thee,  then  take  with  thee  one  or  two  more,  that  in  the  mouth  of  two 
or  three  witnesses  every  word  may  be  established.  And  if  he  shall 
neglect  to  hear  them,  tell  it  unto  the  Church;  but  if  he  neglect  to 
hear  the  church,  let  him  be  unto  thee  as  a  heathen  man,  and  a 
pul)lican."  They  believed  the  apostle  sets  forth  the  spirit  in  which 
this  labor  is  to  be  extended,  where  he  exhorts,  "Brethren,  if  a 
man  be  overtaken  witli  a  fault,  ye  which  are  qylr'dual,  restore  such 
an  one,  in  the  spirit  of  meekness ;  considering  thyself,  lest  thou  also 
be  tempted." 

As  has  been  seen.  Friends  were  raised  up  at  a  time,  when  the 
whole  nation  was  embroiled  in  a  sanguinary  civil  war ;  the  rival 
parties,  notwithstanding  their  bitter  animosity  and  murderous  intent, 
claiming  to  be  disciples  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  and  to  be  fighting 
to  defend  or  support  his  Church  and  kingdom.  Yet,  amid  the  jar- 
ring passions  and  heated  party  feeling  that  surrounded  them,  by 
submission  to  the  transforming  power  of  Divine  Grace,  they  were 
brought  to  see  and  to  feel  the  truth  of  the  declaration  of  the  Apos- 
tle, that  all  carnal  contentions  spring  from  the  lusts  that  war  in  the 
members  of  unregenerate  men,  and  are,  therefore,  contrary  to  the 

and  docti'ines,  without  any  constraint  or  worldly  respect,  but  by  the  mere 
force  of  truth  upon  our  understandings,  and  its  power  and  influence  upon  our 
hearts,  these  principle!^  and  doctrines  and  the  practices  necessarily  depending  upon 
tlieni  arc, as  it  \vere,tlie  <er»is  that  have  drawn  us  together,  and  the  [outward]  bond 
by  which  we  became  centred  into  one  body  and  fellowship,  and  distinguisiied 
from  others.  Now  if  any  one  or  more  so  engaged  with  us,  should  arise  to  teach 
any  other  doctrine  or  doctrines,  contrary  to  tkese  which  v/ere>  the  (/7-oimd  of  our 
being  one,  wiio  can  deny  but  that  the  l)ody  hath  power  in  such  a  case  to  de- 
clare :  This  is  not  according  to  the  truth  we  profess,  and  therefore  we  pro- 
nounce such  and  such  doctrines  to  be  wrong,  with  which  we  cannot  have 
unity,  nor  yet  any  more  spiritual  ieUov/tihiyi  ivith  those  ilud  hold  them,  and  [who] 
so  cut  themselves  oil' from  being  mcmhers,  ])y  dissolving  the  very  bond  by  which 
they  were  linked  to  the  body." — Treatise  on  Churcii  (Jovernment,  I'liila.  edi- 
tion, page  66. 
40 


626  FRIENDS    IX    THE 

commands  of  Clirist  ami  the  precepts  of  bis  gospel ;  which  breathe 
"Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  peace  on  earth,  good-will"  to  men." 
They  therefore  bore  an  unwavering  testimony  against  war,  in  all 
its  varied  i)hases;  and  those  —  and  there  were  many  of  them  —  who 
were  in  the  army  when  convinced  of  the  truths  of  the  gospel  as 
held  by  Friends,  put  up  the  sword  into  the  sheath,  and,  seeking  a 
kingdom  not  of  this  world,  could  no  longer  fight. 

The  polemic  strife,  then  fiercely  waged,  was  little  less  bitter  than 
the  military  contest;  and  the  uncharitable  and  intemperate  feel- 
ings, fostered  by  excited  discussions  on  controverted  points  of  doc- 
trine, led  men  to  judge  each  other,  and  the  opinions  they  respect- 
ively advocated,  under  the  impulse  of  prejudice  and  sectarian 
predilection,  rather  than  by  the  standard  of  revealed  truth,  and  the 
dictates  of  a  sound  mind.  The  spirit  of  intolerance  manifested 
itself,  not  only  in  active  persecution,  where  the  power  was  possessed, 
but  in  the  coarse  and  indecorous  language  often  used  in  the  contro- 
versial writings  of  the  day ;  and  it  is  not  to  be  denied,  that  occa- 
sionally some  Friends  were  affected,  more  or  less,  by  the  contagion 
which  surrounded  them,  so  far  as  to  retort  in  harsh  and  unguarded 
expressions,  when  addressing  or  speaking  of  their  vilifying  oppo- 
nents. 

Misunderstood  and  misrepresented,  because  of  their  frequently 
speaking  of  Christ  within,  the  hope  of  glory,  and  because  of  their 
emphatic  declaration  that  no  one  could  be  in  a  state  of  justification 
before  God,  while  still  subservient  to  the  law  of  sin  and  death,  they 
were  charged  with  disbelief  in  the  Deity  and  manhood  of  Christ; 
in  his  atoning  sacrifice  for  sin,  and  in  justification  through  his  suf- 
ferings, death  and  merits.  But  they  always  boldly  and  explicitly 
denied  the  accusation,  and  unequivocally  avowed  their  full  belief  in 
Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth,  as  the  Saviour  of  men ;  that  they  owned 
Him  in  all  his  offices,  and  that  He  was  to  them  all  in  all.  They 
owned  Him  as  the  Son  of  Man,  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  offering 
Himself  up  as  an  atonement  for  sin,  as  the  Mediator,  and  as  God  over 
all,  blessed  forever;  without  whose  preparation  and  divine  assistance, 
no  step  could  be  taken  in  the  way  and  work  of  salvation.  But 
while  believing  these  fundamental  truths  of  the  gospel,  as  professed 
by  the  orthodox  "  churches  "  of  the  day,  they  were  called  to  hold 
up  pre-eminently  the  all-important  offices  and  indispensable  need  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  or  Grace  of  God,  in  the  work  of  man's  salvation. 
They  were  commissioned  to  call  on  all  to  give  heed  to  this  Grace 
of  God,  this  Light  wherewith  Christ  has  enlightened  every  man  that 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  627 

Cometh  into  the  world ;  an  unspeakable  gift,  purchased  for  man 
by  his  death  on  the  cross.*  They  unhesitatingly  declared,  that  it 
was  only  by  the  enlightening  of  his  understanding  through  this 
manifestation  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  that  man  could  obtain  a  just  esti- 
mate of  his  lapsed  condition  as  a  child  of  fallen  Adam,  or  the  ex- 
ceeding sinfulness  of  his  own  sin  ;  and  by  obedience  thereto,  come 
to  experience  that  godly  sorrow  which  worketh  repentance  unto 
salvation,  not  to  be  repented  of;  and  be  furnished  with  living, 
availing  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  as  the  Lamb  of  God  that  taketh  away 
the  sin  of  the  world.  That  it  was  thus  man  experienced  the  bene- 
fits flowing  from  that  most  acceptable  sacrifice,  when  Christ  bore 
our  sins  in  his  own  body  on  the  tree,  and  through  the  Eternal  Spirit 
oflfered  Himself  without  spot  to  God,  on  Mount  Calvary ;  and  that 
as  obedience  to  this  Divine  Grace  was  continued,  he  came  to  expe- 
rience what  it  is  to  be  washed,  to  be  sanctified,  to  be  justified,  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  and  by  the  Spirit  of  our  God. 

This  work  of  regeneration  and  sanctification,  they  knew  from 
experience,  was  no  easy  or  superficial  change  from  a  state  of  na- 
ture; but  that  it  was  a  crucifying  and  progressive  transformation; 
in  which  they  put  off",  concerning  their  former  conversation,  the  old 
man,  which  is  corrupt  according  to  the  deceitful  lusts,  and  were 
renewed  in  the  spirit  of  the  mind ;  and  jxit  on  the  new  man,  which 

*  "That  which  God  liatli  given  us  the  experience  of — after  our  great  loss 
in  literal  knowledge  of  things  —  and  that  which  hi.  hath  givenus  to  testify  of,  is  the 
mystery,  the  hidden  life,  the  inward  and  spiritual  appearance  of  our  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  revealing  his  power  inwardly,  destroying  enemies  in- 
wardly, and  working  his  work  inwardly  in  the  heart.  Oh !  this  was  the  joy- 
ful sound  to  our  souls,  even  the  tidings  of  the  arising  of  that  inward  life  and 
power  wliich  could  do  this.  Now  this  spiritual  appearance  of  his  was  after 
his  appearance  in  the  flesh,  and  is  the  standing  and  lasting  dispensation  of 
the  gospel,  ^ven  the  appearance  of  Christ  in  his  spirit  and  power  inwardly  in 
the  hearts  of  his;  so  that  in  minding  this,  and  being  faithful  in  this  respect, 
we  mind  our  peculiar  work,  and  are  faithful  in  that  wliich  God  hath  peculiarly 
called  us  to,  and  requireth  of  us. 

"There  is  not  that  need  of  publishing  the  other  [the  outward  manifestation, 
atonement,  resurrection,  &c.,  of  Christ]  as  formerly  was.  The  historical  rela- 
tion concerning  Christ  is  generally  believed  and  received  by  all  sorts  that 
pretend  to  Christianity.  His  miracles,  his  death,  his  rising,  his  ascending, 
his  interceding,  &c.,are  generally  believed  by  all  people;  but  the  mystery  they 
miss  of;  the  hidden  life  they  are  not  acquainted  with,  but  [are]  alienated 
from  the  life  of  God,  in  the  midst  of  their  owning  and  acknowledging  of  these 
tilings."  —  Works  of  I.  Penington,  Phila.  edition.  Vol.  3d,  page  ;386-S7.  See 
also  the  repeated  declarations  of  G.  Fox  and  other  of  the  primitive  Friends. 


628  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

after  God  is  created  in  rigliteousness  and  true  holiness.  They  had 
practical  knowledge,  and  they  so  declared,  that  this  new  creation 
is  etiected  only  as  man  allows  God  to  work  in  him,  by  his  Spirit,  to 
will  and  to  do  of  his  good  pleasure;  and  therefore  that  salvation  is 
to  be  wrought  out  with  fear  and  trembling.*  Under  a  sense  of  the 
frailty  of  human  nature  and  its  proneness  to  sin,  as  also  of  the 
greatness  and  awful  importance  of  this  inward  work,  they  taught 
the  necessity  of  it  being  entered  on  in  sincerity  and  uprightness  to- 
wards the  great  Searcher  of  the  thoughts  and  intents  of  the  heart, 
and  continued  in  close  watchfulness,  and  faithfulness  to  his  inspeak- 
ing  word  of  Divine  Grace. 

To  witness  its  continued  progress,  and  prevent  it  being  marred, 
they  found  it  requisite,  not  only  to  refrain  from  what  was  generally 
deemed  corrupt,  but  to  come  out  from  the  vain  fashions  and  cus- 
toms of  the  world,  to  deny  its  friendships,  and  to  bear  testimony 
against  all,  however  esteemed  by  men,  that  originated  from  or 
ministered  to  the  deceitful  lusts  of  the  unregenerate  heart.  Hence 
it  was,  that  adhering  to  the  garb  of  the  more  religious  professors, 
worn  at  the  time  they  arose,  strij^ped  of  all  ornament,  and  feeling 
forbidden  to  change  with  the  varying  fashions,  they  soon  became 
distinguished  by  the  plainness  of  their  dress,  as  well  as  by  the  use 
of  the  pronouns  Thou  and  Thee  to  a  single  person,  and  refusing  to 
give  flattering  titles,"  or  to  use  complimentary  phrases.f  Beside 
being  religiously  restrained  from  indulgence  in  this  corrupt  lan- 
guage, they  were  in  like  manner  withheld  from  the  use  of  music, 

^^  See  the  accounts  of  their  religions  conversion  and  growth  given  by  G.  Fox, 
G.  "Whitehead,  S.  Crisp,  E.  Burrongh,  W.  Edmundson,  Jolin  Bnrnyeat,  F. 
llowgil,  T.  Ellwood  and  others,  abbreviated  in  the  present  work. 

f  "  We  dare  not  give  worldly  honor,  or  use  the  frequent  and  modish  saluta- 
tions of  the  times,  seeing  plaiidy  that  vanity,  pride,  and  ostentation  belong  to 
them,  .  .  .  It  is  not  to  distinguisii  ourselves  as  a  party,  or  out  of  pride, 
ill-breeding  or  humor,  but  in  obedience  to  the  sight  and  sense  we  have  received 
from  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  of  the  evil  rise  and  tendency  thereof.  For  the  same 
reason  we  have  returned  to  the  first  plainness  of  speech,  viz.,  thee  and  thou  to 
a  single  person;  which  though  men  give  no  other  to  God,  they  will  hardly 
endure  it  from  us.  It  has  been  a  great  test  tipon  pride,  and  shown  the  blind 
and  weak  inside  of  many." — Peim's  Works,  Folio,  page  805. 

"Plainness  in  apparel  and  furniture  is  another  testimony  peculiar  to  us,  in" 

the  degree  we  have  borne  it  to  the  world Likewise  temperance  in 

food,  and  abstinence  from  the  recreations  and  pastimes  of  the  world,  all  which 
we  have  been  taught  by  the  Spirit  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  be  according  to 
Godliness."  —  "Primitive  Christianity  Revived,"  Penn's  Works,  Folio,  page 
800. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTllRY.  629 

and  other  vain  amu:5eraents ;  from  gratifying  pride  iu  the  furniture 
of  their  houses ;  and  thus  to  bear  practical  witness  in  their  daily 
lives  and  conversation,  to  the  duty  imperative  on  the  Christian,  to 
take  up  the  daily  cross,  and  in  humble  obedience  to  the  Grace  of 
God,  to  deny  all  ungodliness  and  worldly  lusts,  and  to  live  soberly, 
righteously,  and  [;;odly  in  this  present  world.* 

Because  they  scrupled  to  bestow  the  title  of  "  The  Word,"  used  by 
the  evangelist  John  to  designate  Christ,  on  any  inferior  object,  they 
were  unjustly  stigmatized  as  slighting  or  undervaluing  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  They,  however,  invariably  confessed  undoubting  belief 
iu  their  divine  origin;  that  they  were  the  words  of  God,  and  able 
to  make  wise  unto  salvation,  through  faith  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus. 
They  enjoined  on  all  in  communion  with  them,  to  be  diligent  in 
reading  and  observing  their  contents,  as  being  profitable  for  doc- 
trine, for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruction  in  righteousness, 
that  the  man  of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  furnished  unto  all 
good  works.  But  with  the  belief  that  a  measure  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  which  dictated  the  Scriptures,  is  given  to  every  man  to  profit 
withal,  and  that  it  is  intended  to  lead  into  all  truth,  they  saw  that 
it  must  necessarily  be  the  primary  rule  of  faith  and  practice. 
Therefore  they  taught  that  the  right  interpi'etation  and  application 
of  those  parts  of  the  Scriptures,  that  relate  to  spiritual  things,  can 
be  come  at  only  through  the  enlightening  influence  of  this  Spirit, 
which  inspired  their  respective  writers.f     And  as  it  is  evident  this 

■^  "Seeing  the  chief  end  of  all  religion  is  to  redeem  men  from  the  spirit 
and  vain  conversation  of  this  workl,  and  to  lead  into  inward  communion  with 
God,  before  whom  if  we  fear  always  we  are  accounted  happy;  therefore  all 
the  vain  customs  and  habits  thereof,  both  in  word  and  deed,  are  to  be  rejected 
and  forsaken  by  those  who  come  to  this  fear;  such  as  taking  ofi'  the  Iiat  to  a 
man,  tlie  bowing  and  cringing  of  the  body,  and  sucli  otlier  salutations  of  that 
kind,  with  all  the  foolish  and  superstitious  formalities  attending  them,  all 
which  man  hath  invented  in  his  degenerate  state,  to  feed  his  pride  in  the  vain 
pomp  and  glory  of  this  world ;  as  also  the  unprofitable  plays,  frivolous  rec- 
reations, sportings  and  gaming.s,  which  are  invented  to  pass  away  the  pre- 
cious time,  and  divert  the  mind  from  the  Witness  of  God  in  the  heart  and 
from  the  living  sense  of  Ilis  fear,  and  from  that  evangelical  Spirit  wherewith 
Christians  ought  to  be  leavened,  and  which  leads  into  sobriety,  gravity  and 
godly  fear:  in  whic-h,  as  we  abide,  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  is  felt  to  attend  us 
in  those  actions  in  which  we  are  necessarily  engaged,  in  order  to  the  taking 
care  of  the  outward  man." — Barclay's  Apology,  Proposition  XV. 

t  And  yet  as  the  word  of  God  may  in  some  sense  signify  the  command  of 
God,  referring  to  the  thing  or  matter  commaiided,  as  the  mind  of  God,  it  may 
be  called  the  word  of  the  Lord  or  word  of  God;  as  on  particular  occasions. 


630  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

Holy  Spirit  cannot  contradict  itself,  they  beli^/ed  that  while  it  fur- 
nished the  light  to  guide  reason  to  the  right  uTiderstanding  of  what 
is  contained  in  the  sacred  records,  its  subsequent  revelations  to 
individuals  could  not  contradict  those  records,  so  comprehended. 

Costly  as  was  the  price  they  paid,  and  terrible  the  fight  of  afflic- 
tion through  which  they  passed,  while  promulgating  and  practically 
exemplifying  these  doctrines  and  testimonies  of  the  gospel  as  well 
as  insisting  on  the  Headship  of  Christ  in  his  Church  ;  that  all  spir- 
itual gifts  were  to  be  received  direct  from  Hira,  and  exercised  under 
his  immediate  prompting,  without  money  and  without  price;  never- 
theless, under  the  overruling  providence  of  their  Captain  and  Leader, 
their  sufferings  probably  enabled  them  to  produce  a  much  greater 
effect,  than  if  they  had  been  permitted  to  propagate  their  faith,  by 
pen  or  word  of  mouth,  unopposed  or  unmolested.  The  deep  afflic- 
tions throirgh  which  they  passed  with  marvellous  Christian  patience 
and  meekness,  did  much,  with  their  consistency  and  straightforward- 
ness, to  commend  them  and  their  religion  to  every  man's  conscience 
in  the  sight  of  God,  and  when  the  eighteenth  century  dawned  upon 
the  world,  not  only  they,  hut  other  religious  professors,  were  reaping 
many  benefits  springing  from  them.''' 

the  prophets  liail  the  word  of  tlie  Lord  to  persons  and  places;  that  is  to  say, 
tlio  niiiid  or  will  of  God,  or  that  whicli  was  commanded  then^  of  the  Lord  to 
declare  or  do.  So  Christ  uses  it,  when  lie  tells  tlie  Pharisees  that  they  had 
made  the  word  (or  command)  of  God  of  none  effect  by  their  traditions.  But 
because  people  are  so  apt  to  think  if  they  have  the  Scriptures  they  have  all, 
for  that  they  account  them  the  only  Word  of  God,  and  so  look  no  furtlier, 
that  is,  to  no  otiier  Word  from  whence  these  good  words  came;  tlierefore  tiiis 
people  have  been  constrained,  and  they  believe  by  God's  good  Spirit,  once 
and  again  to  point  them  to  the  great  Word  of  words,  Christ  Jesus,  in  whom 
is  Life,  and  tlie  Life,  the  Light  of  men;  that  they  might  feel  something  nearer 
to  them  than  the  Scriptures,  to  wit,  the  Word  in  the  heart,  whence  all  holy 
Scrijiture  came,  which  is  Clirist  within  them,  the  hope  of  glory.  lie  is  the 
only  right  E.xpounder,  as  well  as  the  Author  of  Holy  Scripture,  without 
whose  Light,  Spirit  or  Grace  they  cannot  be  profitably  read. — Penn's  Works. 
*  William  Penn,  than  whom  there  is  no  more  competent  and  reliable  wit- 
ness, bears  this  testimony  concerning  them  :  "  They  were  ciianged  men  them- 
selves before  they  went  about  to  change  others.  Their  hearts  were  rent  as 
well  as  their  garments  changed,  and  they  knew  the  power  and  work  of  God 
upon  them.  This  was  seen  by  the  great  alteration  it  made  and  their  stricter 
course  of  life  and  more  godly  conversation  that  immediately  followed  upon  it. 
Tliey  went  not  forth  or  preached  in  their  own  time  and  will,  but  in  the  will 
of  God;  and  spoke  not  their  own  studied  matter,  but  as  they  were  opened  and 
moved  of  his  Spirit,,  with  which  they  were  well  acquainted  in    their    own 


SEVENTEENTH    CEXTUKY.  631 

They  left  a  rich  legacy  to,  and  a  serious  responsibility  ou,  those 
who  should  come  after  them,  professing  to  believe  in  and  uphold 
the  same  faith  as  they  did.  A  legacy  not  to  be  rightly  estimated 
or  enjoyed  by  assuming  their  distinctive  name  —  speaking  highly 
of  them  as  good  men  and  Christians,  and  taking  advantage  of  the 
character  and  privileges  their  noble  conduct  purchased  —  merely 
building  the  tombs  of  the  prophets,  and  garnishing  the  sepulchres 
of  the  righteous  —  but  by  walking  by  the  same  rule,  and  minding 
the  same  thing  that  they  did,  and  thus  necessarily  bringing  forth 
the  same  fruits :  and  a  responsibility  thus  to  maintain  the  doctrines 
and  testimonies  that  the  blessed  Head  of  the  Church  raised  up 
the  Society  to  witness  to,  as  connected  with  the  gospel  in  its  purity 
and  spirituality. 


The  following  is  the  Declaration  of  Faith,  mentioned  on  page 
605.  It  is  entitled  "  The  Christian  Doctrine,  and  Society  of  the 
People  called  Quakers  cleared,  &c." 

After  referring  to  the  many  misrepresentations  put  forth  respect- 
ing the  Doctrines  held  by  Friends,  it  proceeds : 

"  We  are,  therefore,  tenderly  concerned  for  truth's  sake,  in  behalf 
of  the  said  people,  (as  to  the  body  of  them,  and  for  all  of  them  who 
are  sincere  to  God,  and  faithful  to  their  Christian  principle  and 
profession,)  to  use  our  just  endeavors  to  remove  the  reproach,  and 
all  causeless  jealousies  concerning  us,  touching  those  doctrines  of 
Christianity,  or  any  of  them  pretended,  or  supposed,  to  be  in  ques- 
tion in  the  said  division  ;  in  relation  wdiereunto  we  do  in  the  fear  of 
God,  and  in  simplicity  and  plainness  of  his  truth  received,  solemnly 

conversion  ;  wliich  cannot  be  expressed  to  carnal  men  so  as  to  give  tiieni  any 
intelligible  account,  for  to  such  it  is,  as  Christ  said,  '  Like  the  blowing  of  the 
wind,  whicii  no  man  knows  whence  it  cometh  or  whitiier  it  goetii.'  Yet  tliLs 
proof  and  seal  went  along  with  their  ministry  —  tiiat  many  were  turned  from 
tlieir  lifeless  professions  and  the  evil  of  their  ways  to  the  knowledge  of  God 
and  ail  holy  life,  as  thousands  can  witness.  And  as  they  freely  received  what 
they  had  to  say  from  the  Lord,  so  they  freely  administered  it  to  others.  .  .  . 
Tliey  came  forth  low,  and  despised,  and  hated,  as  the  primitive  Christians  did, 
and  not  by  the  help  of  worldly  wisdom  or  jiower,  as  foi-raer  reformations  in 
part  have  done;  but  in  all  things  it  may  be  said,  this  people  were  brought 
forth  in  the  cross;  in  a  contradiction  to  the  ways,  worsiiip,  fasiiion  and  cus- 
toms of  the  world;  yea,  against  wind  and  tide,  that  so  no  flush  might  glory 
before  God." 


632  FRIE^'DS    IX    THE 

and  .sincerely  declare  what  our  Christian  belief  and  profession  has 
been,  and  still  is,  in  respect  to  Jesus  Christ  the  only  begotten  Son 
of  God,  his  suffering,  death,  resurrection,  glory,  light,  power,  great 
day  of  judgment,  &e. 

"  We  sincerely  ])rofess  faith  in  God  by  his  only  begotten  Son 
Jesus  Christ,  as  being  our  light  and  life,  our  only  way  to  the  Father, 
and  also  our  only  Mediator  and  Advocate  with  the  Father. («) 

"That  God  created  all  things,  He  made  the  worlds,  by  hi.s  Son 
Jesus  Christ,  He  being  that  powerful  and  living  Word  of  God  by 
whom  all  things  were  made  ;(6)  and  that  the  Father,  the  Word, 
and  the  Holy  Spirit  are  one,  in  Divine  Being  inseparable  ;  one  true, 
living  and  eternal  God,  blessed  for  ever.(c) 

"  Yet  that  this  Word,  or  Sou  of  God,  in  the  fulness  of  time,  took, 
flesh,  became  perfect  man,  according  to  the  flesh,  descended  and 
came  of  the  seed  of  Abraham  and  David, (rf)  but  was  miraculously 
conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary.(e) 
And  also  further,  declared  powerfully  to  be  the  Son  of  God,  according 
to  the  Spirit  of  sanctification,  by  the  resurrection  from  the  dead.(/) 

"That  in  the  Word,  (or  Son  of  God,)  was  life,  and  the  same  life 
was  the  light  of  men ;  and  that  He  was  that  true  light  which  en- 
lightens every  man  coming  into  the  world  •,{g)  and  therefore  that 
men  are  to  believe  in  the  light,  that  they  may  become  children  of 
the  light;  (/i)  hereby  we  believe  in  Christ  the  Son  of  God,  as  He  is 
the  light  and  life  within  us ;  and  wherein  we  must  needs  have  sin- 
cere respect  and  honor  to,  and  belief  in  Christ,  as  in  his  own  unap- 
proachable and  incomprehensible  glory  and  fulness:  (i)  as  He  is 
the  Fountain  of  life  and  light,  and  Giver  thereof  unto  us;  Christ, 
as  in  himself,  and  as  in  us,  being  not  divided.  And  that  as  man, 
Christ  died  for  our  sins,  rose  again,  and  was  received  up  into  glory 
in  the  heavens.  (A;)  He  having,  in  his  dying  for  all,  been  that  one 
great  universal  offering,  and  sacrifice  for  peace,  atonement  and  rec- 
onciliation between  God  and  man;(Z)  and  He  is  the  ])roj)itiation 
not  for  our  sins  only,  but  for  the  sins  of  the  w  hole  world,  (ju)  We 
were  reconciled  by  his  death,  but  saved  by  his  life. 

"That  Jesus  Cliiist,  who  sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of  the  throne 

(a)  Hebrew  xii.  2.  1  Peter  i.  21.  John  xiv.  G.  1  Tim.  ii.  o.  (b)  Eph.  iii. 
9.  .Johiii.  1,2,  3.  Ileb.  i.  2.  (c)  IJohn  v.  7.  (t/)  Kom.  i.  3,  4.  (ej  MaU.  i.  23. 
(/)  Rom.  i.  o,  4.  ((/)  .John  i.  4,  9.  (A)  John  xii.  36.  Isa.  ii.  •>.  lo  1 
Tim.  vi.  16.  (k)  1  Pet.  iii.  18.  1  Tim.  iii.  16.  Matt.  xix.  28,  and  xxv.  31. 
Lulve  ix.  26,  and  xxiv.  26.  (/)  Rom.  v.  10,  11.  Heb.  ii.  17,  18.  Eph.  ii. 
16,  17.       Col.  i.  20,  21,  22.       (»ij  1  John  ii.  2.     2  Cor.  v.  14,  15.     Ileb.  ii.  y. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  633 

of  the  majesty  in  the  heavens,  yet  is  He  our  king,  high-priest,  and 
prophet, (n)  in  his  church,  a  minister  of  the  sanctuary,  and  of  the 
true  tabernacle  which  the  Lord  pitched,  and  not  man.(o)  He  is 
Intercessor  and  Advocate  witli  tlie  Father  in  heaven,  and  there  ap- 
pearing in  tlie  presence  of  God  for  us,  (7;)  being  touched  with  the 
feeling  of  our  infirmities,  sufferings  and  sorrows.  And  also  by  his 
spirit  in  our  hearts,  He  maketh  intercession  according  to  the  will 
of  God,  crying,  Abba,  Father.  (5') 

"For  any  whom  God  hath  gifted, (r)  and  called  sincerely  to 
preach  faith  in  the  same  Christ,  both  as  within  and  without  us,  can- 
not be  to  preach  two  Christs,  but  one  and  the  'same  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  (.s)  having  respect  to  those  degrees  of  our  spiritual  knowl- 
edge of  Christ  Jesus  in  us,  (0  and  to  his  own  unspeakable  fulness 
and  glory,  (u)  as  in  Himself,  in  his  own  entire  being,  wherein  Christ 
himself  and  the  least  measure  of  his  light  or  life,  as  in  us  or  in  man- 
kind, are  not  divided  nor  separable,  no  more  than  the  suu  is  from  its 
light.  And  as  He  ascended  far  above  all  heavens,  that  He  might 
fill  all  things,  U-)  his  fulness  cannot  be  comprehended,  or  contained 
in  any  finite  creature;  (?/)  but  in  some  measure  known  and  experi- 
enced in  us,  as  we  are  capable  to  receive  the  same,  as  of  his  fulness 
we  have  received  grace  for  grace.  Christ  our  Mediator,  received 
the  Spirit,  not  by  measure, (2)  but  in  fulness;  but  to  every  one  of 
us  is  given  grace,  according  to  the  measure  of  his  gift,  (a) 

"  That  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God  should  be  preached  in  the 
name  of  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost,  (6)  being  on^(c)  in  power, 
wisdom,  and  goodness,  and  indivisible,  or  not  to  be  divided,  in  the 
great  work  of  man's  salvation. 

"  We  sincerely  confess  and  believe  in  Jesus  Christ,  both  as  He  is 
true  God  and  perfect  man,  (d)  and  that  He  is  the  author  of  our  liv- 
ing faith  in  the  power  and  goodness  of  God,  as  manifested  in  his 
Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  by  his  own  blessed  Spirit,  or  divine  unction, 
revealed  in  us,  (e)  whereby  we  inwardly  feel  and  taste  of  his  good- 
ness, (/;  life  and  virtue ;  so  as  our  souls  live  and  prosper  by  and  in 
Him  ;  and  the  inward  sense  of  this  divine  power  of  Christ,  and  faith 

(«J  Zech.  ix.  9.  Luke  xix.  38.  Jolin  xii.  15.  Heb.  iii.  1.  Dent,  xviii.  lo, 
18.  Acts  iii.  22,  and  vii.  37.  (0)  Heb.  viii.  1,  2.  (p)  Heb.  vii.  25.  Heb. 
ix.  24.  iq)  Rom.  viii.  26,  27,  34.  Gal.  iv.  (i.  (r)  J-:i)li.  iii.  7.  1  Pet.  iv.  10. 
(s)  1  Cor.  viii.  G.  (<)  Joiiii  xv.  26,  and  xvi.  18,  14,  L").  (,()  .I„l,ii  i.  Id. 
(x)  Eph.  iv.  10.  (//)  Col.  i.  H),  :ind  ii.  9.  (z)  .J,,h,i  iii.  ;!1.  i<t)  Kpli.  iv.  7. 
(h)  Matt,  xxviii.  19.  (c)  Juliii  i.  1,  2,  :;,  4.  ((/)  .Joiin  i.  1,2.  Koiii.  ix.  5.  1 
J..iiri  V.  20.  1  Tim.  ii.  5.  (e)  1  .Jolm  ii.  20,  27.  (/)  1  Pet.  ii.  3.  John  vi. 
33,  3-j,  51,  57,  58. 


* 
634  FRIENDS    IN    TPIE 

in  the  same,  and  tliis  inward  experience,  is  absolutely  necessary  to 
make  a  true,  sincere,  and  perfect  Christian,  in  spirit  and  life. 

"That  divine  honor  and  worship  are  due  to  the  Son  of  God;((jr) 
and  that  He  is,  in  true  faitli,  to  be  prayed  unto,  and  the  name  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  called  upon,  as  the  primitive  Christians  did,  (A) 
because  of  the  glorious  union  or  oneness  of  the  Father  and  the 
Sou  ;(i)  and  that  we  cannot  acceptably  offer  up  prayers  and  praises 
to  God,  nor  receive  a  gracious  answer  or  blessing  from  God,  but  in 
and  through  his  dear  Son  Christ. 

"  That  Christ's  body  that  was  crucified  was  not  the  Godhead,  yet 
by  the  power  of  God  was  raised  from  the  dead  ;  and  that  the  same 
Christ  that  was  therein  crucified,  ascended  into  heaven  and  glory,  {k) 
is  not  questioned  by  us.  His  flesh  saw  no  corruption,  (/)  it  did  not 
corrupt;  but  yet  doubtless  his  body  was  changed  into  a  more  glo- 
rious (»t)  and  heavenly  condition  than  it  was  in  when  subject  to 
divers  sufferings  on  earth  ;  but  how  and  what  manner  of  change  it 
met  withal  after  it  was  raised  from  the  dead,  so  as  to  become  such 
a  glorious  body,  as  it  is  declared  to  be,  is  too  wonderful  for  mortals 
to  conceive,  apprehend  or  pry  into,  and  more  meet  for  angels  to 
see:  the  scripture  is  silent  therein,  as  to  the  manner  thereof,  and  we 
are  not  curious  to  inquire  or  dispute  it;  nor  do  we  esteem  it  nec- 
essary to  make  ourselves  wise  above  (?ij  what  is  written  as  to  the 
manner  or  condition  of  Christ's  glorious  body,  as  in  heaven  ;  no  more 
than  to  inquire  how  Clirist  appeared  in  divers  manners  or  forms  ;(o) 
or  how  He  oan'.e  in  among  his  disciples,  the  doors  being  shut;(j9) 
or  how  He  vanished  out  of  their  sight  after  He  was  risen.  However, 
we  have  cause  to  believe  his  body,  as  in  heaven,  is  changed  into  a 
most  glorious  condition,  far  transcending  what  it  was  in  on  earth, 
otherwise  how  could  our  low  body  be  clianged,  so  as  to  be  made 
like  unto  his  glorious  body ;  (5^)  for  when  He  was  on  earth,  and  at- 
tended with  sufferings,  He  was  said  to  be  like  unto  us  in  all  things, 
sin  only  excepted  ;(r)  which  may  not  be  so  said  of  Him,  as  now  in 
a  state  of  glory,  as  He  prayed  for;(.s)  otherwise  where  would  be  the 
change  both  in  him  and  in  us? 

"True  and  living  faith  in  Christ  Jesus  the  Son  of  the  living 
God,(f)  has  respect  to  his  entire  being  and  fuhiess,  to  Him  entirely. 

(g)  John  V.  23.  Heb.  i.  G.  {h)  1  Cor.  i.  2.  Acts  vii.  59.  (i)  John  x.  30. 
]  John  V.  {k)  Lnke  xxiv.  26.  (/)  P^al.  xvi.  10.  Acts  ii.  31,  and  xiii.  35, 
37.  (m)  Phil.  iii.  21.  (n)  1  Cor.  iv.  6.  (0)  John  xx.  15.  ( p)  Jolin  xx.  19. 
Luke  xxiv.  36,  37,  and  xxiv.  31.  (9)  Pliil.  iii.  21.  (r)  Heb.  ii.  17,  audiv.  15. 
(s)  John  xxii.  5.     [t)  John  xiv.  1. 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  635 

as  in  himself,  and  as  all  power  in  heaven  and  earth  is  given  unto 
Him  ;  (u)  and  also  an  eye  and  respect  to  the  same  Son  of  God  (x)  as 
inwardly  making  himself  known  in  the  soul,  in  every  degree  of  his 
light,  life,  spirit,  grace,  and  truth  ;  and  as  He  is  both  the  word  of 
faith,  and  a  quickening  spirit  in  us;(?/)  whereby  He  is  the  imme- 
diate cause,  author,  object  and  strength  of  our  living  faith  in  his 
name  and  power ;  and  of  the  work  of  our  salvation  from  sin  and 
bondage  of  corruption  :  and  the  Son  of  God  cannot  be  divided  irom 
the  least  or  lowest  ap})earance  of  his  own  divine  light,  or  life  in  us 
or  in  mankind,  no  more  than  the  sun  from  its  own  light:  nor  is  the 
sufficiency  of  his  light  within,  by  us  set  up  in  opposition  to  Him  the 
man  Christ,  or  his  fulness,  considered  as  in  Himself,  or  without 
us;  nor  can  any  measure  or  degree  of  light,  received  from  Christ,  as 
such,  be  properly  called  the  fulness  of  Christ,  or  Christ  as  in  fulness, 
nor  exclude  Him,  so  considered,  from  being  our  complete  Saviour; 
for  Christ  himself  to  be  our  light,  our  lile,  and  Saviour,  (z)  is  so 
consistent,  that  without  his  light  we  could  not  know  life,  nor  Him 
to  save  us  from  sin  or  deliver  us  from  darkness,  condemnutlon  or 
wrath  to  come:  and  where  tlie  least  degree  or  measure  of  this  ligh* 
and  life  of  Christ  within  is  sincerely  waited  in,  followed  and  obeyed; 
there  is  a  blessed  increase  of  light  and  grace  known  and  felt;  as  the 
path  of  the  just  it  shines  more  and  more,  until  the  perfect  day  ;  (a) 
and  thereby  a  growing  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of  God,  and 
of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  hath  been,  and  is  truly  ex- 
perienced. And  this  light,  life,  or  Spirit  of  Christ  within,  U'ur  they 
are  one  divine  principle,}  is  sufficient  to  lead  unto  all  truth  ;  having 
in  it  the  divers  ministrations  both  of  judgment  and  mercy,  both  of 
law  and  gospel,  even  that  gospel  which  is  preached  in  every  intelli- 
gent creature  under  heaven.  It  does  not  only,  as  in  its  first  minis- 
tration, manifest  sin,  and  reprove  and  condemn  for  sin  ;  but  also 
excites  and  leads  them  that  believe  in  it  to  true  repentance ;  and 
thereupon  to  receive  that  mercy,  pardon,  and  redemption  in  Christ 
Jesus,  which  He  hath  obtained  for  mankind  in  those  gospel  terms 
of  faith  in  his  name,  true  repentance  and  conversion  to  Christ, 
thereby  required. 

"  So  that  the  light  and  life  of  the  Son  of  God  within,  truly  obeyed 
and  followed,  as  being  the  principle  of  the  second  or  new  covenant, 

(u)  Mutt,  xxviii.  18,  and  xi.  27.  Jului  xvii.  2.  lleb.  i.  2,  3.  {x}  Jului  xiv. 
2;>,  and  xvii.  21,  22,  23,  24,  26.  (y)  1  Cor.  xv.  45.  Koni.  x.  7,  8.  (z)  Jolni  i. 
4,  y,  and  iii.  19,  20,  and  xii.  30,  3<J,  40,  and  vlii.  12.  (a)  I'ruv.  iv.  18.  I'wal. 
xxxvi.  9. 


636  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

as  Christ  tlie  Light  is  confessed  to  be,  even  as  He  is  the  seed  or  word 
of  faith  in  all  men,  this  does  not  leave  men  or  women,  wlio  believe 
in  the  light,  under  the  first  covenant,  nor  as  the  sons  of  the  bond- 
woman ;  as  the  literal  Jews  were,  when  gone  from  the  Spirit  of  God, 
and  his  Christ  in  them  ;  but  it  naturally  leads  them  into  the  new 
covenant,  in  the  new  and  living  way,  and  to  the  adoption  of  sous, 
to  be  children  and  sons  of  the  free-woman,  of  Jerusalem  from  above. 
"  It  is  true,  that  we  ought  not  to  lay  aside,  nor  any  way  to  under- 
value, but  higlily  to  esteem,  true  preaching  and  the  holy  scriptures  ; 
and  the  sincere  belief  and  faith  of  Christ,  as  He  died  for  our  sins, 
and  rose  again  for  our  justification  ;  together  with  Christ's  inward 
and  spiritual  appearance,  and  work  of  grace  in  the  soul ;  livingly 
to  open  the  mystery  of  his  death,  and  perfectly  to  eflJect  our  recon- 
ciliation, i^anctification,  and  justification ;  and  wherever  Christ 
qualifies  and  calls  any  to  preach  and  demonstrate  the  mystery  of 
his  coming,  death,  and  resurrection,  &c.,  even  among  the  Gentiles, 
Christ  ought  accordingly  to  be  both  preached,  believed,  and  received. 
"Yet  supposing  there  have  been,  or  are  such  pious' and  conscien- 
tious Gentiles,  in  whom  Christ  was  and  is  as  the  Seed,  or  principle  of 
the  second  or  new  covenant,  the  light,  the  word  of  faith,  as  is  granted  ; 
and  that  such  live  uprightly  and  faithfully  to  that  light  they  have, 
or  to  what  is  made  known  of  God  in  them,  and  who  therefore  in 
that  state  cannot  perish,  but  shall  be  saved,  as  is  also  confessed; 
and  supposing  these  have  not  the  outward  advantage  of  preaching, 
scripture,  or  thence  the  knowledge  of  Clirist's  outward  coming,  being 
outwardly  crucified'  and  risen  from  the  dead  ;  can  such,  thus  con- 
sidered be  justly  excluded  Christianity,  or  the  covenant  of  grace,  as 
to  the  virtue,  life,  and  nature  thereof;  or  truly  deemed  no  Christians, 
or  void  of  any  Christian  faith  in  the  life  and  power  of  the  Son  of 
God  within,  or  be  only  sons  of  the  first  covenant,  and  bond-woman, 
like  the  literal  outside  Jews  ;  or  must  all  be  excluded  any  true 
knowledge  of  faith  of  Christ  within  them,  unless  they  have  the 
knowledge  of  Christ  as  without  them?  No  sure!  for  that  would 
imply  insufficiency  in  Christ  and  his  light,  as  within  them,  and  to 
frustrate  God's  good  end  and  promise  of  Christ,  and  his  free  and 
universal  love  and  grace  to  mankind,  in  sending  his  Son.  We 
charitably  believe  the  contrary,  that  they  must  have  some  true  faith 
and  interest  in  Christ  and  his  mediation  ;  because  of  God's  free  love 
in  Christ  to  all  mankind,  and  Christ's  dying  for  all  men,  {h}  and 

{b)  2  Cor.  V.  14,  15. 


SEVEN  TEE  XTH  CENTURY.  637 

being  given  for  a  light  of  the  Gentiles,  and  for  salvation  to  the  ends 
of  the  earth;  (c)  and  because  of  their  living  up  sincerely  and  faith- 
fully to  his  light  in  them — their  being  pious,  conscientious,  accepted, 
and  saved,  as  is  granted.  We  cannot  reasonably  think  a  sincere, 
pious,  or  godly  man,  wholly  void  of  Christianity,  of  what  nation  soever 
he  be,  because  none  can  come  to  God  or  godliness  but  by  Christ  {d) 
by  his  light  and  grace  in  them  :  yet  we  grant  if  there  be  such  pious, 
sincere  men  or  women,  as  have  not  the  Scripture  or  knowledge  of 
Christ,  as  outwardly  crucified,  &c.,  they  are  not  perfect  Christians 
in  all  perfections,  as  in  all  knowledge  and  understanding,  all  points 
of  doctrine,  outward  profession  of  Christ ;  so  that  they  are  better 
than  they  profess  or  pretend  to  be  ;  they  are  more  Jews  inward,  and 
Christians  inward  than  in  outward  show  or  profession.  There  ai-e 
Christians  sincere  and  perfect  in  kind  or  nature,  in  life  and  sub- 
stance, though  not  in  knowledge  and  understanding.  A  man  or 
Avomau  having  the  life  and  fruits  of  true  Christianity,  the  fruits  of 
the  Spirit  of  Christ  in  them,  that  can  talk  little  thereof,  or  of  creeds, 
points,  or  articles  of  faith,  yea,  many  that  cannot  read  letters,  yet 
may  be  true  Christians  in  spirit  and  life ;  and  some  could  die  for 
Christ,  that  could  not  dispute  for  him  :  and  even  infants  that  die  in 
innocency,  are  not  excluded  the  grace  of  God,  or  salvation  in  and 
by  Christ  Jesus  ;  the  image  and  nature  of  the  Sou  of  God,  being  in 
some  measure  in  them,  and  they  under  God's  care  and  special  prov- 
idence.    See  Matt,  xviii.  2,  10. 

"  And  though  we  had  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testament,  and  a  belief  of  Christ  crucified  and  risen,  &c.,  we  never 
truly  knew  the  mystery  thereof,  until  we  were  turned  to  the  light 
of  his  Grace  and  Spirit  within  us:  we  knew  not  what  it  was  to  be 
reconciled  by  his  death,  and  saved  by  his  life ;  or  what  it  was  to 
know  the  fellowship  of  his  sufferings,  the  power  of  his  resurrection, 
or  to  be  made  conformable  unto  his  death  ;  we  knew  not,  until  He 
opened  our  eyes,  and  turned  our  minds  from  darkness  unto  his  own 
divine  life  and  light  within  us. 

"  Notwithstanding,  we  do  sincerely  and  greatly  esteem  and  value 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  preaching  and  teaching  of  faithful,  divinely 
inspired,  gifted,  and  qualified  persons,  and  ministers  of  Jesus  Christ, 
as  being  great  outward  helps,  and  instrumental  in  his  hand,  and  by 
his  Spirit,  for  conversion,  where  God  is  pleased  to  afford  those  out- 
ward helps  and  means;  as  that  we  neither  do  nor  may  op[)ose  the 

(c)  Isa.  xlix.  6.     Luke  ii.  32.    Acts  xiii.  47.     {d)  John  xiv.  6. 


638  FRIENDS    IN    THE 

sufficiency  of  the  light  or  Spirit  of  Christ  within,  to  such  outAvard 
helps  or  means,  so  as  to  i-eject,  disesteera,  or  undervalue  them  ;  for 
they  all  proceed  from  the  same  light  and  Spirit,  and  tend  to  turn 
men's  minds  thereunto,  and  all  centre  therein. 

"  Nor  can  the  Holy  Scriptures  or  true  preaching  without,  be 
justly  set  in  opposition  to  the  light  or  Spirit  of  God  or  Christ 
within  ;  for  his  faithful  messengers  are  ministers  thereof,  being  sent 
to  turn  people  to  the  same  light  and  Spirit  in  them.  Acts  xxvi.  18 ; 
Rom.  xiii.  2 ;  2  Cor.  iv.  6 ;  1  Pet.  ii.  9 ;  1  John  ii.  8, 

"  It  is  certain,  that  great  is  the  mystery  of  godliness  in  itself,  in 
its  own  being  and  excellency :  namely,  that  God  should  be  and  was 
manifest  in  the  flesh,  justified  in  the  Spirit,  seen  of  angels,  preached 
unto  the  Gentiles,  believed  on  in  the  world,  and  received  up  into 
glory. 

"And  it  is  a  great  and  precious  mystery  of  godliness  and  Chris- 
tianity also,  that  Christ  should  be  spiritually  and  effectually  in 
men's  hearts,  to  save  and  deliver  them  from  sin,  Satan,  and  bond- 
age of  corruption  ;  Christ  being  thus  revealed  in  true  believers, 
and  dwelling  in  their  hearts  by  faith,  Christ  within  the  hope  of 
gloiy,  our  light  and  life,  who  of  God  is  made  unto  us  wisdom, 
righteousness,  sanctification,  and  redemption.  1  Cor.  i.  30.  And 
therefore  this  mystery  of  godliness,  both  as  in  its  own  being  and 
glory,  and  also  as  in  men  (in  many  hid,  and  in  some  revealed), 
hath  been  and  must  be  testified,  preached,  and  believed ;  where 
God  is  pleased  to  give  commission,  and  prepare  people's  hearts  for 
the  same,  and  not  in  man's  will. 

"  Concerning  the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  and  the  great  day  of 
judgment  yet  to  come,  beyond  the  grave,  or  after  death,  and 
Christ's  coming  without  us,  to  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead  (as 
divers  questions  are  put  in  such  terms),  what  the  Holy  Scriptures 
plainly  declare  and  testify  in  these  matters,  we  have  great  reason 
to  credit,  and  not  to  question,  and  have  been  always  ready  to  em- 
brace, with  respect  to  Christ  and  his  apostles'  own  testimony  and 
prophecies. 

"  1.  For  the  doctrine  of  the  resurrection  : 

"  If  in  this  life  only  we  have  hope  in  Christ,  we  are  of  all  men 
the  most  miserable.  1  Cor.  xv.  19.  We  sincerely  believe,  not  only 
a  resurrection  in  Christ  from  the  fallen  sinful  state  here,  but  a 
rising  and  ascending  into  glory  with  Him  hereafter ;  that  when  He 


SEVENTEENTH    CENTURY.  639 

at  last  appears.  v:e  may  appear  with  Him  in  glory.     Col.  iii.  4 ;  1 
Jolm  iii.  2. 

"  But  that  all  the  wicked  who  lived  in  rebellion  against  the  light 
of  grace,  and  die  finally  im})enitent,  shall  come  forth  to  the  resur- 
rection of  condemnation. 

"  And  that  the  soul  or  spirit  of  every  man  and  woman  shall  be 
reserved  in  its  own  distinct  and  proper  being  (so  as  there  shall  be 
as  many  souls  in  the  world  to  come  as  in  this),  and  every  seed,  yea, 
every  soul,  shall  have  its  proper  body,  as  God  is  pleased  to  give  it. 
1  Cor.  XV.  A  natural  body  is  sown, a  spiritual  body  is  raised;  that 
being  first  which  is  natural,  and  afterward  that  which  is  spiritual. 
And  though  it  is  said,  this  corruj^tiblo  shall  put  on  incorruption, 
and  tliis  mortal  shall  put  on  immortality;  the  change  shall  be  such 
as  flesh  aud  blood  cannot  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God,  neither  doth 
corruption  inherit  incorruption.  1  Cor.  xv.  We  shall  be  raised  out 
of  all  corruption  and  corruptibility,  out  of  all  mortality ;  and  the 
children  of  God  and  of  the  resurrection,  shall  be  equal  to  the  angels 
of  God  in  heaven. (e) 

^  "  And  as  the  celestial  bodies  do  far  excel  terrestrial,  so  we  expect 
our  spiritual  bodies  in  the  resurrection,  shall  far  excel  what  our 
bodies  now  are ;  and  we  hoj^e  that  none  can  justly  blame  us  for  thus 
expecting  better  bodies  than  now  they  are.  Howbeit,  we  esteem  it 
very  unnecessary  to  dispute  or  question  how  the  dead  are  raised,  or 
with  what  body  they  come ;  but  rather  submit  that  to  the  wisdom 
and  pleasure  of  the  Almighty  God. 

"  2.  For  the  doctrine  of  eternal  judgment : 

"God  hath  committed  all  judgment  unto  his  son  Jesus  Christ; 
and  He  is  both  judge  of  quick  and  dead,  and  of  the  states  and  ends  of 
all  mankind,  John  v.  22,  27  ;  Acts  x.  42 ;  2  Tim.  iv.  1 ;  1  Pet.  iv.  5. 

"  That  there  shall  be  hereafter  a  great  harvest,  which  is  the  end 
of  the  world,  a  great  day  of  judgment,  and  the  judgment  of  that 
great  day,  the  Holy  Scripture  is  clear,  Matt.  xiii.  39,  40,  41 ;  ch.  x. 
15 ;  and  xi.  24 ;  Jude  6.  '  When  the  Sou  of  Man  cometh  in  his 
glory,  and  all  the  holy  angels  with  him,  then  shall  he  sit  upon  the 
throne  of  his  glory,  and  before  him  shall  be  gathered  all  nations,' 
&c.  Matt.  XXV.  31,  32,  to  the  end,  compared  with  ch.  xxii.  31  ; 
Mark  viii.  38  ;  Luke  ix.  26 ;  and  1  Cor.  xv.  52 ;  2  Thess.  i.  7,  8,  to 
the  end,  and  1  Thess.  iv.  16  ;  Rev.  xx.  12,  13,  14,  15. 

(e)  Matt.  xxii.  30.     Mark  xii.  25.     Luke  xx.  36. 


640  FRIENDS    IN    TIIK 

"That  tliis  blessed  heavenly  man,  this  Son  of  Man,  who  hath  so 
deeply  sufiered  and  endured  so  many  great  indignities  and  persecu- 
tions from  his  adversaries,  both  to  himself  and  his  members  and 
brethren,  should  at  last,  even  in  the  last  and  great  day,  signally  and 
manifestly  appear  in  glory  and  triumph,  attended  with  all  his  glo- 
rious heavenly  host  and  retinue  before  all  nations,  before  all  his 
enemies,  and  those  that  have  denied  him  ;  this  will  l)e  to  their  great 
terror  and  amazement,  that  this  most  glorious  heavenly  Man,  and 
his  brethren,  that  have  been  so  much  contemned  and  set  at  naught, 
should  be  thus  exalted  over  their  enemies  and  persecutors,  in  glory 
and  triumph,  is  a  righteous  thing  with  God  ;  and  that  they  that 
suffer  with  him,  should  appear  with  him  iu  glory  and  dignity  when 
He  thus  appears  at  last.  Christ  was  judge  of  the  w'orld,  and  prince 
thereof,  when  on  earth,  John  ix.  39,  and  xii.  31.  He  is  still  judge 
of  the  world,  the  wickedness,  and  prince  thereof,  by  his  light,  spirit, 
and  gospel  in  men's  hearts  and  consciences,  John  xvi.  8,  11  ;  Matt, 
xii.  20;  Isa.  xlii.  1;  Rom.  ii.  16  ;  1  Pet.  iv.  6.  And  He  will  be  the 
judge  and  final  determiner  thereof  in  that  great  day  appointed ; 
God  having  appointed  a  day  wdierein  He  will  judge  the  world  in 
righteousness  by  that  man  whom  he  hath  ordained.  Christ  foretold 
it  shall  be  more  tolerable  for  them  of  the  land  of  Sodom  and  Go- 
morrah in  the  day  of  judgment,  than  for  that  city  or  people  that 
would  not  receive  his  messengers  or  ministers,  &c..  Matt.  x.  15,  and 
see  chap.  xi.  24,  and  Mark  vi.  11;  Luke  x.  12,  14.  It  is  certain 
that  God  knows  how  to  deliver  the  godly  out  of  all  their  trials,  and 
afflictions,  and  at  last  to  bring  them  forth,  and  raise  them  up  into 
glory  with  Christ;  so  He  knoweth  also  how  to  reserve  the  unjust 
and  finally  impenitent  unto  the  day  of  judgment  to  be  punished,  2 
Pet.  ii.  9.  He  will  bring  them  forth  unto  the  day  of  destruction, 
Job  xxi.  30.  The  Lord  can  and  will  reserve  such  impenitent,  pre- 
sumptuous and  rebellious  criminals,  as  bound  under  chains  of  dark- 
ness, as  were  the  fallen  angels,  unto  the  judgment  of  the  great  day, 
Jude  6  ;  Matt.  xxv.  30.  It  is  not  for  us  to  determine  or  dispute  the 
manner  how  they  shall  be  so  reserved ;  but  leave  it  to  God  ;  He 
knows  how." 

"A  Postscript  relutuHj  to  the  Doctrine  of  the  Ronwrection  and  Eternal 

Judgment. 

"At  the  last  trump  of  God,  and  the  voice  of  the  archangel,  the 
dead  shall  be  raised  incorruptible,  the  dead  in  Christ  shall  rise  first, 
1  Cor.  XV.  )-.     1  Thess.  iv.  10  compared  with  Matt.  xxiv.  31. 


SEVEXTEEXTII    CENTURY.  641 

"  Many  are  often  alarmed  in  conscience  here  by  the  word  and 
voic>e  of  God,  who  stop  their  ears  and  slight  those  warnings,  but  the 
great  and  final  alarm  of  the  la?;t  trumpet,  they  cannot  stop  their 
ears  against,  nor  escape  ;  it  will  unavoidably  seize  upon,  and  further 
awaken  them  finally  to  judgment.  They  that  will  not  be  alarmed 
in  their  consciences,  unto  repentance,  nor  out  of  their  sins  here,  must 
certainly  be  alarmed  to  judgment  hereafter. 

"Whosoever  do  now  wilfully  shut  their  eyes,  hate,  contemn,  or 
shun  the  light  of  Christ,  or  his  appearance  within,  shall  at  last  be 
made  to  see,  and  not  be  able  to  shun  or  hide  themselves  from  his 
glorious  and  dreadful  appearance  from  heaven  with  his  mighty 
angels,  as  with  lightning  and  in  flaming  fire,  to  render  vengeance  on 
all  them  that  know  not  God,  and  obey  not  the  gospel  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  1  Thess.  iv.  17;  Matt.  xxiv.  27;  Luke  xvii.  24;  Dan. 
X.  6 ;  Job  xxxvii.  3. 

"  And  though  many  now  evade  and  reject  the  inward  convictions 
and  judgments  of  the  light,  and  shut  up  the  records  or  books  thereof 
in  their  own  consciences,  they  shall  be  at  last  opened,  and  every  one 
judged  of  these  things  recorded  therein,  according  to  their  works. 
Rev.  XX.  12,  13,  14,  15. 

"  Signed  in  behalf  of  our  Christian  profession  and  people  afore- 
said, 

George  Whitehead,  Charles  Marshall, 

Ambrose  Rigge,  John  Bow'ater, 

William  Fallowfield,        John  Vaughton, 
James  Parke,  William  Bingley." 

41 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

ACT  for  Cutting  off  ears,  boring  tongue,  at  Boston,     .         .         .  163 

"     "    Banishment,  on  jjain  of  death, 177 

against  Quakers, ,         .  217 

Conventicle,  The  Second 329-331 

Corporation,  The 365 

Conventicle,  The  Third 444 

Conventicle,  Observations  on  the  Third,  by  T.  Ellwood,  .         .  445 

"              Execution  of,  urged  by  Archbishop  Sheldon,       .  446 

"              Cruel  persecution  under  the          ....  448 

"             Perversion  of,  to  punish  Friends,           .         .         .  499 

of  Toleration,  Passed, 558 

Ages,  Dark,  Labors  of  good  men  in  the 13 

Aldam,  Thomas,  Convincement  of 41 

Ambrose,  Alice,  Severe  whipping  of,  in  Virginia,    ....  174 

"             "       with  other  Friends,  travels  in  Maine,     .         .  253 

"             "       Cruel  treatment  of 254 

Ames,  William,  Visit  of,  to  Holland, 150 

"            "          Successful  labors  of,  in  Holland,  with  W.  Caton, .  228 

"             "          Religious  visit  of,  to  Germany,       ....  229 

Persecution  of,         .         .        ".         .         .         .         .229 

Death  of 295 

Amsterdam,  New,  Persecution  of  R.  Hodshone  at  ,         .         .         .  169 

"           Stop  put  to  persecution  in 172 

Apology,  The,  of  New  England  persecutors, 239 

Armorer,  William,  Cruelty  of,  towards  Friends,       ....  398 

Atherton,  Imprisonment  of,  until  death, 314 

Audland,  John,  Some  account  of     .         .         .         .         .         .         .48 

"            "      Money  taken  for  preaching  returned  by         .         .  49 

"            "      Visit  of,  to  Bristol, 71 

"            "      Death  and  character  of 327 

Austin,  Anne,  Some  account  of        .......  151 

"           "       Arrival  of,  in  Boston,  with  M.  Dyer,         .         .         .  154 

"           "       Treatment  of,  in  Boston, 155 

B ACHE,  HUMPHREY,  Account  of 94,98 

Bailey,  George,  Visit  to  France  by  ;  Imprisonment  and  death  of  150 

Baily.  William,  Death  of 504 

Baker,  Dan.,  Efiorts  made  by,  for  release  of  C.  Evans  and  S.  Cheevers,  237 

643 


644 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

.  269 

.  521 

525-527 

.  523 

.  519 

.  525 

.  14 

.  154 

.  360 

.  546 

.  362 

.  481 

.  481 

.  483 

.  483 

.  483 

483-484 

.  487 

.  487 

.  512 

.  548 


Baker,  Daniel,  Treatment  of,  by  Brown,  Mayor  of  London, 
Bangs,  Benjamin,  General  visit  of,  to  Ireland, 

"  "  Some  account  of  ..... 

Banks,  John,  Some  account  of 

"  "       Services  of,  in  Ireland,        .... 

"  "       Testimony  of,  respecting  faith  in  Christ,    . 

Baptists,  Rise  and  early  religious  opinions  of 

"  Persecution  of,  in  Massachusetts, 

Barclay,  David,  Some  account  of      ....         . 

Death  of, 

Barclay,  Ilobert,  Some  account  of  the  early  life  of. 
"  "         Marriage  of;  Religious  exercises  of 

"  "         Imprisonment  of,  with  J.  Swinton, 

"  "         writes  Catechism  and  Confession  of  Faith, 

"  "         with  G.  Keith,  disputes  witii  students,  . 

"  "         "  Apology  for  the  true  Christian  Divinity,"  by 

"  "         Estimation  by  Friends  of  the  "  Apology,"  by 

"  "         forms  acquaintance  with  Princess  Elizabeth, 

"  "         Imi)risoniuent  of,    ...... 

"  "         Efforts  of,  to  relieve  Friends  in  Scotland, 

"  "         Further  efforts  of,  for  relief  of  Friends 

"  "         Singular  coincidence  of  exj^ressions  in  the  Address 

of,  to  Archbishop  Sharpe,  and  the  circumstances 

of  the  hitter's  death, 549 

"  "         Appointment  of,  to  be  Governor  of  New  Jersey,  .     549 

"  "         Successful  efforts  of,  to  settle  a  quarrel  between 

parties  in  high  life,      ......     550 

"  "         Travels of.with  J.  Dickenson  ;  Sicknessand  Death  of  550 

"  "         Testimonies  respecting 551 

Barrow,  Robt.,  Account  of 620 

Bennet,  Colonel,  a  Baptist  preacher.  Jail  owned  by         .         .         .     130 
"  "  Character  of  jailers  employed  by  .         .         .         .     130 

"  "  George  Fox  and  other  Friends  discharged  from 

jaii'by 133 

Billings,  Edward,  Letter  of,  relative  to  the   cruelty  of  Moidc's  sol- 
diers,     197 

Bill  for  the  relief  of  Dissenters,  passed,  secreted,     ....     530 

Bishop,  George,  Convincement  of 71 

Bishops,  Seven,  imprisoned;  accuse  Friends  of  traducing  them,      .     552 

"         Interview  with,  by  R.  Barclay, 553" 

"         Trial  and  acquittal  of 553 

Blaugdone,  Barbara,  Convincement  of 71 

"  "  Visit  of,  to  the  house  of  the  Earl  of  Bath,      .       73 

"  "  Savage  dog  set  on.  Imprisonment  and  whip- 

ping of,  .......       74 

"  '•  Interview  of,  with  the  Lord  3Iayor  of  Dublin,     118 


INDEX. 


645 


"      Imprisonment  in,  and  Banishment  from 
Bowne,  John,  Suffering  of;  Banishment  of;  cleared. 
Boys,  Two  sent  to  Prison  —  Punishment  and  constancy  of 
r>radden.  Captain,  Explanation  by,  of  Major  Ceely's  charge  against 
Geo.  Fox,      ......... 

Brain,  John,  Cruel  treatn>ent  of,  by  Mayor  Brown, 
Brend,  William,  Cruelties  inflicted  on      ...         . 

"  "         Constancy  of — Liberation  of 

Brev/ster,  Margaret,  Service  and  suffering  of,  at  Boston, 
Bristol,  First  visit  to,  by'  Friends  —  Convincemcnt  at 
"       Magistrates  of.  Incite  the  mob  against  Friends, 
"       Magistrates  of,  charge  Friends  with  being  Papists, 
"       Severe  persecution  of  Friends  at,  ... 

Brown,  Prophecy  of  one,  respecting  George  Fox,     . 
Brown,  Richard,  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  Character  of  . 

"  "         Instances  of  cruelty  of 

Brown,  Caj)taiD,  Unfaithfulness  of;  Convincemcnt  of     . 
Brush,  Edward,  Banishment  of        .         . 
Bull-and-Mouth  Mceting-House,  Purchase  of 

Bullock,  Jeffrey,  Disownment  of 

Burden,  Ann,  Cruelty  practised  on,  in  Boston, 
Burlington,  Yearly  Meeting  held  in  .... 

"  Yearly  Meeting  held  alternately  in,  and  in  Philadelphia. 

Burnt,  Sevei'al  Dissenters,  under  Elizabeth,     . 

Burnyeat,  John,  Some  account  of 

"  "      Visit  of,  to  Ireland ;  imprisonment, 

"  "      Visit  of,  in  West  Indies  and  America,  . 

"  "      Labor  of,  to  restore  the  followers  of  J.  Perrot,    411-412 

T.  Thurston,  .     411 
"  "      Service    of,    at    Half-Year's    Meeting    on    Long 

Island, 

"  "      Travels  of,  in  New  England,  .... 

"  "      Dispute  of,  with  some  old  persecutors,  , 

"      Death  of 

Burrough,  Edward,  Convincemcnt  and  some  account  of 

"  "  Travels  with  J.  Audland,  .... 

"  "  Goes   to  London ;    Preaches   at   a   wrestling- 

match,  ........ 

"  "  Character  of  the  preaching  of, 

"  "  Visit  to  Ireland  by,  with  F.  Howgil, 

"  "  Crowd  preached  to  by,  while  on  his  horse. 


PAGE 

270 
63 


Blithold,  N.,  and  others,  cruel  treatment  of, 

Bolton,  John,  Testimony  of,  against  his  error  in  removing  the  hats 

of  two  Friends  in  (Jourt, 

Books,  Many,  published  against  Friends, 71 

Boston,  Consternation  in,  at  the  arrival  of  Friends,  women  and  men     156 

.     157 

171-172 

.     268 


129 
.  269 
.     177 

.  178 
.  261 
.  71 
.  72 
.       72 

533-536 
.  32 
.     219 

268,  270 
.  311 
.  341 
.  79 
.  517 
.  159 
.  422 
432 
.       13 

220,  228 
.  382 
.     409 


433 
437 
438 
574 
49 
50 

75 

76 

116 

117 


646 


INDEX. 


Burrough,  Edward,  Arrested  at  Cork ;  imprisoned  and  banished, 
"  "  Close  communication  to  O.  Cromwell  by 

"  "  Interview  of,  with  O.  Cromwell, 

"  "  k^tirring  address,  and  prediction  by  . 

"  "  Goes  to  London,  on  the  enactment  of  the  law 

against  Friends,    .... 
"  "  with  S.  Fisher,  Visit  of,  at  Dunkirk 

"  "  Application  by,  to  the  King,  on  account  of  the 

murdering  of  Friends  in  New  England, 
"  "  Trial,  imprisonment,  and  death  of    ,         .     29 

Buttery,  Isabel,  goes  to  London,       .... 

"            "       imprisonment  for  distributing  a  tract  written  by  G 
Fox 


CALAMITIES,  England  suffers  from  . 
Callow,  Wm.,  and  his  wife,  Persecution  of 
Captains  of  Vessels  refuse  to  transport  and  sell  Friend 
Carolina,  North  and  South,  Enlightened  policy  of 

"         Friends  in 

Caton,  Wm.,  Travels  into  Scotland, 

"  "       Some  account  of,  .... 

"  "       Service  of,  with  J.  Stubbs  at  Dover,  . 

"  "       Severe  whipping  of,  at  Maidstone, 

"  "       Visit  of,  to  Calais,        .... 

"  "       Visit  of,  to  Holland,    .... 

"  "       Services  of,  in  Holland, 

"  "       Death  of 

Cavaliers  and  Eoundheads,  War  between 
Ceely,  Peter,  Accusation  of  G.  Fox,  brought  by 
Chalkley,  Thomas,  Some  account  of         .        .        . 
Charles  I.,  Determined  opposition  of,  to  Dissenters, 
"  Efforts  of,  to  force  Prelacy  on  Scotland, 

"  Defeated,  in  Ins  attacks  on  the  Scotch,  . 

"  Imprisonment  and  Execution  of    . 

Charles  II.,  Restoration  of,  to  the  throne, 
"  Declaration  of,  at  Breda, 

"  700  Friends  liberated  by       .        .        . 

"  Act  against  Friends,  signed  by     . 

"  Mandamus  of,  to  Governor  Endicott,  . 

"  Proclamation  issued  by,  expressing  a  desire 

Dissenters,  ..... 

"  Treaty  of,  with  Louis  XIV., 

"  Proclamation  by,  suspending  certain  penal 

"  Dissatisfaction  of  the  people  with 

"  Proclamation  recalled  by 

"  Absolute  power  assumed  by 


to  r 


24 


elieve 


PAGE 

118 
122 
147 
168 

220 
229 

257 

J-295 

75 

75 


353 

13-250 

185 

418 

41S 

109 

110 

111 

112 

112 

150 

228 

358 

19 

128-129 

583 

17 

18 

18 

19 

197 

198 

199 

217 

257 


309 
469 
469 
474 
474 
531 


[NDEX. 


647 


PAGE 

Charles  II.,  Charter  of  London,  taken  away  by        ...         .     531 
"  Triumph  of,  with  the  High  Church,     ....     538 

Death  of 539 

Cheevers,  Sarah,  and  Catharine  Evans,  Some  account  of  the  suffer- 
ings of,  at  Malta, 232-238 

Chilton,  Edward,  Letter  of,  on  his  having  taken  an  oath,  .  .  213 
Christen,  Evan  and  Wife,  Persecution  of.  ...  .  244-250 
"Christianity,  Primitive,  Revived,"  Extracts  from.  .  .  605-611 
Christison  Wenlock,  Trial  and  sentence  of  ....  .  248 
Church,  Doctrines  and  organization  of  The  Established,  How  de- 
cided —  Supreme  Head  of,  &c., 11 

"        "  Episcopal,"  Dissatisfaction   of  many  with  —  Dissenters 

from,  burnt  —  Intolerance  of 13-20 

"        Hatred  of  Dissenters  by  the  National         ....     207 
"        Teaching  of  unconditional  submission  to  the  King,  by       .     208 
"        Pretension  of,  to  Apostolic  succession,        ....     209 
Church  government  organized  among  Friends,         ....     377 
Churclies,  Why  Friends  went  to  speak  in         ....  55-57 

Clapham,  George,  Cruelty  of,  towards  Friends,  .  .  .  383-384 
Clarendon,  Earl  of,  Downfall  and  exile  of  ...  .  398-399 
Clarkson,  Robert,  Care  of,  for  Friends  in  Virginia,  .         .         .     172 

Clibborn,  John,  Kindness  of,  to  Wm.  Edmundson,  .         .         .     566 

Colchester,  Cruel  persecution  of  Friends  at      ....      295-297 

Cole,  Josiah,  Convincement  of 71 

"  "       Visit  of,  to  Virginia, 172 

"  "       Banishment  of,  from  Maryland, 175 

"  "       Death  of 399 

Coleman,  Ann,  Travels  of,  in  Maine, 253 

"  "      Cruel  treatment  of 254 

Colonies,  Notice  of  the  New  England,  Terms  of  Charter  of.  Power 

of  the  "ministers"  in,  Intolerance  of,   .         .         .      151-153 

Charter  of  the  New  England,  forfeited,     .         .         .         .262 

"         Termination  of  whipping,  &c.,  in  the  New  England         .     261 

"  Commissioners  of  the  United  Provinces,"  Proposition  of  the,  to 

prevent  Quakers  from  entering  New  England,      ....     157 

Conference,  Savoy,  Failure  of  the 214 

Connecticut,  Policy  of,  similar  to  that  of  Boston,  ....  164 
Conscience,  Liberty  of,  destroyed  under  Elizabeth,  ...       11 

"  Contagion,  The  Quaker,"  Alarm  at,  in  New  England,  .  .  .176 
Controversy,  Religious,  Effects  of,  in  England,         ....       19 

Conventicle  Act,  Provisions  in  the 329-331 

Convincement  of  a  female  Prisoner,  .         .         .         ^         .         .       38 

Copeland,  John,  Banishment  of,  from  Martha's  Vineyard  —Kind- 
ness towards,  by  Indians  —  Travels  in  New  Eng- 
land, Imprisoned  and  whipped  in  Boston,    .         .     160 
"  "      Declaration  of  Faith,  signed  by,  and  others,  .         .     161 

"  "     Sentence  of,  to  have  an  ear  cut  off,         .        .        .     178 


648  INDEX. 

PAGE 

Council  of  Edinburgh  order  the  Conventicle  Acts  enforced     .         .  485 
Courts,  Appeals  to,  fruitless,     .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .16 

Court,  General,  Passage  by  the,  to  line  Masters  of  ships  bringing 

Quakers,  and  to  whip,  imprison  and  banish  Quakers,  .         .         .  158 
Coui'ts  of  Boston  and  Plymouth,  sentence  some  Friends  to  be  trans- 
ported and  sold.     Captains  refuse,          ....                 .  185 

Court   of  Boston,   Threatening   consequences    of  the  sanguinary 

course  pursued  by  ... 247 

Crisp,  Stephen,  Some  account  of 299-302 

"             "         Epistle  of,  after  the  Toleration  Act,          .         .         .  561 

Death  of 578 

Cromwell,  Oliver,  Appointment  of,  to  be  Lord  Protector,         .         .  19 

"               "        Parliament  purged  by 22 

"              "        "  Triers "  of  Ministers  appointed  by    ...  57 

"              "        Notice  of  the  Death  and  Character  of.         .         .  165 
"              "        Number  of  Friends  in  jail  at  the  time  of  the 

death  of     . 166 

"              "        SufFeriugs  endured  by  Friends  during  the  reign  of,  166 

Cromwell,  Richard,  Succession  of,  to  his  father — Incompetency  of  167 

"                "          Retirement  of, 196 

Crook,  John,  Trial  of, 270-278 

"       Death  of 616-617 

Crouch,  William,  Description  by,  of  E.  Burrough's  preaching,         .  76 

"              "         Appeal  of,  frustrated  by  a  Judge.         .         .         .  501 

"              "         Interview  of,  with  the  Bishop  of  Canterbury,      .  501 

Cudworth,  James,  Letter  of, 182 

Curses  Pronounced  in  the  Churches  in  Scotland,      ....  148 

Curtis.  Ann,  Interview  of,  with  the  King,  on  behalf  of  G.  Fox,       .  201 

DAVIES,  RICHARD,  Some  account  of,      .         .         .         .      491-496 
Declaration  of  Faith,  First,  by  Friends  in  America,         .         .161 

Issued  in  1693 631 

Dennis,  Isaac,  Cruelty  of.  Death  of, 536 

Depravity  of  different  classes,  in  England, 350 

Derby,  Countess  of.  Cruelty  of. .314 

Deputation,  Court  of  Boston  send  a,  to  England,     ....     259 
Desborougb,  Gen.,  Neglect  of,  in  the  case  of  G.  Fox  and  others,     .     133 

Dewsbury,  William,  joins  Friends, 41 

"  "         Some  account  of 42 

"  "         Violent  attack  on.     Imprisonment  of,      .         .       64 

"  "         Preaching  of,  from  a  window  of  the  house  where 

he  was  a  guest  —  Put  into  a  Dungeon,  .       99 

"  "         Trial  of,  before  Judge  Hale,     .         .         .         .100 

"  "         Liberation  of,  by  O.  Cromwell,         .         .         .101 

"  "        Successful  labors  of,  in  Scotland,     .         .         .223 

"  "         Long   Imprisonment  of  —  Testimony   of,  re- 

sjjecting  J.  Perrot, 466 


INDEX. 


649 


PAGB 

Dewsbury,  William,  Various  imprisonments  of,       .         .         .         .     4G7 

Epistle  of,  To  the  wives  of  banished  Friends, .     468 

"  "         Epistle  of,  to  Friends  imprisoned  at  Aberdeen,     482 

"  "         Imprisonment  of,  as  a  Jesuit,  ....     532 

Death  of  the  grand-daughter  of        .         .         .     532 

"  "         Sickness  and  death  of 556 

Dissatisfaction.  The  people  in  Boston  manifest,  with  their  Rulers, .     163 
Dissenters,  Feelings  of,  towards  the  "High  Church  Party,"    .         .       21 
"  Successful  efforts  to  exclude,  from  office,        .         .         .     264 

"  Neal's  account  of  the  course  of,  under  the  Conventicle 

Act 265 

"  Notice  of  the  suppression  of  .         .....     537 

Discipline,  Setting  up  Meetings  for 369 

"  Necessity  for  .         . 372 

"  Organization  of  Meetings, 374—376 

"  Character  of  the 377 

"  Advice  relative  to  carrying  out  the,  by  G.  Fox,     .      878-381 

"  0[)position  to,  and  to  Church  government  by  Wilkinson 

and  Storv, 513-517 


Downer,  Ann,  Notice  of   . 

Dowdney,  Richard,  Imprisonment  of,  at  Boston, 

Dring,  Simon  and  Robert,  Convincement  of.  Meeting  kept  at  the 

house  of,         .         . 

Drury,  Capt.,  Escorts  G.  Fox  to  London, 
"  "        Remarkable  visitation  of    . 

Dyer,  Mary,  Convincement  of.     Treatment  of,  at  Boston 

"  "        Banishment  of,  on  pain  of  death, 

"         "       Trial  and  sentence  of  . 

'■  "       Reprieve  of . 

"         "       Re-arrest  of — Trial  and  Execution  of 


TT'DMUNDSGN,  WILLIAM,  Some  account  of 


Hj 


122 
160 


75 

91 

93 

159 

188 

191 

193 

193-195 


.  113 

Goes  to  Ireland  to  reside,  .  .114 
Early  religious  exercises  of    .         .115 

Settlement  of,  at  Lurgan,  .  .  115 
First  meeting  of  Friends  in  Ireland 

at  the  house  of  .  .  ,  .  116 
Journey  of,  with  J.  Tiffin,  Visit  of, 

to  G.  Fox, 116 

Extraordinary  trial  of  the  faith  of.  120 
Land  rented  by,  in  order  to  bear 

testimony  against  tithes,       .         .  121 

Imprisonment  of  .  .  .  .  227 
Successful    efforts    of,    to    liberate 

Friends, 228 

Account  by,  of  the  persecution  of 

Friends  in  Ireland,       .         .         .  383 


650  INDEX. 

PAGE 

Edmundson,  William,  Successful  resistance  by,  of  the  cruelty  of 

G.  Claphain, 384 

"  "  Interview  of,  with  the  Lord  Lieutenant  and 

Bisliops, 385 

"                  "         Remarkable  service  of,  at  Londonderry,      385-388 
"                  "          Concern  of,  for  setting  up  Meetings  for  Dis- 
cipline in  Ireland, 388 

"                  "          Visit  of,  to  the  West  Indies  and  America,  412 
"                   "          Travels    into    North    Carolina  —  Hardships 

endured  by 416 

"                  "          Eeligious  labor  of,  in  North  Carolina,  .         .  417 
"     •             "         Visit  of,  in  New   York   and   Long   Island, 

in  1672, 434 

"  "  Visit  of,  in  New  Enghind,  in  1675 — Dangers 

attending 439 

"  "  Encouragement  by,  of  Friends   in    Rhode 

Island  during  King  Philip's  war,  ,  .  439 
"  "■  Visit  of,  to  New  Hartford,  .  .  .  .440 
"                  "          Treatment  of,  in  New  Hartford,   .         ,         .440 

"                  "          Travels  of,  in  the  Southern  Provinces, .         .  441 

"                  "          Affecting  incident  occurring  to,    .         .         .  441 

"                  "          Labor  of,  on  account  of  some  apostates,        .  521 

"                  "          Excommunication  and  imprisonment  of      .  521 

«                  "         Service  of,  before  the  Bishops'  Court,    .         .  522 

"                  "          Prediction  by,  of  impending  calamities,       .  563 

"                  "          Service  of,  in  helping  his  neighbors,     .         ,  564 
"                  "          House  of,  burnt  —  Cruel  treatment  of,  and 

of  his  sons, 565 

"                  "          Assistance  rendered  to,  by  J.  Clibborn,         .  566 

"                  "          Cruel  treatment  of  the  wife  of      .         .         .  566 

"                  "          Scheme  for  taking  the  life  of        .         .         .  567 

Elizabeth,  Princess  Palatine,  Letter  from,  respecting  R.  Barclay,   .  487 

"                "             "           Visit  to,  by  Wm.  Penn  and  others,    .  510 

«'  "  "  Letter  of,  to  G.  Fox,  .         .         .         .511 

Ellington,  Francis,  Convincement  of —  Imprisonment  of       .         .  99 

EUwood,  Thomas,  Some  account  of 281-287 

"  "  Mortification  of,  at  not  being  known  as  a  Friend,  287 
"  "  Some  account  by,  of  Prison  life,  ,  .  .  287-293 
"               "          Account  by,  of  meetings  held  for  the  recovery  of 

Perrot's  followers, 3G9 

"               "          Observation  by,  on  third  Conventicle  Act .         .  448 

"               "          Imprisonment  of.         .....         •  462 

Enactments,  Old,  Revived  against  Friends, 67 

Endicott,  Governor,  Mean  effort  of,  to  shift  the  odium  of  the  treat- 
ment of  Wm.  Brend  on  to  the  Jailer,    .         .  178 
"                 "          Reception  by,  of  the  King's  Mandamus, .         ,  258 


INDEX. 


651 


England,  Sad  state  of,  when  G.  Fox  began  bis  labors,      ...       31 

England,  New,  Decline  of  persecution  in. 436 

Evans,  Catharine,  Account  of  the  suffering  of,  at  Malta,  with  Sarah 

Cheevers, 232-238 

Evelyn,  John,  Account  by,  of  the  Great  Fire  in  London,         .         .     366 
Evidence  of  the  unsettled,  inquiring  state  of  the  people  in  England,       89 


at  Swarth 


IIAITH,  Declaration  of,  on  behalf  of  the  Society, 
Farnsworth,  Richard,  Convincement  of    . 
"  "         Some  account  of     . 

"  "         Death  of. 

Fathers,  Pilgrim,  Landing  of,  on  Plymouth  Rock,  . 
Fell,  Judge  and  Wife,  Some  account  of   . 
"     Margaret,  Account  by,  of  George  Fox's  first  visit 
moor,       ........ 

"      Judge,  Offer  by,  of  his  house  for  meeting, 
"         "         Religious  views  of        .         ,         .         • 
"         "         Daughters  of,  join  Friends, 
Fell,  Margaret,  Visit  of,  to  the  King,  on  account  of  George  Fox, 
"  "  Imprisonment  of;  pleads  her  cause, 

"  *''  Sentence  of 

"  "  Address  of,  to  the  King, 

"  *'  Release  of,  from  prison, 

"  "  Marriage  of,  with  George  Fox, 

Fisher,  Samuel,  Convincement  of    . 

"  "  Visit  of,  to  Dunkirk,  with  E.  Burrough 

"  "  Proposition  of,  to  a  chaplain, 

"  "  Visit  and  labor  of,  in  Rome, 

"  "  Death  and  character  of  . 

Fisher,  Mary,  Some  account  of;  Imprisonment  of 
"  "         Severe  scourging  of  . 

"  "         Visit  of,  to  West  Indies,  with  Anne  Austin, 

"  "         Treatment  of,  on  arrival  at  Boston,  . 

"  "         Transportation  of,  to  Barbadoes, 

"  "        Visit  of,  to  Sultan  Mahomet  IV.,  . 

Fletcher,  Elizabeth,  Visit  of,  to  Oxford,  with  Eliz.  Heavens, 
"  "  Cruel  usage  of  ..... 

Fletcher,  Colonel,  Unsuccessful  efforts  of,  to  coerce  the  Penna.  As 

sembly, 

Forbes,  William,  Extraordinary  occurrences  attending  his  agency 

in  pronouncing  excommunication,        .... 
Fowler,  Robert,  Offer  of,  to  carry  Friends  to  New  England, 
Fox,  Margaret,  Second  imprisonment  of  .         .         . 

Fox,  George,  Birth,  education  and  early  exercises  of, 
"  "         Resorts  in  vain  to  priests  for  comfort. 


631-641 
41 


397 

398 

17 

51 


51 

54 

54 

55 

201 

317 

324 

405 

406 

407 

112 

229 

230 

231 

357 

150 

151 

151 

155 

155 

155-156 

81 

81 


603 

226 

159 

462 

25-26 

27 


Sundry  gospel  truths  opened  to  the  understanding  of      27 


652  INDEX. 

PAGE 

Fox,  George,  Belief  of,  in  the  Deity  and  Atonement  of  Christ,  27-28 
"  "         Various  exercises  passed  tli rough  by  .         .         28-;W 

30 
30 
32 

32-33 
33 

34-35 
36 
36 
37 


Sees  that  every  man  has  the  Light  of  Christ, 
First  appearance  of,  in  the  ministry, 

Eifect  of  prayer  by 

Commission  of  

Account  by,  of  the  "Springing  up  of  Truth," 
The  several  testimonies  of  the  gospel  seen  by 
Exhorts  Courts  and  Judges  to  administer  justice, 
First  imprisonment  of         ....         . 
Many  convinced  by,  and  meetings  established, 
Examined  before  Magistrates,  and  asiced  if  he  was 

Christ, 37 

Imprisonment  at  Derby  ;  offered  a  Captaincy  in  the 

army, ■         ...       37 

Writes  to  the  Magistrates  and  Priests  of  Derby,  .  39 
A  Scotch  Priest  desires  the  death  of;  convinced,  ,  42 
Explanation  by,  of  what  was  meant  by  Christ  within,  42 
Reasons  why  "churches"  as  "consecrated"  were  of- 
fensive to 44 

Treatment  of,  by  the  people ;  not  willing  to  give  food 

or  lodging, 45-47 

Abuse  of,  at  Balby,  Doncaster,  Tickhill,  &c.       .  46-47 

First  visit  of,  to  Swarthmoor  Hall,      ....       50 

Attempt  to  shoot,  at  Cockan, 67 

Dreadful  beating  of,  at  Walney  Island,      ...       67 
Charged  with  blasphemy  by  many  Priests,         .         .       68 
Trial  of,  at  Lancaster ;  cleared,  .         .         .  68-70 

Stories  raised  concerning    ......       70 

Advice  of,  respecting  holding  meetings  in  "  unbroken 

places," 79 

Predicts  the  breaking  up  of  Parliament  by  Cromwell,       81 
Committed  to  jail,  at  Carlisle,  as  a  blasphemer,         .       82 

Cruel  treatment  of,  by  jailers, 83 

Left  without  trial, 83 

Report  that,  was  to  be  hung, 84 

Great  multitudes  flocked  to  hear        ...         89,  90 
Revisits  his  native  place ;  disputes  with  Priest  Stev- 
ens and  other  Priests, 90 

Examination  of,  before  Col.    Hacker;    sent  to  the 

Lord  Protector  by  him,  .....       91 

Taken  before  Cromwell ;  account  of  interview,  .  92,  93 

Second  visit  of,  to  Cromwell's  family,         ...       93 
Arrested,  and  taken  before  Peter  Ceely,     .         .         .126 

Committed  to  Launceston  jail, 126 

Trial  of,  before  Chief  Justice  Glyn,    .         ,         .      126,129 


INDEX.  653 

PAOE 

Fox,  George,  Fined  for  not  taking  off  his  hat;  thrust  into  "Dooms- 
dale"  dungeon  ;  Barbarous  cruelty  inflicted  on  .  130 
"  "  Convinces  many  of  the  Truth  while  in  prison,  .  .  181 
"  "  Writes  many  addresses  while  in  prison,  .  .  .132 
"  "  A  Friend  offers  to  take  the  plasce  of,  in  prison,  .  .  133 
"           "         General  Desborough  ordered  to  investigate  the  case 

of  the  prisoners,  but  neglects  the  duty,  .  ,  .  133 
"  "  Discharge  of,  from  jail,  by  Col.  Bennet,  .  .  .  133 
"  "  Visit  of,  to  J.  Naylor,  in  jail;  moved  to  slight  him,  136-7 
"  "  Joins  O.  Cromwell,  as  he  rides  into  London;  inter- 
view with  Cromwell  at  Whitehall,  .  .  .  145 
"           "         Has  a  sight  of  the  overthrow  of  the  Commonweajth, 

and  the  return  of  the  King,     .....  146 
"           "         Writes  several  epistles  —  one  to  the  partisans  of  J. 

Naylor, 146 

"           "         Travels  into  Wales  with  John  ap  John,     ,         .         .  147 
"         Visits  Scotland,           .         .         .         .         .         .         .147 

"           "         Opposed  by  the  "  ministers"  in  Scotland,           .         .  147 
"           "         Brought  before  theCouncil  in  Edinburgh,  and  ordered 

to  leave  that  country  ;  he  refuses,   ....  148 

"           "         Preaches  in  Edinburgh,  without  opposition,      .         .  149 

"           "         Doctrine  preached  by  ;  returns  into  England,    .         .  149 

"           "         Testimony  of,  concerning  Friends,  in  1658,         ,         .  167 

"           "         Arrested,  by  order  of  Porter,  a  IMagistrate,         .         .  200 
"           "         Refutation  by,  of  the  charges  made  by  Porter;  close 

imi)risonment  of      .         ,         .....  201 

"  "         Removed  to  London,  by  habeas  corpus,  and  honorably 

discharged, 202 

"           "         Arrest  of,  in  London,  and  liberation  of      .         .         .  210 
"           "         Account  by,  of  Friends'  interview  with  the  dei)uta- 

tion  sent  from  New  England    ....        259-60 

"           "         Epistle  of,  respecting  the  death  of  Ed.  Burrough,  308 

"           "              "      of,  showing  the  ground  of  persecution,   .         .  308 

"           "         Escapes  the  eager  efforts  to  arrest  him  when  at  Bristol,  310 
"           "         Account  by,  of  Captain  Brown,  .         .         .         .      310,311 

"           "         Arrest  and  imprisonment  of,  at  Swannington,   .         .  311 

"           "         Escape  of,  from  being  arrested  while  in  the  North,    .  312 
"           "         Goes  to  see  Colonel  Kirby,  who  acts  deceitfully  towards 

him,  .         .         .  "      .         .         .         .  '      .         .312 

"           "         Arrest  of;  Commitment  of,  to  Lancaster  jail,    .         .  313 

Trial  of,  for  not  swearing, 315-320 

"  "         Showssomany  errors  in  his  indictment,  that  the  Judge 

is  obliged  to  discharge  him,  but  instantly  tenders 

him  the  oath  again,  and  begins  a  new  trial,     .         .  318 

"           "         Imprisonment  of,  in  a  wet,  smoky  tower,   .         .         .  319 

"           "         Sentence  of  premunire  said  to  be  passed  on,      .         .  320 


654  INDEX. 

PACJR 

Fox,  George,  Removed  from  Lancaster  jail  to  Scarborough  Castle,  o21 
"  "  Cruelty  practised  on,  by  the  jailers,  ....  322 
"         "         The  Christian  love  and  constancy  of,  overcome  the 

hatred  of  his  custodians, 323 

"         "         Eelease  of,  by  order  of  the  King,        ....     323 

"         "         Ends  of  several  of  those  who  had  caused  the  imprison- 
ment of     ........         •     328 

"         "         Effects  of  close  imprisonment  on         ...         .     367 

"         "         Visit  of,  to  London,  after  the  Great  Fire,  .         .         .     368 
"         "         Concern  of,  for  the  restoration  of  followers  of  J.  Perrot,     369 
"         "         Reflections  concerning  the  mission  of,  and  the  effects 

produced  by  the  doctrine  preached  by     .         .         .     370 
"         "         Advices  of,  for  carrying  out  the  Discipline,         .      378-381 
"         "         Visit  of,  in  Ireland  ;  Account  by,  of  Friends  there,   .     389 
"         "         Marriage  of,  with  Margaret  Fell,         .         .         .         .407 

"         "         Epistle  of,  relative  to  meetings  taking  care  of  children,     408 
"         "         Visit  of,  to  West  Indies  and  America,         .         .         .     412 
"         "         Declaration  of  faith  by,  and  other  Friends,  presented 

to  the  Governor  of  Barbadoes,  ....     413-415 

"         "         Attends  a  General  Meeting  appointed  by  J.  Burnyeat, 

at  West  River, 415 

"         "         Much  followed  in  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,         .     415 
"         "         Visit  of,  to  North  Carolina;  Dispute  with  a  Doctor 
respecting  Universal  Saving  Light;  Concern  of,  for 

the  Indians, 417 

"  "  Perilous  journey  of  .  .  .  .  •  •  .  .418 
"  "  Attends  Half- Year's  Meeting  on  Long  Island,  .  .  433 
"         "         Service  of,  in  reproving  disorderly  spirits  there,  .     433 

"  "  Meeting  held  by,  with  Indians,  on  Shelter  Island,  .  435 
"         "         Attendance  of,  and  account  by,  of  Rhode  Island  Yearly 

Meeting, 435 

"         "         Travels  witli  the  Governor  in  Rhode  Island,       .         .     438 
"         "         Reported  to  have  turned  Presbyterian  ;  origin  of  re- 
port,.  443 

"         "         Arrest  of,  at  a  meeting  in  London  ;  Papist  informer,  .     448 

"         "         Severe  sickness  of, 461 

"         "         Testimony  of,  respecting  Amor  Stoddart,  .         .         .     461 

Epistle  of, 461 

"  "  Arrest  of,  at  Worcester;  Trial  and  imprisonment  of,  475 
"  "  Account  by,  of  services  while  a  prisoner,  .  .  .  476 
"  "  Sentence  of  premunire  passed  on;  Imprisonment  of .  488 
"  "  Severe  sickness  of,  ..••••  •  489 
"  "  Visit  to,  by  Richard  Davies ;  advice  of  the  latter,  .  489 
*'  "  Trial  of,  before  the  Court  of  the  King's  Bench, .  .  489 
"         "         Cleared  of  all  charges, 490 


INDEX, 


655 


537 

538 

545 
568 
569 
570 


Fox,  George,  Retires  to  Svvartlimoor,  to  recruit  strength;  Employ- 
ment of     496-497 

Epistle  of,  to  Friends,  concerning  tithes,  .  .  .  497 
Visits  Holland,  &c.,  with  other  Friends,  .  .  .  498 
Declaration  of,  against  all  Plots,  ....  529 
Epistle  of,  advising  Friends  to  take  care,  lest  goods 

not  paid  for,  be  seized  for  their  fines, 
Second  visit  of,  in  Holland,         .... 
Epistle  of,  to  Friends  on  their  being  relieved  from 

Imprisonment, 

Services  of,  while  residing  in  London  —  Epistle  of 
Epistle  of,  on  dress  and  seeking  riches. 
Account  by,  of  the  state  of  the  Society, 
Last  hours,  sickness  and  death  of.  Account  of  .  570-572 
Epistle  left  by,  to  be  opened  after  his  death,  .  572-574 
Fox,  George,  Jr.,  Arrest  of — Long  imprisonment  of — Discharge 

of 199-200 

"  "         "      Reason  why,  adds  the  junior  to  his  name,  .         .     200 

Friends,  The  doctrines  of,  denounced  by  loose  professors,         .         *       40 
The  belief  of,  respecting  Baptism  and  the  Supper,  thought 

to  exclude  them  from  being  Christians,  ....       41 
Justification  of,  in  going  to  the  "Churches,"  to  speak        55-56 
Views  of,  respecting  Bai)tism  and  the  Supper,  said  to  ex- 
clude them  from  Christ's  Church, 65 

Reasons  why,  were  so  hated  by  Priests,      ....       66 
Eiirly  services  of,  in  London,  Description  of      .         .  78-79 
Misrepresentations  of,  respecting  the  Divinity  and  Atone- 
ment of  Christ 107 

The  doctrines  and  testimonies  of,  the  same  wherever  they 

are  raised  up, 119 

Religious  condition  of,  in  Ireland,  in  1656,         .         .         .     121 
In  Scotland  exposed  to  starvation,  by  the  Priests  forbid- 
ding the  people  to  buy  or  sell  or  trade  with  them,  .     149 

Eleven,  embark  for  America, 160 

George  Fox's  testimony  concerning,  in  1658,      .         .         .     167 
Sufferings  of,  increased  -Petition  of,  to  Parliament — Offer 

of  164,  to  lie  in  jail  as  substitutes  for  other  prisoners,  .  168 
Patient  sufferings  of,  and  doctrines  preached  by.  Fruits  of,  171 
Some,  in  Maryland,  comply  with  the  Militia  law,  but  re- 
pent, and  suffer  from  fines,  &c.,  .....  175 
Effects  of  the  preaching  of,  in  Xew  England,  .  .  .  185 
Some,  leave  the  Colony  on  the  passage  of  the  Act  of  Ban- 
ishment on  Pain  of  Death, 188 

Order  of  King  and  Council  against 209 

Cruel  persecution  of,  after  the  Proclamation  of  the  King, 
on  account  of  the  "  Fifth  Monarchy  Men,"    ,         .      210-211 


656 


INDEX, 


PAOK 

Friends,  Release  of,  iiiiprisoiied 211 

''       A  delegation  of,  appear  before  a  committee  of,  and  before 

Parliament,  against  the  Act  of  Conformity,    .         .      21 
"       Meetings  of,  Numerons,  at  the  time  of  passing  the  Act 

against  Quakers,  for  not  swearing,  ... 
"       Misrepresentations  of,  put  forth  at  Aberdeen,    . 
"       Detection  of  misrepresentations  of,  increases  their  number 
"       Commencement  of  persecution  of,  in  Scotland, 
"       Views  of,  relative  to  Civil  Government,     . 
"       Undaunted  course  of,  in  New  England,      ... 
"      Continued  persecution  of,  in  New  England,  notwithstand- 
ing the  King's  Mandamus, 

"       Twenty-two,  whipped  in  Boston,         .... 

"       Marriages  of,  declared  legal,       ..... 

"       Bound  to  disregard  the  Conventicle  Act,    . 
"       Meetings  of,  broken  up  by  Philip  Miller,  . 
"       Crowding  of,  in  Jails,  ...... 

"       Four  thousand  of,  in  .Tail  at  one  time, 

"       Sickness  and  death  of,  from  imprisonment, 

"       Beating  and  maiming  of,  at  meetings, 

"       Constancy  of,  in  attending  meetings, 

"       Reasons  why,  did  not  always  plead  to  their  Indictment, 

"       Imprisoned,  Letters  from,  setting  forth  their  condition, 

"       Letters  from,  to  Mayor  of  London,  &c.,  pleading  for  thei 

brethren  in  Prisons,  and  offering  to  take  their  places, 
"       Divine  support  extended  to,  while  undergoing  crueUabuse 

at  their  meetings, 

"       Neal's,  Baxter's  and  Orme's  testimonies  to  the  steadfast 

ness  of,  in  attending  the  meetings  of       .         .         . 

"       Severity  of  the  sufferings  of 

"      Value  of  the  testimonies,  for  which  they  suffered, 

"       Course  pursued  towards,  in  order  to  have  them  banished, 

"       Great  number  of,  imprisoned, 

"       Trial  of  four,  before  Judge  Bridgeman, 

"       Sentence  of  Banishment  passed  on  four     . 

"       Trial  and  senten(;e  of  two  more 

"      Same  spirit,  but  more  cruelty  manifested  against,  in  Eng 

land  as  in  New  England, 

"      Treatment  of,  at  Miles-end  Green  meeting-house, 

"       Charge  against,  by  Judge  Keating,     .... 

"       The  dead  bodies  of  two,  seized  and  secretly  buried,  . 

"       A  Jury  refuses  to  convict  several,  and  are  bound  over, 

"       Upwards  of  two  hundred,  sentenced  to  banishment, 

"       Seven,  put  on   board  a  vessel   lor  transportation  and  set 

ashore,  with  a  certificate, 340-341 

"       Sentenced  by  King  and  Council  to  prison,  .         .         .     342 


5-21  (i 

21S 
224 
225 
225 
240 
248 

260 
260 
262 
265 
266 
266 
267 
267 
2(57 
268 
278 
270 

280 

297 

298 
328 
329 
332 
333 
333 
334 
34-335 

335 
336 
336 

338 
338 
339 


INDEX,  657 

PAGE 

Friends,  Three,  carried  into  banishment,           .....  342 

"       Many,  sentenced  to  banishment,  died  in  prison,         .         .  342 
"       Persecution  and  Cliristian  constancy  of,  in  tlie  Isle  of 

Man, 343-350 

"       Plainness  of,  in  dress  and  manners, 351 

"       Warnings  by  several,  of  impending  judgments,          .         .  353 

"       Continued  persecution  of,  during  the  Plague,    .         .         .  354 

"       Fifty-five,  put  on  board  ship  for  banishment,     .         .         .  356 

"       Twenty-seven,  die  on  board  the  ship,           ....  356 

"       Care  taken  by,  to  relieve  the  distress  of     .         .         .         .  357 

"       Persecution  of,  at  Carlow,  .......  383 

"       Concern  of,  respecting  education,        .....  409 

"       Views  of,  as  to  the  inadequacy  of  reason  alone  to  work  out 

Salvation,          ..."......  409 

"       Some,  in  West  Indies,  affected  by  J.  Perrot,       .         .         .  410 

"       Sufferings  of,  in  West  Indies 410 

"       Faith  ot,  set  forth  by  G.  Fox  and  other  Friends,  in  an  ad- 
dress to  the  Governor  of  Barbadoes,        .         .         .      413-415 
"       Enlightenedpolicy  towards, in  North  and  South  Carolina,  418-419 

"       Look  towards  America  for  an  asylum,        ....  420 
"       Of    New   Jersey    and   Pennsylvania,    hold    their   Yearly 

Meeting  at  Burlington  and  Philadelphia,  alternately,    .  432 

"       Progress  of,  in  New  York,  &c.,            .....  433 

"       Severe  persecution  of,  under  third  Conventicle  Act,           .  448 

"       Constancy  of,  under  their  sufferings,            ....  449 
"       A    clergyman    perforins    the    service    of   the    Episcopal 

"  Church  "  in  a  meeting  of      '....•         .  449 

"       Cruelties  practised  on,  in  London, 452 

"       Unjust  proceedings  towards  Thomas  Rudyard  and  other  - 

Confinement  of,  in  "  The  Dog,"        .....  458 

"       Furtlier  testimony  of  Neal,  respecting       ....  460 

"       Avail  themselves  of  the  Proclamation  of  Charles  II.,        .  470 

"       Interview  of,  with  the  King  and  Council,           .         .         .  470 

"       Liberation  of,  from  prison. — Other  Dissenters  assisted  by  470 

"       Attacks  upon  by  Baptists  —  Publications  respecting          .  471 

"       Great  number  of  Publications  by         ....         .  473 

.  479 

.  480 

.  484 

.  498 

.  500 

.  500 

.  506 

.  506 

.  507 

.  508 


Proceedings  in  Scotland  for  punishing 
Interference  of  Scotch  Judges  on  behalf  of 
Estimation  by,  of  Barclay's  Apology, 
Continued  severe  persecution  of         ... 

Judges  petitioned  by 

No  relief  for,  from  King  or  Church,  nor  by  a2)peal. 
In  Holland,  Accounts  of     ..... 
In  Dantzic,  Sufferings  of    . 
In  East  Friesland,  Sufferings  of  .         .         . 

In  Embden,  Sufferings  of    . 


42 


658  INDEX. 

PMIV. 

Friends,  ]n  llolliuid,  sometimes  assailed, f>10 

"  In  Ireland,  Trouble  of,  with  apostates,  ....  520 
"  Accused  of  being  Popish  recusants,  and  punished  as  such,  528 
"       Account  of  the  suflerings  of,  presented  to  the  King  and 

Tarliamcnt, 529 

"       In  London,  Renewed  suffering  of 581 

"       Renewed  assaults  upon  the  meetings  of      ....     532 

"       In  Bristol,  Sufferings  of 533, 536 

"       Application  of,  to  King  James  11.,  for  redress,  .         .         .     542 

Liberation  of,  by  order  of  the  King, 543 

"       Charges  brought  by,  against  Informers,  and  Examination,     543 
"       Relief'of,  from  charge  of  being  Popish  recusants,      .         .     545 
"       Epistle  to,  by  G.  Fox,  on  being  relieved  from  suffering,     ,     545 
"       Modification  of  a  Confession  of  Faith  connected  with  the 
Toleration  Act,  procured  by  —  Confession  of  belief  by- 
Declaration  of  Faith  by  .....      558-559 

"       Declaration  of  Allegiance  by 560 

"  Toleration  of  the  religion  of,  by  the  government,  .  .  560 
"  Perseverance  of,  in  Ireland,  and  increase  of  .  .  .  562 
"       Some,  in  Ireland,  appointed  to  office,  ....     563 

"  Great  losses  of,  in  Ireland  during  the  civil  war,  .  .  564 
"       Rutty's  account  of  the  effect  produced  on,  in  Ireland,  by 

the  events  of  the  civil  war, 667 

"       Some  relief  to,  in  the  West  Indies, 584 

"       Continued  emigration  of,  to  Pennsylvania,         .         .         .     585 

"       German,  settle  near  Philadelphia, 586 

"       In  Pennsylvania,  Peaceable  ])olicy  and  Preservation  of,    .     586 
"       German,    in    Pennsvlvania,    Address   of    respecting   Sla- 
very,        .         .     ' 587-590 

"       Connection  of,  with  Slavery, 590 

"  Yearly  Meeting  of,  at  Burlington,  in  1688,  .  .  .592 
"       Care  of,  respecting  school  education  in  Pennsylvania,        .     594 

"       Increase  of,  in  Pennsylvania, G03 

"       Successful  resistance  of,  to  Col.  Fletcher 604 

"       First  attempt  of,  in  England,  to  obtain  an  affirmation  in- 
stead of  an  oath, 605 

"  In  England  and  Pennsylvania,  issue  a  Declaration  of  faith,  605 
"  Second  attempt  by,  to  substitute  an  Atlirmation  for  an  oath,  612 
"       Action  of,  on  the  death  of  Queen  Mary,     .         ...     612 

"       An  Affirmation  of,  nuide  legal, 613 

"  In  Ireland,  Fears  of,  respecting  the  Affirmation,  .  .  613 
"       Liberation  of  Forty,  from   imprisonment  on  account  of 

tithes,       .         .  614 

"       Successful  Efforts  of,  to  prevent  the  enaction  of  a  more 

severe  law  for  collecting  tithes, 614 

**       Petitions  against,  refused,    ^ 615 


INDEX.  659 

PAGE 

Friends,  King  William  favors  the  relief  of,  from  Swearing,  .  .  G15 
"  W.  Penn,  J.  Everet  and  Thomas  Story,  visit  to,  in  Ireland,  617 
"         Remarks  on  the  principles  and  practices  of,       .         .      623-631 


GRACE-CHURCH  Street,  "Episcopal  Service"  performed  in 
the  meeting  of  ....... 

Grassinghain,  Robert,  Imprisonment  of   .... 

Gray,  George,  Gonvincement  of         ..... 

"  '        Cruelty  practised  upon        .... 

Gill,  Roger,  Goes  to  America,  ..... 

"  ''       Remarkable  prayer  and  Death  of 


449 
199 
225 
486 
618 
619 


Government,  Interference  with  the  "Church"  l)y,  Opposition  to    .  15 

HALHEAD,  MILES,  notice  of  reiuiirkable  circumstances  con- 
nected with,       .         .         .  .         .         ,         .         .         .         .104 

Halhead,  Miles,  Violent  assault  on,  for  speaking  in  "Church,"       .  105 

"             "       The  presence  of,  prevents  two  piiests  from  speaking,  105 

"             "       Imprisonment  of, .  106 

"  "       A  priest's  tlioughts  discerned  and  told  by — Release 

of       .         .^ 107 

"            "       Visit  of,  to  Scotland, 109 

"             "       Visit  of,  in  Ireland, 117 

Harding,  .James,  Banishment  of        .......  341 

Harris,  Elizabeth,  Visit  of,  in  Virginia, 172 

Harrison,  George,  Death  of,  in  jail, 74 

Hays,  Robert,  Banishment  of 341 

Heavens,  Elizabeth,  Cruel  treatment  of,  at  Oxfonl,           ...  81 

"                  "          Severe  whipping  of 81 

Hignell,  Temperance,  Beating  of,  unto  death,           ....  74 

Hodshone,  Robert,  Sufferings  of,  at  New  Amsterdam,      .         .         .  169 

Holder,  Christopher,  Visit  of  to  Martha's  Vineyard,        .         .         .  160 

With  John  Copeland,  sent  prisoner  to  Boston,  160 

"              Declaration  of  faith  signed  by        .         .         .  161 

"  "  Sentence  of,  to  lose  an  ear,      .         .         .         .178 

Holme,  Thomas,  Loss  incurred  by,  because  of  not  swearing,  .         .  519 

Hooten,  Elizabeth,  The  first  woman  preacher  among  Friends,         .  39 

"  "  Faithfulness  and  suffering  of     .         .         .      •2')5,  256 

Death  of 412 

Hotliam,  .Justice,  Account  by,  of  a  report  of  G.  Fox's  ])reaching, 

acknowledgment  by,  of  the  Light  within, 41 

H()w,ard,    Luke,    Convincement   of,   service   of,    respecting    psalm 

singing, HI 

Howgil,  Francis,  Convincement  of,  some  account  of        .         .  47,  48 

"              "         Money  received  for  })reacliing,  relumed  by,          .  49 

"               "         With  E.  Burrough,  ordered  away  from  Bristol,    .  72 

"              "         Goes  to  London, 75 

"              "         Visit  of,  to  O.  Cromwell, 79 


6()0 


INDEX. 


Howgil,  Francis,  Visit  of,  to  Ireland,        .... 
"  "         Refused  a  meeting  at  Limerick,     . 

"  "         Imprisoned  and  banislied, 

"  "         Epistle  of  encouragement  to  Friends  by 

"  "         Arrest  and  trial  of 

"  "         Imprisonment  and  death  of  . 

Hultberthorn,  Richard,  Some  account  of . 
"  "         Imprisonment  of. 

"  "         Conversation  between,  and  Charles  II 

"  "         Death  of 

Hutchinson,  Anne,  Banishment  of,  from  Massachusetts, . 
Hyde,  M.,  Confesses  and  repents  his  treatment  of  Friends, 

IBBIT,  THOMAS,  Prediction  by,  of  the  Great  Fire,     . 
Independents,  Rise  of  the    ...... 

"  A  company  of,  emigrate  to  America,   . 

Indians,  Concern  for,  by  George  Fox,       .... 

"         Unfounded  reports  concerning   .... 

Indies,  West,  Visits  to,  by  Friends, 

Informer,  An,  commissioned  by  Vice-Chancellor  of  Oxford, 

A  Pa[)ist 

Informers,  Many  of  the,  come  to  miserable  ends, 

"  Examination  and  detection  of  the  wickedness  of 

"  Attempt  by,  to  stop  the  investigation,     . 

"  James  II.  shows  his  disapprobation  of    . 

Ireland,  Introduction  of  Quakerism  into  . 

"        Friends  in,  embrace  the  same  doctrines  and  testimoni 
those  in  England,    ...... 

"         Condition  of  P'riends  in 

"        Visits  to,  by  many  Friends,         .... 

"        State  of  Friends  in,  at  the  close  of  the  Commonwealth, 
"        Persecution  of  Friends  in,  at  the  King's  return, 
"        Continued  persecution  of  Friends  in   . 
"        Visits  to,  by  Friends  from  England,    . 
"        Sufferings  of  Friends  in,  for  not  swearing ;    Increase 
Friends  in         ......         • 

"        Number  of  Friends'  meetings  in;  Visited  by  B.  Ban< 
"        Dreadful  condition  of,  during  the  civil  war, 
"        Visit  to  Friends  in,  by  William  Penn  and  others, 
"        Condition  of  Friends  in 


PAGE 

IIG 

117 
118 
308 
325 
327 
80 
80 
202 
293 
154 
504 

867 
14 
16 
418 
587 
150 
447 
448 
503 
543 
544 
545. 
113 

119 
121 
226 

227 
227 
227 
382 

of 

518-519 
521 
564 
617 
618 


JACKSON,  ROBERT,  Excommunication  and  Imprisonment  of. 
JafFray,  Alexander,  Convincement  and  persecution  of 
"  "  Death  and  Testimony  of     . 

Jaffray,  Andrew,  Cruelty  practised  on 

Jailer  at  Derby,  Abuse  of  George  Fox  by  ;  Convincement  of  . 


521 
224 

482 

486 

38 


INDEX.  661 


Jailers,  Imposition  on  Friends  practised  by      ...         . 

"        At  Carlisle,  Punishment  of,  for  abuse  of  George  Fox, 
James  I.,  Encouragement  given  to  Prelacy  by. 
James  II.,  Accession  of,  to  the  Throne  of  England, 

"        "    Address  of  Friends  to 

"        "   Declaration  by,  in  favor  of  liberty  of  conscience,     . 

"        "    Course  pursued  by,  in  favor  of  Popery,    . 

"        "   Address  of  thanks  presented  to,  by  Friends,    . 

"        "   Offence  taken  by,  at  the  opinions  of  William  and  Mary 

"        "    Imprisonment  of  Bishops  ordered  by       .         .         . 

"        "   Indiscreet  course  of;  results  in  Revolution,    . 
Jersey,  New,  Part  of,  comes  into  possession  of  Friends,  . 

"  "      Settlement  of  Friends  in 

"          "      DifBculties  encountered,  and  Providential  care  experi 
enced,  by.  Friends,  in 

"  "      Meetings  established  in 

John  ap  John,  Convincement  of;  travels  with  George  Fox,    . 
Jury,  Threatening  of  a,  by  Judge  Keating,       .... 

"      Coroner's,  A,  refuse  a  verdict  on  a  murdered  Friend 

"     Put  under  bonds  for  refusing  to  convict  sixteen  Friends 

KEATING,  JUDGE,  Charge  of,  against  Friends, 
"  "  Conduct  of,  towards  a  young  Friend 

Keith,  George,  Abuse  of,  at  Aberdeen, 

"  "        Dispute  of,  with  Students,         .... 

"  "        Notice  of  the  Fall,  Apostacy  of,  and  Treatment  of, 

by  Friends, 59 

"  "        Notice  of,  by  Bishop  Burnet,    .... 

LAMPIT,  PRIEST,  Meeting  of  George  Fox  with 
"  "  Rebuked  by  George  Fox,      ... 

Lancaster,  James,  Convincementof ;  Effortsof,  to  protect  George  Fox 

"  "       Visit  of,  in  Scotland, 

"  "       Visit  of,  in  Ireland, 

Latey,  Gilbert,  Some  account  of 

"      Interview  between,  and  Lieutenant  Robinson, 

Laws,  Revival  of  old,  to  injure  Friends, 

Law,  A  New,  in  New  England,  to  whip  Quakers,    . 
League,  Solemn,  and  Covenant,  entered  into  by  the  Scotch,    . 
Leddra  William,  Persecution  of,  in  Boston,     .... 
"  "  Second  arrest  of,  in  Boston,  .... 

"  "  Trial  md  condemnation  of    . 

"  "  Epistle  of,  to  Friends, 

"  "  •        Execution  of  ...... 

Letters,  Extracts  from,  to  Margaret  Fell,  from  F.  Howgll  and  E 
Burrough, 


PAGE 

63 

83 
17 
540 
540 
547 
547 
547 
552 
552 
558 
420 
421 

422 
422 
147 
338 

268 
339 

336 
337 

359 
483 

2-603 
602 

50 

53 

67 

109 

117 

123 

459 

211 

252 

10 

177 

241 

242 

243 

244 

76 


662 


I  N  D  E  X 


Letters,  Extracts  IVoiii,  to  U.  WiJders,  IVoin  F.  Jlowgil,  . 
"         Extracts  from,  to  Margaret  Fell,  Iroin  A.  Parker, 
"         from  J.  Rouse  to  Margaret  Fell,  .... 

"         from  J.   Cudwortli,  descriptive   of   the   coiulilion  of  Ply 
mouth  Colony,         ....... 

"         from  E.  Billing,  deserii)tive  of  the  treatment  of  Friends  by 
Monk's  soldiers,       ....... 

"Little  Ease,"  Torture  by,  at  Chester       ..... 

Livingston  Patrick,  Convineement  and  Religious  Service  of,  . 

"  "  Cruelty  Practised  on 

Lloyd,  Thomas,  Some  account  of     .....         . 

Lodge,  Robert,  Imprisonment  of,  in  Ireland,    .... 

Loe,  Thomas,  preaches  in  the  Streets  of  Dublin, 

Death  of 

London,  in  1054,        ......... 

"         during  the  Plague,      ....... 

"        Great  Fire  in 

Long  Island,  Persecution  of  some  of  the  inhabitants  of,  by  the  Gov 
ernor  of  New  Netherlands,    ....... 


MAGISTRATES  of  B<i 
to  expel  Friends,  im 


oston.  Irritation  of,  at  finding  their  effort 

[pel  I'riends,  ineffectual, 

Mandamus,  The  King's,  to  Governor  Eiidicott, 
Mansfield  Woodhouse,  Cruel  treatment  of  G.  Fox  at 
Marriages  of  Friends,  declared  legal,        .... 
.Alarriage,  Views  of  Friends  respecting     .... 
Marshall,  Charles,  Account  by,  of  early  converts  at  Bristol, 

"  "  Some  account  and  Death  of 

Maryland,  ^Ministers  engaged  in,  in  1650,  Laws  against  Quakers  in 
"  Spread  in,  of  Friends'  principles  —  Militia  Law  in 

"  Some  Friends  in,  unfaithful  —  Disunity  in     . 

Mead,  Wm.,  Trial  of ' . 

Meetings,  Friends',  in  New  England  in  KiGO, 
"  For  Discipline,  Institution  of  . 

"  "  Reasons  why  necessary, 

General      .         .         .         .    "     .         .    '    .         .         .37 

"  Monthly  iind  Quarterly,  established, 

Meeting-House  at  Horsleydown,  Tearing  down  of  . 

at  RatclifF,  Wrecking  of  .         .         . 

Men,  Religious,  Preparation  of,  for  increased  light, 
"      Fifth  Monarchy,  Insurrection  of     .... 

"         "  "  From  the  fanaticism  of  the,  Dissenters  suffer 

Mercer,  Thomas,  Notice  of       .....         . 

Ministers,  Commission  and  Reward  of  the,  raised  up 

''  In    Boston    unite   with    Magistrates    in    ordering   the 

Quakers  in  ]irison  to  be  "severely  whipped"  twice  a 
week;  also  to  inflict  cutting  off  ears,  .         .         .         . 


77 

'J8 

179 

182 

197 
77 
225 
486 
619 
382 
383 
400 
75 
353 
366 


170 


185 
257 

36 
262 
262 

71 
616 
174 
175 
175 
452 
196 
S69 
372 
374 
374 
451 
451 

25 
208 
2(19 
477 

Go 


163 


INDEX.  Qd'i 


Ministers,  Power  of  tlie,  among  the  New  England  Puritans, 
"  Influence  tlie  Council  to  banisli  on  pain  of  death, 

Monk,  General,  March  of,  on  London,     .... 
Monmouth,  Duke  of,  Attempt  of  the,  on  the  IJritish  throne, 
]\Iusgrave,  C'hristopher,  Speech  of,  resj)ecting  Friends,    . 


PAUE 

186 
186 
197 
542 
529 


NAMES,  Origin  of,  originally  given  to  Friends,  ....  38 

Naylor,  James,  joins  Friends  in  1G51,       .....  41 

Naylor,  James,  Cruel  treatment  of,  at  Walney  Island,     ...  67 
"           "         First   visit  of  to   London,  Dispute  of,  with  some 

Baptists, 124,  125 

"           "         Some  account  of 134 

"  "         Examination  of,  on  charge  of  blasphemy,  cleared, 

but  imprisoned, 135 

"           "         Personal  appearance,  and  fluency  of,       .         .         .  136 
"           "         Fall  of,  Trial,  Punishment,  Repentance,  Restora- 
tion and  Death  of 136-144 

Neal,  Account  by,  of  the  course  of  the  Dissenters  generally,    .         .  264 

"      Further  testimony  of       .......         .  460 

Nicholson,  Joseph,  and  wife,  Banishment  of,  on  Pain  of  Death,      .  195 

Norton,  Humphrey,  Sufferings  of,  at  New  Haven,  .         .         .         .  164 

Norton,  Priest,  Apology  of,  for  the  cruelty  of  the  Jailer  at  Boston,  178 

Norton,  Catharine,  Visit  of,  in  Ireland, 521 

jATHS,  Folly  of— Testimony  of  Friends  against        .         .         .212 

Oath,  Condemnation  for  taking  an,  by  E.  Chilton,  .  .  .  213 
Observations    relative    to    the  early   Friends    and   their    religious 

fiiith, 623-631 

Opinion,  Religious,  State  of.  in  England  in  the  beginning  of  the 

seventeenth  century, 24 

Opinion,  change  of,  respecting  Dissenters,        .....  502 

Orange,  Prince  and  Princess  of,  Notice  of, 553 

Ordinance  by  Cromwell,  forbidding  enforcing  conformity,      .         .  66 

PARKER,  HENRY,  Persecution  of  G.  Fox  by    .         .         .      474-490 

Parker,  Alexander,  Death  of    ......         .  5()2 

Parliament,  Long,  Convening  of  the 19 

"              Religion  degraded  by,  to  exclude  Dissenters,       .         .  214 

"             Enactment  by,  of  a  law  against  Quakers,     .         .         .  217 
"             Refusal  of,  to  sanction  the  King's  Proclamation  for 

relief  of  Dissenters,           ......  310 

"              Convened  at  Oxford, 364 

"              Obliges  the  King  to  withdraw  his  second  Proclama- 
tion of  toleration,      .......  474 


064  INDEX. 

PAGE 

Parnel,  James,  Some  account  of 84 

"  "         Disputes  the  assertions  of  a  Priest,  ....       85 

"  "         Trial,  Imprisonment  and  Death  of  .         .         .  86-88 

Party,  Church  and  Court,  Hatred  of  the,  to  Dissenters,  .         .         .     207 

"       High  Church,  Lack  of  principle  in  the  ....     564 

Pearson,  Anthony,  Illegality  of  G.  Fox's  imprisonment  at  Carlisle, 

set  forth  by 83 

Penn,  Admiral,  Death  of 456 

Penn,  William,  Some  account  of, B89,  397 

"  "  Dispute    between,    and    T.    Vincent;     Publishes 

"  Sandy  Foundation  Shaken,"     .         .         .         .401 
"  "         Imprisonment  of,  in  the  Tower,      ....     402 

"  "         "  No  Cross  No  Crown,"  written  by,        .         .         .     402 

"  "  "Innocency  with  her  Open  Face,"  written  by,       .     403 

"  "  Refutation  by,  of  the  charge  of  unsoundness,  rela- 

tive to  the  Deity  and  Atonement  of  Christ,  .      403-404 
"  "         Discharge  of,  from  imprisonment,  ....     405 

"  "  Views  influencing,  to  plant  a  Colony  in  America,  423-424 

"  "         Steps  taken  by,  to  obtain  a  grant  of  Land,  and 

Charter  obtained, 424 

"  "         Liberal  Government  instituted  by  .         .         .         .     425 

"  "         Provision  made  by,  favoring  slaves,        .         .         .     427 

"  "         Arrival  of,  in  Pennsylvania, 427 

"  "  Care  of,  to  protect  the  Indians,       ....     429 

"  "         Treaty  of,  with  the  Indians,    ....      430-431 

"  "         Effect  of  the  kind  care  of,  on  the  Indians,       .         .     430 

"  "         Trial  of,  with  Wm.  Mead,        ....      452-456 

"  "         Imprisonment  of,  by  Lieutenant  Robinson,    .         .     457 

"  "         Publications  of,  in  reply  to  Baptists,       .         .         .     471 

"  "  Dispute  of,  with  Baptists, 472 

"  "         Address  by,  to  the  Council  of  Embden,  .         .     508 

"  "         Visit  of,  to  the  Princess  Elizabeth,  .         .      510-511 

"  "         Instrumental  in  relieving  Friends  in  Ireland,         .     519 

"  "         Speech  of,  before  a  Committee  of  Parliament,        .     530 

"  "         Reply  of,  to  Charges  made  against,  arrest  of .         .     555 

"  "         Discharge  of 556 

"  "         Accusations  against,  of  disaffection  to  Government,     576 

"  "         Forced  seclusion  of. 577 

"             "          Clearance  of,  from  all  charges,         ....     578 
"             "          Publication     by,    of    "Primitive     Christianity   Re- 
vived,"   '505 

"  "         Second  visit  of,  to  Pennsylvania,    ....     622 

Penington  fsaac,  and  wife,  some  account  of     .         .         .         •     302-307 

"  "       Some  account  of  the  Father  of,     ....     307 

V  "       Imprisonment  of,  by  Earl  of  Bridgewater,    .         .     463 

■"  "■       Letter  of,  to  his  wife, 463 


INDEX.  665 


PAGE 


Penington,  Isaac,  Property  of,  taken  away, 465 

"               "       Renewed  Imprisonment  of  .         .         .         .         .  4G5 

"               "       Testimony  concerning  tiie  conduct  of  .         .         .  466 

"               "       Death  of,  and  of  the  wife  of          ....  540 

Pennsylvania,  large  emigration  to;  difficulties  of  first  settlers  in  427-428 

"             First  meetings  of  Friends  in     .         .         .         .         .  428 

"              Friends  in,  attend  Burlington  Yearly  Meeting         .  431 

Perrot,  John,  Visit  of,  to  Rome;  self-esteem  of       ....  231 

"           "      Apostacy  of 263 

"           "      Declaration  of  G.  Fox  against 264 

"      Latter  end  of .         .264 

"           ''      Meetings  held  for  restoring  the  followers  of      .         .  368 

"           "      Principles  of,  spread  in  West  Indies,          .         .         .  410 

"           "               "                   "             America,       ....  411 

"      End  of 412 

Persecution,  Lull  of,  in  England, 442 

"  Efforts  to  stop,  frustrated  by  Bishops, .         .         .      442-443 

"           Severity  of  under  third  Conventicle  Act,     .         .         .  449 

Philadeliihia,  Introductory  minute  of  the  first  Monthly  Meeting  in  428 

"             First  Yearly  Meeting  held  in 432. 

Plague,  Appearance  and  spread  of,  in  London,        ....  353 

"        Liitle  effect  of,  on  King  and  Parliament,    ....  364 

Plot,  Popish,  notice  of  the         ........  527 

Plots,  Connection  with,  denied  by  G.  Fox, 529 

Porter,  Justice,  arrest  of  G.  Fox,  by 200 

"             "       Efforts  of,  to  prevent  G.  Fox  being  tried,         .         .  202 
Preacher,  First  woman  among  Friends;  grounds  on  which  Friends 

approve  of  women  preaching,        .......  3^ 

Presbyterians,  Why  thus  named,      ..'.....  14 

"             Intolerance  early  shown  by 21 

"             Laws  passed  by,  in  the  Long  Parliament,         .         .  22 

"             Opposition  of  Independents  to 22 

Priests,  In  Ireland,  incite  opposition  to  Friends,      ....  118 

Prisons,  Character  of,  and  of  the  jailers, 130 

"  Primitive  Christianity  Revived,"  extracts  from     ....  605 

Puritans,  Rise  of 13 

"        Policy  and  intolerance  of,  in  New  England,     .         .         .  153 

"        Power  of  the  Ministers  among 186 

QUAKERS,  Origin  of  the  appellation  of 38 
"           On  the  principles  and  practices  of   .         .         .      623-631 

REFORMATION,  under  Henry  VIII., 9 

"                Under  Edward  VI.,  and  Elizabeth,        .         .  10 
Remarks,  On  circumstances  influencing  Judges  and  others  against 

Friends, 101-103 


666 


INDEX, 


Rhode  Island,  Founding  the  Coh:)ny  of,  causes,        .         .         .         .153 

"           "        CoU)iiy  of,  refuses  to  join  in  persecution,  .         .         •  165 

"           "        Increase  of  Friends  in       .....         .  436 

Richardson,  John,  some  account  of, 580 

Robinson,  William,  Banishment  of,  on  pain  of  death,      .         .         .  188 

"                "         Arrest,  trial  and  sentence  of    ....  189 

"  "  Execution  of    .         .         .         .         .         .         .192 

Robinson,  John,  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower,  character  of  .         .         .  219 

"          Efforts  of,  to  destroy  Ratclift"  meeting-house  frustrated,  .  459 

Rouse,  John,  Sentence  of,  to  have  an  ear  cut  off — Execution,        .  178 

"           "      Letter  from,  to  Margaret  Fell, 179 

"        .  "      Some  account  of 181 

lludyard,  Thomas,  trial  of,  with  others    ......  457 

SALTHOUSE  THOMAS,  Death  of 575 
Scott,  Patience,  Visit  of,  to  Boston,  examination,  order  of  the 

Court, 188 

Scotland,  Introduction  of  Quakerism  into, 108 

"         Convincement  of  persons  in,  without  instrumental  means,  109 
"         Ministers  in,  oppose  Friends  —  Curses  ordered  to  be  pro- 
nounced in  the  "  Churches"  in      .....  148 
"         Reintroduction  of  Episcopacy  into,           ....  358 

''         Cruel  persecution  of  Dissenters  in 359 

"         Opposition  to  Episcopa,cy  in 477 

"         Eai'ly  converts  to  Friends'  principles  in   .        .         ,         .  477 

"         Renewed  persecution  of  Friends  in           ....  4S5 

•'         Cessation  of  persecuting  Friends  in          ....  548 

Sects,  Names  of,  numerous,       ....         ....  15 

Sewel,  Wm.,  Remarks  of,  respecting  Friends  speaking  in  "  Churches,"  56 
Shattock,  Samuel,  carries  the  Mandamus  of  the  King  to  New  Eng- 
land,         257 

Shapleigh,  Major,  Convincement  of 253 

Shelter  Island,  a  refuge  for  the  persecuted,       .....  434 

Silvester,  Nathaniel,  Home  of,  a  refuge  for  Friends,         .         .         .  434 

Sim,  Nancy,  Convincement  of          . 225 

Singing  of  Hymns;  why  not  practised  by  Friends,          ...  83 

Skene,  Alexander,  Convincement  of, 477 

"                "          Queries  published  by, 478 

Slavery,  Introduction  of,  into  the  Colonies,      .....  591 

"         Address  of  Friends  at  Germantown  against       .         .         .  588 

Spire,  Thomas,  Treatment  of,  by  Brown,  Lord  ^layor,    .         .         .  369 

Stevenson,  Marmaduke,  Banishment  of,  on  pain  of  death,       .         .  188 

"                    "            Arrest,  Trial,  and  Sentence  of  .         .         .  189 

"                    "             Execution  of 192 

Story,  John  and  J.  Wilkinson,  Apostacy  and  Disownment  of,      513-517 
Story,  Thomas,  Some  account  of 581-584 


INDEX, 


667 


Story,  Thomas,  Visit  of,  to  America,         .... 
Stubb.s,  John,  Travels  of,  in  Scotland,  with  William  Caton, 

"  "      Some  account  of  .... 

"  "      Severe  whipping  of    . 

"  "      Travels  of,  on  the  Continent, 

"  "      Visit  of,  at  Rome,       .... 

Suffering,  Patient  endurance  of,  by  Friends;  Fruits  of 
Swarthinoor  Hall,  George  Fox's  first  visit  to   . 
Swinton,  John,  joins  Friends,  ..... 
"         Account  of,  by  Walter  Scott,     . 
"         Close  imprisonment  of       .... 
Suffering's,  Meeting  for  ;   Institution  of     . 


PAG  15 

G18 

109 

no 

112 
228 
231 
171 
51 
3G1 
861 
3G2 
377 


ri^ESTl MONIES  of  the  Gospel  oi)ened  to  George  Fox,        .  34,  35 

-L    Thurston,  Thomas,  Travels  of,  in  Virginia,       ....  172 

Thurston,  Thomas,  Imprisonment  of,        .....         .  173 

"                 "         Labors  of,  in  Maryland ;  Imprisonment  of       .  174 

"                 "         Fall  of,  by  adopting  notions  of  J.  Perrot,         .  411 

Tomkins,  Mary,  severely  whipped  in  Virginia,         ....  174 

"              "      Travels  of,  in  Maine,       .         .         .         .     •    .         .  253 

"              "      Cruel  treatment  of 254 

Travers,  Rebecca.,  Convincement  of 57 

"Triers"  ajDpointed  by  O.  Cromwell, 57 

Trigg,  Hannah,  Illegal  sentence  of;   Death  of;  Body  of,  refused  to 

her  mother, 339 

Trowel,  Jolin,  Death  of,  from  beating,  at  a  meeting,        .         .         .  2G7 

Tyndale,  William,  Scriptures  translated  by 13 

UPSHAL,  NICHOLAS,  fined,  imprisoned,  banished,  for  speak- 
ing in  favor  of  Friends,    ........  158 

Urquhart,  Excommunication  of 226 


VINCENT,  THOMAS,  Dispute  between,  and  some  Friends,       .  400 
Virginia,  First  visit  of  a  Friend  to  ;  Persecuting  spirit  of  the 

Rulers  in         .......         .  172 

"         Visited  by  several  Ministers;  Many  join  Friends  in; 

Heavy  fines  imposed  on  Dissenters,        .         .         .  173 

Views  of  Friends  respecting  marriage 263 

WATCHERS,"  Appointment  of,  to  apprehend  Friends,     .         .  132 
Waugh,  Dorothy,  Travels  of,  in  the  wilderness;  Imprison- 
ment at  Boston  ;  Severe  whipping  of    .         .         .         .         .         .  176 

Welsh,  A  number  of,  settle  in  Pennsylvania,  and  join  Friends,       .  603 

Wharton,  Edward,  Trial  of,  at  Boston, 246 

Whitehead,  George,  Some  account  of 57-63 

"                  "         Testimony  of,  relative  to  the  Scriptures,           .  61 


668 


INDEX. 


Whitehead,  George,  Declaration  of,  of  the  ill  usage  of  Friends, 
that  the  Conventicle  Act  would  call  forth 
from  the  low  and  vulgar,      ....     265 
"  "         Observations  of,  on  the  second  Conventicle  Act,     332 

"  "         Testimony  of,  respecting  Friends  who  died  in 

the  London  Prisons, 355 

"  "  Dispute  between,  and  T.  Vincent,  .  .  .  401 
"  •'  Controversy  of,  with  some  Baptists,  .  .  472 
"  "  Interview  of,  with  Bishop  of  Canterbury,  .  501 
"  "  Excessive  fines  levied  on,  ....  532 
"  "  Appears  before  Commissioners  against  In- 
formers,          543 

Whitehead,  Anne,  Death  of ''>-47 

Widders,  Robert,  Cruel  treatment  of        .         .         . 

Wilkie,  Thomas,  Letter  of,  respecting  William  Leddra, 

William,  Prince  of  Orange,  Notice  of,  and  of  his  Wife, 

Wilkinson  and  Story,  Account  of  the  apostacy  of  . 

Williams,  Elizubetb,  Travels  and  Sufferings  of 

Williams,  Roger,  Banishment  of,  from  Massachusetts, 
"  "       Dislike  of,  to  Friends,  . 

"  "       Dispute  of,  with  William  Edmundson, 

Wilson,  George,  Death  of,  from  cruel  persecution,  . 

Witnesses,  Preservation  of,  to  the  Truth, 

Worship,  Views  respecting,  held  by  Friends,  . 

Wycliffe,  John,  Religious  standing  and  opinions  of 
"  "      Translation  of  the  Scriptures  by     . 


YEARLY  Meeting  of  Ministers  meet  in  London 
"  "         Establishment  of  the  General 

Yearly  Meeting,  Constitution  of       ...         . 


79 
.  245 
.     553 

513-517 
.  150 
.  153 
.     436 

436-437 
.  173 
.  11 
.  60 
.  12 
.       12 

.  376 
.  376 
.     377 


THE   END. 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIOMAL  LIBRARY 


AA    000  748  252 


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